ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

643 studies

141–160 of 643 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Efficacy and Acceptance of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Meta-analysis.

Maas Genannt Bermpohl, Frederic, Kucharczyk-Bodenburg, Ann-Cathrin, Martin, Alexandra·International journal of behavioral medicine·2024

This review analyzed 15 studies involving over 2,000 people with ME/CFS who received cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a talk therapy that helps change thinking patterns and behavior. The results show that CBT helped reduce fatigue, depression, and anxiety compared to control groups, with benefits lasting at least several months after treatment ended. Most people who started CBT stayed in the program and completed their sessions, suggesting the treatment is acceptable to patients.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Prevalence and measurement of post-exertional malaise in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

An, Yi, Guo, Ziyu, Fan, Jin et al.·General hospital psychiatry·2024

Researchers looked at 12 studies involving 2,665 patients with long COVID to understand how common post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a worsening of symptoms after physical or mental effort—is among those affected. They found that more than half of long COVID patients experience PEM. The study also identified seven different questionnaires that researchers use to measure PEM, with the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire being the most commonly used tool.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Clinical evidence of the link between gut microbiome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective review.

Wang, Jing-Hua, Choi, Yujin, Lee, Jin-Seok et al.·European journal of medical research·2024

Researchers reviewed 11 studies comparing gut bacteria in ME/CFS patients to healthy people. They found that people with ME/CFS have fewer types of bacteria and different bacterial communities in their guts compared to healthy controls. Additionally, ME/CFS patients produce lower levels of certain beneficial bacterial byproducts that are normally important for health.

Gut Microbiome

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Evaluation of safety and effectiveness of NAD in different clinical conditions: a systematic review.

Gindri, Izabelle de Mello, Ferrari, Gustavo, Pinto, Luiz Paulo S et al.·American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism·2024

This review examined whether taking NAD+ or NADH supplements (molecules that help cells produce energy) are safe and helpful for people with different health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers looked at 10 clinical trials involving 489 people and found that these supplements were generally well-tolerated, with some people reporting improvements in fatigue, quality of life, and sleep. The most common side effects were mild and included muscle pain, headaches, and sleep disturbances, but nothing serious.

Sleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Research progress on pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome and treatment of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

Liu, Tingting, Sun, Weibo, Guo, Shuhao et al.·Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical·2024

This review examines what scientists currently understand about ME/CFS—a debilitating condition characterized by extreme fatigue that doesn't improve with rest, along with other symptoms like muscle pain, sore throat, and sleep problems. The authors looked at research on possible causes (like viral infections, stress, and immune system problems) and discussed how both conventional medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches might help treat the condition.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Experimental drugs in randomized controlled trials for long-COVID: what's in the pipeline? A systematic and critical review.

Yong, Shin Jie, Halim, Alice, Halim, Michael et al.·Expert opinion on investigational drugs·2023

Researchers reviewed drug treatments being tested for long-COVID in clinical trials to see which ones might actually work. They found that most experimental drugs don't look very promising, but a few stand out: rintatolimod appears most helpful for people with ME/CFS symptoms, while other drugs like LTY-100 and Treamid might help with lung problems from long-COVID. Currently, there is no proven treatment for long-COVID, so finding effective options is urgent.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Aetiological Understanding of Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Classificatory Analogues: A Systematic Umbrella Review.

Kleinstäuber, Maria, Schröder, Andreas, Daehler, Sarah et al.·Clinical psychology in Europe·2023

This study reviewed hundreds of scientific articles about ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome to understand what researchers think causes these conditions. The researchers found that most studies focus on biological factors like immune system problems, while far fewer examine psychological or social causes. The review suggests that the best understanding comes from looking at multiple factors together—biological, psychological, and social—rather than just one type of cause.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Cognitive dysfunction in post-COVID-19 condition: Mechanisms, management, and rehabilitation.

