ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2795 studies

1421–1440 of 2,795 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Internet-based therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: long-term follow-up.

Nijhof, Sanne L, Priesterbach, Loudy P, Uiterwaal, Cuno S P M et al.·Pediatrics·2013

This study followed adolescents with ME/CFS for nearly 3 years after they completed an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy program called FITNET. About 59% of teenagers had recovered from their illness by the end of the follow-up period, and most of those who improved right after treatment stayed better. Interestingly, teens who received standard care also recovered at similar rates over time, though it took longer.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI): establishing clinically significant values for identifying central sensitivity syndromes in an outpatient chronic pain sample.

Neblett, Randy, Cohen, Howard, Choi, YunHee et al.·The journal of pain·2013

This study tested a questionnaire called the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) to see if it could help doctors identify patients with conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers believe these conditions may share a common cause: the nervous system becoming overly sensitive to pain and other stimuli. The study found that a CSI score of 40 or higher was a good way to identify patients with these central sensitivity syndromes.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Epitopes of microbial and human heat shock protein 60 and their recognition in myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Elfaitouri, Amal, Herrmann, Björn, Bölin-Wiener, Agnes et al.·PloS one·2013

This study looked at whether ME/CFS patients have different immune responses to heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), a protein found in both human cells and bacteria. Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people, finding that some ME/CFS patients had specific antibodies against a bacterial version of this protein. This suggests that a past infection might trigger the immune system to attack proteins in the body, which could contribute to ME/CFS.

Immune System

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 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 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Clinical characteristics of a novel subgroup of chronic fatigue syndrome patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Lewis, I, Pairman, J, Spickett, G et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2013

Some ME/CFS patients also have POTS (a condition where the heart rate and blood pressure don't adjust properly when standing up). This study found that ME/CFS patients with POTS are younger, experience less severe fatigue and depression, and have different patterns of daytime sleepiness compared to ME/CFS patients without POTS. A simple combination of two questionnaires can accurately identify which ME/CFS patients have POTS, potentially helping doctors decide who needs additional testing and treatment.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue and personality: a twin study of causal pathways and shared liabilities.

Poeschla, Brian, Strachan, Eric, Dansie, Elizabeth et al.·Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·2013

This study looked at whether personality traits like emotional stability and sociability are connected to chronic fatigue and ME/CFS. Researchers studied 245 pairs of twins and found that people who are more emotionally unstable tend to have more chronic fatigue, while people who are less outgoing also experience more fatigue. Interestingly, emotional instability and fatigue appear to be linked through shared genes, but low sociability may actually contribute to fatigue in a way that works both directions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Association of monoamine-synthesizing genes with the depression tendency and personality in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Fukuda, Sanae, Horiguchi, Mieko, Yamaguti, Kouzi et al.·Life sciences·2013

This study looked at whether specific genetic variations in two genes (GCH and TH) that help make important brain chemicals were linked to ME/CFS. Researchers compared DNA from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls and gave patients personality and fatigue questionnaires. They found that while these genetic variations weren't directly connected to developing ME/CFS, certain variations were associated with specific personality traits—like how perfectionist or cautious someone tends to be.

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 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

CFS in Children and Adolescent: Ten Years of Retrospective Clinical Evaluation.

Elgen, Irene, Hikmat, Omar, Aspevik, Tora N et al.·International journal of pediatrics·2013

This study looked at 27 children and adolescents diagnosed with ME/CFS over a 10-year period in one clinic. Almost all of them developed fatigue after an infection and showed evidence of past viral infections. About 44% were underweight. The researchers concluded that diagnosing ME/CFS in young people requires careful evaluation by multiple specialists and attention to nutrition and mental health.

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 unclearObservational

Lack of evidence for retroviral infections formerly related to chronic fatigue in Spanish fibromyalgia patients.

Oltra, Elisa, García-Escudero, María, Mena-Durán, Armando Vicente et al.·Virology journal·2013

Researchers tested whether two viruses previously thought to be linked to ME/CFS and fibromyalgia were actually present in Spanish patients with these conditions. They found no reliable evidence that either virus was present in patient samples, and concluded that earlier positive results were likely due to contamination in the laboratory rather than genuine infections.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Screening NK-, B- and T-cell phenotype and function in patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Curriu, Marta, Carrillo, Jorge, Massanella, Marta et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2013

This study examined the immune cells in the blood of 22 people with ME/CFS and 30 healthy controls using a technique called flow cytometry. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had some notable differences in their T cells and NK cells—types of white blood cells that help fight infections—while B cells appeared largely normal. These immune cell differences may help doctors identify ME/CFS and might explain why people with the condition get frequent viral infections.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

No association between XMRV or related gammaretroviruses in Australian prostate cancer patients.

