ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

1361–1380 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Early-life hygiene-related factors affect risk of central nervous system demyelination and asthma differentially.

Hughes, A-M, Lucas, R M, McMichael, A J et al.·Clinical and experimental immunology·2013

This study looked at whether early childhood experiences—like having siblings and attending childcare—affect the risk of developing central nervous system demyelination (a condition where the protective coating around nerve fibers becomes damaged). Researchers compared adults with demyelination to healthy controls and found that having younger siblings appeared to protect against demyelination, while the number of older siblings affected asthma risk differently. Interestingly, people with demyelination were more likely to also have chronic fatigue syndrome.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Chronic fatigue syndrome 5 years after giardiasis: differential diagnoses, characteristics and natural course.

Mørch, Kristine, Hanevik, Kurt, Rivenes, Ann C et al.·BMC gastroenterology·2013

After a water contamination outbreak in Norway, researchers followed people who developed severe tiredness following a Giardia intestinal infection. Five years after infection, they found that about 41% of patients still had chronic fatigue syndrome, while about 21% had recovered completely. The study also identified other conditions like sleep problems and depression that sometimes occur alongside post-infectious fatigue.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Exercise challenge in Gulf War Illness reveals two subgroups with altered brain structure and function.

Rayhan, Rakib U, Stevens, Benson W, Raksit, Megna P et al.·PloS one·2013

This study looked at Gulf War veterans who experience post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a worsening of symptoms after physical activity—and compared them to healthy controls. Researchers used brain imaging before and after exercise tests and found that Gulf War Illness patients fell into two distinct groups: one with heart rate problems and one with increased pain sensitivity. Both groups showed different patterns of brain structure changes and how their brains responded to exercise, while healthy controls showed no such changes.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Migraine in gulf war illness and chronic fatigue syndrome: prevalence, potential mechanisms, and evaluation.

Rayhan, Rakib U, Ravindran, Murugan K, Baraniuk, James N·Frontiers in physiology·2013

This study found that migraines are very common in people with ME/CFS and Gulf War Illness—occurring in about 8 out of 10 ME/CFS patients and 6 out of 10 Gulf War Illness patients, compared to only 1 out of 8 healthy people. The researchers suggest that both conditions may affect how the brain and nervous system process pain, and that doctors should routinely check for and treat migraines in patients with these illnesses.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Long-term parental unemployment in childhood and subsequent chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fuller-Thomson, Esme, Mehta, Rukshan, Sulman, Joanne·ISRN family medicine·2013

This study looked at whether having a parent who was unemployed for a long time during childhood is connected to developing ME/CFS later in life. Researchers surveyed over 7,000 Canadian women and found that those who experienced parental unemployment in childhood were about 3 times more likely to have ME/CFS as adults, even after accounting for other life challenges and health factors.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A comparison of sex-specific immune signatures in Gulf War illness and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Smylie, Anne Liese, Broderick, Gordon, Fernandes, Henrique et al.·BMC immunology·2013

This study compared immune system markers in blood samples from Gulf War veterans with illness, people with ME/CFS, and healthy controls. Researchers measured immune chemicals (called cytokines) before, during, and after exercise to see if different patterns could identify each group. They found distinct immune fingerprints for each condition, and importantly, these patterns differed between men and women.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Prevalence of DSM-IV personality disorders in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a controlled study.

Kempke, Stefan, Van Den Eede, Filip, Schotte, Chris et al.·International journal of behavioral medicine·2013

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS have more personality disorders than the general population. Researchers gave 92 women with ME/CFS and two comparison groups (92 community members and 92 psychiatric patients) a questionnaire about personality traits. The results showed that ME/CFS patients had personality disorder rates similar to healthy people, not higher rates, though they did show some depressive and obsessive-compulsive traits.

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Detection of antinuclear antibodies by automated indirect immunofluorescence analysis.

