ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

637 studies

201–220 of 637 studies

Systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive impairment in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Aoun Sebaiti, Mehdi, Hainselin, Mathieu, Gounden, Yannick et al.·Scientific reports·2022

This large review examined research on thinking and memory problems in ME/CFS by looking at 764 studies published over 30 years. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS commonly experience difficulties with memory (especially visual and verbal memory), processing speed when reading, and attention, but their problem-solving and basic mental functions are usually preserved. The study shows that cognitive problems in ME/CFS are real and measurable, though they vary from person to person.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Fang, Yang, Yue, Bo-Wen, Ma, Han-Bo et al.·Medicine·2022

This review looked at 51 studies testing whether acupuncture and moxibustion (traditional Chinese medicine treatments) help people with chronic fatigue syndrome. The researchers combined results from these studies and found that traditional Chinese medicine treatments, especially moxibustion alone or combined with acupuncture, showed better improvements in fatigue symptoms compared to other treatments like standard Western medicines.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEvidence-Map

Fatigue, post-exertional malaise and orthostatic intolerance: a map of Cochrane evidence relevant to rehabilitation for people with post COVID-19 condition.

Arienti, Chiara, Cordani, Claudio, Lazzarini, Stefano G et al.·European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine·2022

This study looked at what treatments have helped people with fatigue and exercise problems in other conditions to understand what might help people with long COVID. Researchers found that exercise programs, telehealth rehabilitation, and educational interventions showed promise for fatigue, while combined aerobic and anaerobic training helped with exercise intolerance. However, they found very little research specifically on post-exertional malaise (feeling much worse after activity) or orthostatic intolerance (dizziness when standing), which are key symptoms in post-COVID and ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Ginseng for the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies.

Yang, Juan, Shin, Kyung-Min, Abu Dabrh, Abd Moain et al.·Global advances in health and medicine·2022

Researchers looked at whether ginseng, a plant supplement used for fatigue in other conditions, might help people with ME/CFS. They found only 2 small studies with a total of 68 patients. While the results suggest ginseng might be helpful, there isn't enough evidence yet to say for certain whether it works or is safe for ME/CFS patients.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Is It Useful to Question the Recovery Behaviour of Patients with ME/CFS or Long COVID?

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Friso·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This review looked at research studies testing two treatments commonly recommended for ME/CFS: graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The researchers found that patients were actually more likely to be unable to work after receiving these treatments than before, and that both treatments can be harmful. The authors conclude that doctors should stop encouraging ME/CFS patients to push themselves harder to recover, since these approaches don't work and may make things worse.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Post-viral fatigue in COVID-19: A review of symptom assessment methods, mental, cognitive, and physical impairment.

Campos, Maria Cristine, Nery, Tatyana, Starke, Ana Carolina et al.·Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2022

This review looked at how doctors and researchers measure fatigue in people who have long-term tiredness after COVID-19. The study found that fatigue after COVID-19 is common and can affect thinking, mood, and physical abilities. The researchers identified different tools—questionnaires and performance tests—that can help measure how tired someone feels and how much their tiredness limits their daily activities.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

What Primary Care Practitioners Need to Know about the New NICE Guideline for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adults.

Kingdon, Caroline, Lowe, Adam, Shepherd, Charles et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

The new NICE guideline (published October 2021) represents an important shift in how ME/CFS is recognized and treated. It acknowledges that ME/CFS is a serious medical condition, recognizes post-exertional malaise as a core symptom, and recommends against treatments like graded exercise therapy that can worsen symptoms. Instead, it calls for personalized care plans developed by a team of healthcare professionals who understand the condition.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Stigma perceived by patients with functional somatic syndromes and its effect on health outcomes - A systematic review.

Ko, Charlotte, Lucassen, Peter, van der Linden, Britt et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2022

This review examined whether patients with functional somatic syndromes like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS experience more stigma and negative health effects than patients with other medical conditions. The researchers found that ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients did experience higher levels of stigma compared to patients with clearly explained medical conditions, and stigma was linked to worse health outcomes in all groups studied.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhang, Yang, Jin, Fangfang, Wei, Xing et al.·Frontiers in pharmacology·2022

This review looked at 84 studies testing whether Chinese herbal medicines help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The analysis found that patients taking these herbal treatments reported improvements in fatigue, mood, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and showed some changes in immune markers. However, the researchers caution that the studies included were not high quality, so we should be careful about trusting these results until better research is done.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

What treatments work for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome? An updated systematic review.

Clery, Philippa, Royston, Alexander, Driver, Katie et al.·BMJ open·2022

This review looked at studies on treating anxiety and depression in children with ME/CFS. Researchers found only 16 studies since 1991 that measured these mental health symptoms. While some treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) showed promise, the quality of evidence was poor and there were too few studies to say which treatments actually work best for children with ME/CFS who have anxiety or depression.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Human Herpesvirus 6 Infection and Risk of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Mozhgani, Sayed-Hamidreza, Rajabi, Farid, Qurbani, Mohsen et al.·Intervirology·2022

This study reviewed and combined the results of 17 different research studies to see if there's a connection between a common virus called HHV-6 and ME/CFS. The researchers found evidence suggesting that HHV-6 infection may be associated with developing ME/CFS, but they emphasize that more research is needed to fully understand this relationship.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The underlying sex differences in neuroendocrine adaptations relevant to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Thomas, Natalie, Gurvich, Caroline, Huang, Katherine et al.·Frontiers in neuroendocrinology·2022

This review examines why ME/CFS affects women much more often than men and how sex hormones may play a role. The authors found that female hormonal changes—such as those during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause—are linked to ME/CFS onset and symptoms. They suggest that differences in how men's and women's bodies handle stress hormones like cortisol and estrogen may help explain why women develop ME/CFS more frequently and sometimes experience different symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Stabilometric Biofeedback Training in Cognitive and Affective Function Improvement. Contribution of the Russian Scientific School. Part II.