Möller, Marika, Borg, Kristian, Janson, Christer et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2023

Many people experience brain fog and memory problems long after COVID-19 infection, affecting thinking, attention, and processing speed. This review found that 17–28% of people have these cognitive problems more than 3 months after infection, and some experience them for years. Treatment approaches include cognitive training, memory aids, lifestyle adjustments, and education about managing these symptoms.

NeuroinflammationPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hwang, Jae-Hyun, Lee, Jin-Seok, Oh, Hyeon-Muk et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

Researchers analyzed 64 studies involving nearly 5,000 ME/CFS patients to see if viral infections might cause or trigger the illness. They found that certain viruses—particularly Borna disease virus, human herpesvirus-7, parvovirus B19, enterovirus, and Coxsackie B virus—appeared more frequently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people and those with other diseases. While these associations are promising leads, finding a virus more often in patients doesn't prove it causes ME/CFS.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Antimicrobial therapies for chronic pain (part 2): the prevention and treatment of chronic pain.

Wang, Eric J, Dolomisiewicz, Edward, Karri, Jay et al.·The Korean journal of pain·2023

This review examined whether antibiotics and similar antimicrobial medications might help reduce chronic pain in certain conditions, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that some of these medications appear to reduce pain in conditions where dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria) or hidden infections may play a role. However, the evidence is still observational rather than definitively proving cause-and-effect relationships.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Functional neurological disorder in people with long COVID: A systematic review.

Teodoro, Tiago, Chen, Jiaying, Gelauff, Jeannette et al.·European journal of neurology·2023

Researchers reviewed 102 studies about long COVID to see whether some of the neurological symptoms (such as brain fog, headaches, and dizziness) might be functional neurological disorder (FND)—a condition where the nervous system doesn't work properly without obvious physical damage. While these symptoms are common in long COVID, the studies didn't carefully look for the specific patterns that would help diagnose FND, so it remains unclear whether FND plays a role in long COVID.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Functional neurological disorder and functional somatic syndromes among sexual and gender minority people: A scoping review.

Lerario, Mackenzie P, Fusunyan, Mark, Stave, Christopher D et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2023

This study reviewed published research on functional neurological disorders and related conditions (like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome) in sexual and gender minority people. Researchers found only 26 studies on this topic, most of which were small case reports or one-time surveys. The review found that transgender people may experience these conditions more often than cisgender people, and some patients improved when they received gender-affirming care.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Exercise Training in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome-A Narrative Review.

Sick, Johanna, König, Daniel·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This review looked at seven studies involving 935 people with long-COVID symptoms who were not hospitalized during their initial infection. The studies found that exercise programs improved fitness, physical function, and reduced symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and depression. The exercise was generally well-tolerated, but the authors urge caution for people with post-exertional malaise or ME/CFS, since these conditions may respond differently to exercise.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and comparison of pathogenesis.

Bai, Natalie A, Richardson, Christie S·Chronic diseases and translational medicine·2023

This review examined 18 studies comparing two similar chronic illnesses: posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), which affects about 10% of Lyme disease patients even after antibiotic treatment, and ME/CFS. Both conditions cause severe fatigue, cognitive problems, pain, and sleep issues that last for months or years. The researchers found that patients with PTLDS experience many of the same symptoms as ME/CFS patients, suggesting these different illnesses may develop through similar biological pathways in the body.

Severe MEPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

A scoping review of 'Pacing' for management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): lessons learned for the long COVID pandemic.

Sanal-Hayes, Nilihan E M, Mclaughlin, Marie, Hayes, Lawrence D et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

This review looked at 17 studies about 'pacing'—a strategy where people with ME/CFS carefully manage their activity level to avoid making symptoms worse. The researchers found that studies on pacing had very different designs and results: some showed pacing helped, some showed no benefit, and a few suggested it could be harmful. The evidence so far isn't strong enough to confidently say whether pacing works best for everyone.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Identifying, synthesising and appraising existing evidence relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and pregnancy: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Slack, Emma, Pears, Katrina Anne, Rankin, Judith et al.·BMJ open·2023

This review looked at all available research about how ME/CFS affects pregnancy and how pregnancy affects ME/CFS. Researchers found very few good quality studies on this topic. The existing studies showed mixed results: some women's ME/CFS got worse during pregnancy, some stayed the same, and some improved. The review highlights that pregnant people with ME/CFS need personalized care and extra support, but we need much more research to give clear medical guidance.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Exercise Pathophysiology in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: More in Common Than Not?