Bossuyt, Xavier, Cooreman, Sarah, De Baere, Heidi et al.·Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry·2013

This study tested an automated machine to detect antinuclear antibodies (ANA)—proteins the immune system sometimes makes that can be seen in blood tests. Researchers compared how well this automated system worked compared to traditional methods, using blood samples from people with autoimmune diseases, healthy donors, people with chronic fatigue syndrome, and other patient groups. The machine was good at collecting images but had difficulty identifying the specific patterns of these antibodies accurately.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Association of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis with urinary calculus: a nationwide population-based study.

Keller, Joseph, Chen, Yi-Kuang, Lin, Herng-Ching·International urogynecology journal·2013

This study looked at whether people with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) are more likely to have had kidney stones or other urinary stones. Researchers compared about 9,000 people newly diagnosed with BPS/IC to over 46,000 similar people without BPS/IC and found that those with BPS/IC were significantly more likely to have a history of urinary stones, particularly bladder stones.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Undiagnosed and comorbid disorders in patients with presumed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mariman, An, Delesie, Liesbeth, Tobback, Els et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2013

Researchers studied nearly 280 patients who came to a specialized clinic thinking they had ME/CFS, and gave them thorough medical, sleep, and mental health assessments. They found that only about 23% actually had clear-cut ME/CFS; most others had sleep problems like sleep apnea, depression or anxiety, or a combination of these conditions. This suggests that when people feel persistently exhausted, many different medical and mental health issues could be the real cause.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Role of childhood adversity in the development of medical co-morbidities associated with bipolar disorder.

Post, Robert M, Altshuler, Lori L, Leverich, Gabriele S et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2013

This study looked at whether difficult experiences in childhood (such as abuse or having parents with mental health problems) are connected to physical health problems in adults with bipolar disorder. Over 900 adults answered questions about their childhood and their current medical conditions. The researchers found that people who experienced more childhood adversity tended to have more medical problems as adults, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and several other conditions.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Attributions, distress and behavioural responses in the significant others of people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brooks, Joanna M, Daglish, Julie, Wearden, Alison J·Journal of health psychology·2013

This study looked at how family members and close friends of people with ME/CFS think about the illness and how those beliefs affect their emotions and behavior toward the patient. Researchers interviewed 30 family members and found that when they blamed the patient personally for their symptoms—rather than understanding it as a medical condition—they experienced more stress and were more likely to respond negatively to the patient. Understanding these beliefs could help develop better family-based support programs.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A cross-cultural perspective on psychological determinants of chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison between a Portuguese and a Dutch patient sample.

Marques, M, De Gucht, V, Leal, I et al.·International journal of behavioral medicine·2013

This study compared ME/CFS patients from Portugal and the Netherlands to see how their experiences with fatigue, physical symptoms, and quality of life were similar or different. Researchers found that while both groups experienced worse quality of life when fatigue was more severe, the psychological and behavioral factors that made fatigue worse were somewhat different between the two countries.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

The number of existing functional somatic syndromes (FSSs) is an important risk factor for new, different FSSs.

Warren, John W, Langenberg, Patricia, Clauw, Daniel J·Journal of psychosomatic research·2013

This study found that people who have multiple overlapping illnesses like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and others are more likely to develop additional new conditions over time. The more conditions someone already had, the higher their risk of developing a new one. This suggests these conditions may share common underlying causes rather than being completely separate diseases.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive performance is of clinical importance, but is unrelated to pain severity in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ickmans, Kelly, Meeus, Mira, Kos, Daphne et al.·Clinical rheumatology·2013

This study looked at whether cognitive problems (thinking, memory, attention) in women with ME/CFS are related to pain severity. Researchers gave cognitive tests and questionnaires to 29 women with ME/CFS and 17 healthy women. They found that cognitive problems were NOT linked to pain levels, but were connected to fatigue and mental health, suggesting that cognitive difficulties in ME/CFS may work differently than in other chronic pain conditions.