Bazanova, O M, Kovaleva, A V·Human physiology·2022

This review examines how balance training using computer feedback can help improve thinking, mood, and symptom management in people with chronic fatigue syndrome and other neurological conditions. The researchers looked at studies from Russia and other countries that used a technique called stabilometric biofeedback, which shows patients real-time information about their body's balance and posture to help them improve control and function.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredMeta-Analysis

Pain-Related Post-Exertional Malaise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis.

Barhorst, Ellen E, Boruch, Alexander E, Cook, Dane B et al.·Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)·2022

This review examined whether people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia experience increased pain after exercise. Researchers combined data from 15 studies and found that yes, patients do have more pain after physical activity than healthy people do—especially when pain was measured 8-72 hours later. This confirms that pain is a real and significant part of post-exertional malaise (the worsening of symptoms after activity).

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning.

Porter, Nicole, Jason, Leonard A·Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment·2022

This review examines whether mindfulness meditation—a practice involving focused attention and relaxation—might help people with Long COVID and ME/CFS. The authors looked at existing research showing that meditation can reduce fatigue and sleep problems, and may help calm inflammation in the body after viral infections. They suggest that meditation could be a helpful tool to manage symptoms and potentially address some of the underlying biological problems in these conditions.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Systematic Review of Mind-Body Interventions to Treat Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Khanpour Ardestani, Samaneh, Karkhaneh, Mohammad, Stein, Eleanor et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2021

Researchers looked at 12 studies examining whether mind-body techniques like meditation, yoga, and relaxation exercises could help ME/CFS symptoms. Most studies found these techniques improved fatigue, anxiety, and depression, and helped people feel better overall. However, the studies were small and used different methods, so we need more research to know how well these treatments really work.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Cost-effectiveness of Interventions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations.

Cochrane, M, Mitchell, E, Hollingworth, W et al.·Applied health economics and health policy·2021

This review looked at whether ME/CFS treatments are worth the money they cost. Researchers found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a type of talking therapy—appears to be cost-effective for some adults with ME/CFS, though results varied depending on how it was delivered. There is much less evidence for other treatments, and very little research on what works best for children with ME/CFS.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Associations Between Psychological and Immunological Variables in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Systematic Review.

Raanes, Emilie F W, Stiles, Tore C·Frontiers in psychiatry·2021

This review looked at 14 studies to understand how the mind and immune system are connected in ME/CFS. Researchers found that psychological factors like sleep quality, how people manage emotions, and how well they interact with others were linked to immune markers called cytokines. While these connections exist, the evidence is still limited and most studies were done at single points in time rather than following patients over years.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-A Systemic Review and Comparison of Clinical Presentation and Symptomatology.

Wong, Timothy L, Weitzer, Danielle J·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2021

Researchers reviewed 21 studies about Long COVID (symptoms lasting months after COVID-19 infection) and compared them to ME/CFS symptoms. They found that Long COVID patients reported 25 out of 29 known ME/CFS symptoms, suggesting these two conditions share many similarities. The study highlights the need for better monitoring and treatment of patients with Long COVID, and calls for more standardized research methods to understand both conditions better.

Long COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM unclearGuideline

Approach to Fatigue: Best Practice.

Dukes, Jason C, Chakan, Matthew, Mills, Aaron et al.·The Medical clinics of North America·2021

Fatigue can come from many different causes, so doctors need to carefully listen to patients' histories and perform physical exams rather than just ordering lots of tests. Fatigue may be caused by an underlying medical condition that can be treated, or it may be a primary condition on its own (now called system exertion intolerance disease). Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for primary fatigue, so treatment focuses on personalized exercise programs and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Diagnostics

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Evidence browser

Systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive impairment in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Fatigue, post-exertional malaise and orthostatic intolerance: a map of Cochrane evidence relevant to rehabilitation for people with post COVID-19 condition.

Ginseng for the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies.

Is It Useful to Question the Recovery Behaviour of Patients with ME/CFS or Long COVID?

Post-viral fatigue in COVID-19: A review of symptom assessment methods, mental, cognitive, and physical impairment.

What Primary Care Practitioners Need to Know about the New NICE Guideline for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adults.

Stigma perceived by patients with functional somatic syndromes and its effect on health outcomes - A systematic review.

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

What treatments work for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome? An updated systematic review.

Human Herpesvirus 6 Infection and Risk of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The underlying sex differences in neuroendocrine adaptations relevant to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Stabilometric Biofeedback Training in Cognitive and Affective Function Improvement. Contribution of the Russian Scientific School. Part II.

Pain-Related Post-Exertional Malaise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis.

Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning.

Systematic Review of Mind-Body Interventions to Treat Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Cost-effectiveness of Interventions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations.

Associations Between Psychological and Immunological Variables in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Systematic Review.

Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-A Systemic Review and Comparison of Clinical Presentation and Symptomatology.

Approach to Fatigue: Best Practice.

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