Meeus, Mira, Nijs, Jo · Clinical rheumatology · 2007 · DOI
Many people with ME/CFS experience widespread pain in addition to fatigue, similar to fibromyalgia. This paper proposes that both conditions may be caused by 'central sensitization'—a problem where the nervous system becomes overly sensitive to pain signals. The authors review evidence suggesting this mechanism could explain ME/CFS pain, though more research is needed to confirm it.
This paper bridges understanding between two overlapping conditions and proposes a unifying biological mechanism for the widespread pain that debilitates many ME/CFS patients. If central sensitization is confirmed in ME/CFS, it could open new avenues for targeted pain management and validate pain complaints as biologically rooted rather than primarily psychological.
This is a hypothesis paper based on a literature review, not an original empirical study; it does not present new experimental data proving central sensitization causes ME/CFS pain. The authors themselves note that direct evidence for this mechanism in CFS is currently lacking and call for further research. The proposed connection remains theoretical and requires validation through quantitative sensory testing and neurobiological studies.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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Primary citation
Meeus, Mira & Nijs, Jo (2007). Central sensitization: a biopsychosocial explanation for chronic widespread pain in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.. Clinical rheumatology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-006-0433-9
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-meeus-2007-central-sensitization,
author = {Meeus, Mira and Nijs, Jo},
title = {Central sensitization: a biopsychosocial explanation for chronic widespread pain in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Clinical rheumatology},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1007/s10067-006-0433-9},
note = {PubMed: 17115100},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/meeus-2007-central-sensitization},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-25. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/meeus-2007-central-sensitization
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