Pain and SensitizationCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Health and identity: Self-positioning in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Fuchs, Coralie E, van Geelen, Stefan M, van Geel, Rolf et al.·Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2013

This study looked at how teenagers with ME/CFS and teenagers with juvenile arthritis see themselves and their health. Researchers found that teenagers with ME/CFS tend to view themselves more negatively—focusing on being tired and unwell—while teenagers with arthritis tend to see themselves as strong and healthy despite physical problems. The study suggests that how young people think about themselves during this important developmental period may affect their long-term wellbeing.

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Cholecystectomy and clinical presentations of gastroparesis.

Parkman, Henry P, Yates, Katherine, Hasler, William L et al.·Digestive diseases and sciences·2013

This study looked at 391 patients with gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach empties food slowly) to see if those who had their gallbladder removed had different symptoms than those who hadn't. They found that patients who had gallbladder surgery experienced more severe upper abdominal pain and retching, but less constipation. Interestingly, patients with prior gallbladder removal also had more other health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Health-related quality of life in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and frequently associated comorbidities.

Suskind, Anne M, Berry, Sandra H, Suttorp, Marika J et al.·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2013

This study looked at how chronic conditions—including fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and irritable bowel syndrome—affect quality of life in women with bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Researchers surveyed 276 women and found that fibromyalgia and IBS were linked to significantly worse physical and mental health outcomes, while ME/CFS showed no significant association. The findings suggest that treating bladder pain syndrome effectively requires addressing other conditions a patient may have.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Is chronic fatigue syndrome in older patients a different disease? -- a clinical cohort study.

Lewis, Ieuan, Pairman, Jessie, Spickett, Gavin et al.·European journal of clinical investigation·2013

This study compared ME/CFS symptoms and nervous system function in older patients (age 50+) versus younger patients (ages 16-29). Researchers found that older patients experienced more severe fatigue and depression, along with greater imbalance in their autonomic nervous system—the system that controls heart rate, blood pressure, and other automatic body functions. The results suggest that ME/CFS may present differently and more severely in older adults.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Contrasting Chronic Fatigue Syndrome versus Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Jason, Leonard A, Brown, Abigail, Evans, Meredyth et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2013

This study compared two different sets of diagnostic criteria used to identify ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that the Canadian criteria are stricter and identify patients who tend to be more severely affected, while the older Fukuda criteria cast a wider net. This suggests that the criteria used to diagnose someone with ME/CFS can significantly affect who gets identified as having the condition.

Diagnostics

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Early-life hygiene-related factors affect risk of central nervous system demyelination and asthma differentially.

Chronic fatigue syndrome 5 years after giardiasis: differential diagnoses, characteristics and natural course.

Exercise challenge in Gulf War Illness reveals two subgroups with altered brain structure and function.

Migraine in gulf war illness and chronic fatigue syndrome: prevalence, potential mechanisms, and evaluation.

Long-term parental unemployment in childhood and subsequent chronic fatigue syndrome.

A comparison of sex-specific immune signatures in Gulf War illness and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prevalence of DSM-IV personality disorders in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a controlled study.

Detection of antinuclear antibodies by automated indirect immunofluorescence analysis.

Association of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis with urinary calculus: a nationwide population-based study.

Undiagnosed and comorbid disorders in patients with presumed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Role of childhood adversity in the development of medical co-morbidities associated with bipolar disorder.

Attributions, distress and behavioural responses in the significant others of people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

A cross-cultural perspective on psychological determinants of chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison between a Portuguese and a Dutch patient sample.

The number of existing functional somatic syndromes (FSSs) is an important risk factor for new, different FSSs.

Cognitive performance is of clinical importance, but is unrelated to pain severity in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Health and identity: Self-positioning in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Cholecystectomy and clinical presentations of gastroparesis.

Health-related quality of life in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and frequently associated comorbidities.

Is chronic fatigue syndrome in older patients a different disease? -- a clinical cohort study.

Contrasting Chronic Fatigue Syndrome versus Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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