ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

637 studies

461–480 of 637 studies

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Henningsen, P, Martin, A·Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)·2013

ME/CFS is characterized by persistent, severe fatigue that cannot be traced to a known medical condition. This guideline emphasizes that ME/CFS should be understood as a functional somatic syndrome, meaning the body's systems aren't working optimally even though traditional tests may appear normal. Treatment recommendations include cognitive behavioral therapy and gradually increasing physical activity, which have shown evidence of benefit.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Moss-Morris, Rona, Deary, Vincent, Castell, Bronwyn·Handbook of clinical neurology·2013

ME/CFS is a complex illness where extreme tiredness lasts at least 6 months and can severely limit daily activities. Rather than having one single cause, the condition likely develops from a combination of factors: some people may be triggered by viral infections or stressful life events, while others have genetic traits or personality patterns that increase risk. The condition is then maintained by a cycle involving sleep problems, reduced activity, worry about the illness, and uncertainty from doctors. Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise have shown promise in helping reduce fatigue and improve function.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Jason, Leonard A, Barker, Kristen, Brown, Abigail·Reviews in health care·2012

This review examines how ME/CFS affects children and teenagers, which can be quite different from how it affects adults. The authors looked at existing research on how common pediatric ME/CFS is, how doctors diagnose it, what treatments are available, and what happens to children over time. They identified important gaps in our understanding and call for better ways to recognize and help young people with this condition.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Dysfunctional syndromes and fibromyalgia: a 2012 critical digest.

Sarzi-Puttini, Piercarlo, Atzeni, Fabiola, Di Franco, Manuela et al.·Clinical and experimental rheumatology·2012

This review looked at several long-lasting conditions that cause widespread pain, tiredness, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating—conditions that don't always show up clearly on standard medical tests. The researchers examined fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and irritable bowel syndrome to understand how they're connected and what causes symptoms to keep happening. They found that these conditions share similar patterns in how the nervous system processes pain and fatigue.

Pain and SensitizationCognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

[Neuro-endocrine correlates of burnout].

Verhaeghe, J, Van Den Eede, F, Van Den Ameele, H et al.·Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2012

Burnout, depression, and ME/CFS can feel similar, but they work differently in the body. This review looked at how burnout affects the stress hormone system (HPA-axis). Unlike depression, which over-activates this system, burnout appears to weaken it—similar to what happens in ME/CFS. The researchers found that people with burnout have lower stress hormone responses, suggesting burnout is more like exhaustion than depression.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Overlap between functional GI disorders and other functional syndromes: what are the underlying mechanisms?

Kim, S E, Chang, L·Neurogastroenterology and motility·2012

Many patients with ME/CFS experience overlapping conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and jaw pain. This review looked at what ME/CFS and similar conditions might have in common. The researchers found that these disorders likely share several underlying problems: how the body processes pain, changes in brain activity, possible past infections, immune system problems, and genetic factors that make some people more vulnerable.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Psychopharmacological treatment in patients with somatoform disorders and functional body syndromes].

Kapfhammer, H P·Der Nervenarzt·2012

This review looked at how psychiatric medications (mainly antidepressants) might help people with physical symptoms that doctors cannot fully explain medically. The researchers found that antidepressants can reduce pain and other symptoms in conditions like fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome, but they found no clear proven medication strategy for chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) yet.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

How to exercise people with chronic fatigue syndrome: evidence-based practice guidelines.

Van Cauwenbergh, Deborah, De Kooning, Margot, Ickmans, Kelly et al.·European journal of clinical investigation·2012

This review looked at research studies about exercise therapy for ME/CFS to figure out the best way to recommend exercise to patients. Based on 12 high-quality studies, the researchers found that aerobic exercise (like walking or cycling) works best when done about 10-11 times over 4-5 months, starting with 5-15 minute sessions at home and gradually building up to 30 minutes. They recommend increasing exercise based on time rather than how you're feeling that day.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Quality and acceptability of patient-reported outcome measures used in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): a systematic review.

Haywood, Kirstie L, Staniszewska, Sophie, Chapman, Sarah·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2012

This study looked at questionnaires and surveys used to measure how ME/CFS affects patients' health and quality of life. Researchers reviewed 77 different measurement tools and found that most of them were not thoroughly tested or proven to work well. Importantly, patients were rarely involved in creating or improving these questionnaires, even though patients know best what matters to them.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and treatment.

Yancey, Joseph R, Thomas, Sarah M·American family physician·2012

ME/CFS is a serious illness causing extreme tiredness that doesn't improve with rest, often accompanied by muscle pain, sleep problems, and difficulty thinking clearly. Doctors diagnose it by checking for severe fatigue lasting over six months plus at least four other specific symptoms, while ruling out other diseases. Currently, talk therapy and structured exercise programs show modest benefits, though no medications or alternative treatments have proven effective.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Biomarkers for chronic fatigue.