Joseph, Phillip, Singh, Inderjit, Oliveira, Rudolf et al.·Chest·2023

This review compares how the body responds to exercise in people with long COVID (PASC) and ME/CFS, two conditions that share similar symptoms like extreme tiredness and worsening symptoms after activity. Researchers found that both conditions show similar abnormalities in heart function, blood flow, and breathing during exercise that go beyond simple deconditioning or being out of shape. These shared patterns suggest both conditions may involve similar underlying biological problems, which could help doctors develop better tests and treatments.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredEditorial

The Draft Report by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare Does Not Provide Any Evidence That Graded Exercise Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Are Safe and Effective Treatments for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Alexandra·Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This study examined whether a German health institute's recommendation for graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat ME/CFS was supported by good evidence. The researchers found serious problems with the studies being used to make this recommendation, including weak study designs, reliance on patient reports rather than objective measurements, and inclusion of people who may not have had ME/CFS. They concluded these treatments should not be recommended based on the available evidence.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Long COVID: Complications, Underlying Mechanisms, and Treatment Strategies.

Zadeh, Farigol Hakem, Wilson, Daniel R, Agrawal, Devendra K·Archives of microbiology & immunology·2023

Long COVID refers to symptoms that persist for weeks or months after an initial COVID-19 infection has cleared. This review examines how COVID-19 damages various organs in the body, what causes these problems, and what treatments might help. The authors also discuss how vaccination may affect Long COVID and identify important gaps in our understanding of the condition.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Therapeutic Implications of the Microbial Hypothesis of Mental Illness.

Savitz, Jonathan, Yolken, Robert H·Current topics in behavioral neurosciences·2023

This review examines whether certain germs—especially viruses like EBV and CMV, and parasites—might contribute to mental illness and ME/CFS. Researchers looked at studies testing whether anti-viral and anti-parasite medications could help treat these conditions, and also explored whether changes in gut bacteria might play a role. The authors found some evidence supporting these connections, though much more research is needed to understand how they work.

Immune System

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Efficacy and Acceptance of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Meta-analysis.

Prevalence and measurement of post-exertional malaise in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Clinical evidence of the link between gut microbiome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective review.

Evaluation of safety and effectiveness of NAD in different clinical conditions: a systematic review.

Research progress on pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome and treatment of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

Experimental drugs in randomized controlled trials for long-COVID: what's in the pipeline? A systematic and critical review.

Aetiological Understanding of Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Classificatory Analogues: A Systematic Umbrella Review.

Cognitive dysfunction in post-COVID-19 condition: Mechanisms, management, and rehabilitation.

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Antimicrobial therapies for chronic pain (part 2): the prevention and treatment of chronic pain.

Functional neurological disorder in people with long COVID: A systematic review.

Functional neurological disorder and functional somatic syndromes among sexual and gender minority people: A scoping review.

Exercise Training in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome-A Narrative Review.

Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and comparison of pathogenesis.

A scoping review of 'Pacing' for management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): lessons learned for the long COVID pandemic.

Identifying, synthesising and appraising existing evidence relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and pregnancy: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Exercise Pathophysiology in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: More in Common Than Not?

The Draft Report by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare Does Not Provide Any Evidence That Graded Exercise Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Are Safe and Effective Treatments for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Long COVID: Complications, Underlying Mechanisms, and Treatment Strategies.

Therapeutic Implications of the Microbial Hypothesis of Mental Illness.

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