Klimas, Nancy G, Broderick, Gordon, Fletcher, Mary Ann·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2012

This review examines blood tests and biological markers that might help diagnose ME/CFS, since current diagnosis relies only on symptoms. The researchers found that multiple body systems—including the immune system, stress hormones, and nervous system—appear to be disrupted in ME/CFS patients. However, no single test yet reliably identifies the condition, suggesting ME/CFS may involve complex changes across several systems rather than one simple cause.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

In the mind or in the brain? Scientific evidence for central sensitisation in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nijs, Jo, Meeus, Mira, Van Oosterwijck, Jessica et al.·European journal of clinical investigation·2012

This review examined whether ME/CFS involves a nervous system that becomes overly sensitive to pain and other sensations. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS do show heightened responses to various types of stimuli—including touch, pressure, heat, and electrical stimulation—across multiple body areas. Importantly, this nervous system sensitivity tends to get worse, not better, after exercise or stress, suggesting a fundamental difference in how the central nervous system responds in ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

A review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Anderson, Valerie R, Jason, Leonard A, Hlavaty, Laura E et al.·Patient education and counseling·2012

This study looked at 34 research articles that asked ME/CFS patients and doctors about their experiences with the illness. Researchers found that patients struggle with how the disease changes their identity and ability to function, while doctors often lack knowledge about ME/CFS. A major problem identified was that difficulty getting a diagnosis creates stress, misunderstanding, and unfair treatment of patients with this illness.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

A review of the definitional criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Christley, Yvonne, Duffy, Tim, Martin, Colin R·Journal of evaluation in clinical practice·2012

Doctors have been trying to agree on how to diagnose ME/CFS for over 30 years, but they still don't have a single agreed-upon definition. This review looked at five different official definitions that doctors use to diagnose the condition. The most commonly used definition, from the CDC in 1994, has never been proven to be better than the others and has been criticized for not being specific enough.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The prevalence of fibromyalgia in other chronic pain conditions.

Yunus, Muhammad B·Pain research and treatment·2012

This review examined how often fibromyalgia (a condition causing widespread pain and fatigue) occurs alongside other chronic pain conditions, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that fibromyalgia frequently co-occurs with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and osteoarthritis, and that it can be missed or misdiagnosed in people who have these other diseases. Recognizing fibromyalgia separately is important because it may change how doctors treat patients and what medications they use.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Sleep abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a review.

Jackson, Melinda L, Bruck, Dorothy·Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine·2012

People with ME/CFS often complain of sleep that doesn't feel refreshing, even when they sleep for normal or long amounts of time. This review looked at research studies measuring sleep in ME/CFS patients and found that standard sleep tests usually don't show obvious differences between patients and healthy people. However, newer, more detailed measurement techniques are beginning to reveal subtle sleep problems that standard tests miss.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Pacing as a strategy to improve energy management in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a consensus document.

Goudsmit, Ellen M, Nijs, Jo, Jason, Leonard A et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2012

This review examined pacing, a strategy where people with ME/CFS carefully manage their energy use to avoid overexertion. The researchers found that pacing is one of the most helpful approaches patients report using, and evidence suggests it can help stabilize symptoms and reduce post-exertional malaise (the characteristic worsening that follows activity). Pacing can be adjusted to fit each person's individual abilities and is generally accepted well by patients.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Systematic reviews of TCM trials: how does inclusion of Chinese trials affect outcome?

Adams, Denise, Wu, Taixiang, Yasui, Yutaka et al.·Journal of evidence-based medicine·2012

This study looked at whether including research studies published in Chinese would change what we know about treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and infectious mononucleosis with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Researchers searched both English and Chinese databases for high-quality studies. While searching Chinese databases found many more studies than English databases, most of these studies had serious design problems and couldn't be used to draw reliable conclusions.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Behavior problems in children and adolescents with chronic physical illness: a meta-analysis.

Pinquart, Martin, Shen, Yuhui·Journal of pediatric psychology·2011

This large review of 569 studies found that children and teenagers with chronic physical illnesses—including ME/CFS—experience higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems compared to healthy peers. Children with ME/CFS showed particularly high levels of emotional problems like anxiety and depression. The review emphasizes that doctors should routinely screen young patients with chronic illnesses for psychological distress and refer them to mental health services when needed.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearObservational

Treating chronic fatigue syndrome - a study into the scientific evidence for pharmacological treatments.

Kreijkamp-Kaspers, Sanne, Brenu, Ekua Weba, Marshall, Sonya et al.·Australian family physician·2011

This study looked at what medicines and supplements 94 people with ME/CFS were taking and checked what scientific evidence supported their use. The patients were using hundreds of different treatments, with antidepressants, pain relievers, sleep aids, and B vitamins being the most common. However, when researchers searched for rigorous studies proving these treatments work for ME/CFS, they found very limited evidence—only 20 good-quality trials existed for the medicines patients were using.

Interventions

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Evidence browser

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Dysfunctional syndromes and fibromyalgia: a 2012 critical digest.

[Neuro-endocrine correlates of burnout].

Overlap between functional GI disorders and other functional syndromes: what are the underlying mechanisms?

[Psychopharmacological treatment in patients with somatoform disorders and functional body syndromes].

How to exercise people with chronic fatigue syndrome: evidence-based practice guidelines.

Quality and acceptability of patient-reported outcome measures used in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): a systematic review.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and treatment.

Biomarkers for chronic fatigue.

In the mind or in the brain? Scientific evidence for central sensitisation in chronic fatigue syndrome.

A review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

A review of the definitional criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The prevalence of fibromyalgia in other chronic pain conditions.

Sleep abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a review.

Pacing as a strategy to improve energy management in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a consensus document.

Systematic reviews of TCM trials: how does inclusion of Chinese trials affect outcome?

Behavior problems in children and adolescents with chronic physical illness: a meta-analysis.

Treating chronic fatigue syndrome - a study into the scientific evidence for pharmacological treatments.

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