Rezaei, Simin D, Hearps, Anna C, Mills, John et al.·Virology journal·2013

Researchers tested tissue samples from 35 Australian prostate cancer patients to see if they contained XMRV or related viruses, which had been claimed to cause both prostate cancer and ME/CFS. Using sensitive laboratory tests, they found no evidence of these viruses in any of the samples. This study adds to growing evidence that XMRV is not actually involved in prostate cancer and was likely a laboratory contamination rather than a real virus.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Mental illness in metropolitan, urban and rural Georgia populations.

Reeves, William C, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Nater, Urs M·BMC public health·2013

This study looked at how common mental health conditions like anxiety and depression are in people living in different areas of Georgia (cities, towns, and rural areas). Researchers found that people with ME/CFS-like illness had higher rates of anxiety and depression than people without the condition. Women, people with less education, and those living in rural areas were more likely to experience these mental health conditions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Are there sleep-specific phenotypes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome? A cross-sectional polysomnography analysis.

Gotts, Zoe M, Deary, Vincent, Newton, Julia et al.·BMJ open·2013

This study looked at sleep patterns in 343 people with chronic fatigue syndrome using overnight sleep monitoring machines. Researchers found that about 30% of patients had a separate sleep disorder, and the remaining patients fell into four different groups based on their sleep problems—some had trouble falling asleep, some had frequent sleep interruptions, some slept longer than average, and some had very short sleep with lots of waking. The findings suggest that people with ME/CFS have different types of sleep problems and may benefit from different sleep treatments based on their specific pattern.

Sleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Medical comorbidities in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNES) referred for video-EEG monitoring.

Dixit, Ronak, Popescu, Alexandra, Bagić, Anto et al.·Epilepsy & behavior : E&B·2013

This study looked at 280 patients seen at a hospital epilepsy unit to understand what health conditions are more common in people with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNES)—seizure-like episodes that aren't caused by epilepsy—compared to those with actual epilepsy. They found that patients with PNES were more likely to be female, have a history of trauma, and experience conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers suggest these patterns might help doctors identify PNES earlier and order the right tests sooner.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

Cognitive behavior therapy in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: the role of illness acceptance and neuroticism.

Poppe, Carine, Petrovic, Mirko, Vogelaers, Dirk et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2013

This study tested whether cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)—a talking treatment that helps change thought patterns and behaviors—improves quality of life in ME/CFS patients. Eighty patients received CBT and reported on their mental health, physical wellbeing, fatigue, and personality traits before and after treatment. While patients did improve, the gains were modest, and the study found that personality traits like neuroticism and how much patients accept their illness affected who benefited most.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Human endogenous retrovirus-K18 superantigen expression and human herpesvirus-6 and human herpesvirus-7 viral loads in chronic fatigue patients.

Oakes, Brendan, Hoagland-Henefield, Matthias, Komaroff, Anthony L et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2013

Researchers tested whether two common viruses (HHV-6 and HHV-7) and a genetic element called HERV-K18 were present at higher levels in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. They measured these in blood and saliva samples from 39 ME/CFS patients and 9 healthy people. They found no significant differences between the two groups, and these markers did not correlate with how severe patients' symptoms were.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Influence of symptom expectancies on stair-climbing performance in chronic fatigue syndrome: effect of study context.

Heins, Marianne, Knoop, Hans, Nijs, Jo et al.·International journal of behavioral medicine·2013

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients' expectations about getting worse after physical activity affect how they actually perform during that activity. Researchers had 49 patients climb stairs while measuring how long it took and how their heart rate changed. They found that patients who expected to feel more fatigued after climbing took longer to complete the task, even after accounting for their initial fatigue level. Worry about symptoms and catastrophic thinking about their condition appeared to play a role in these expectations.

Post-Exertional Malaise

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Internet-based therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: long-term follow-up.

The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI): establishing clinically significant values for identifying central sensitivity syndromes in an outpatient chronic pain sample.

Epitopes of microbial and human heat shock protein 60 and their recognition in myalgic encephalomyelitis.

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

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

Clinical characteristics of a novel subgroup of chronic fatigue syndrome patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Chronic fatigue and personality: a twin study of causal pathways and shared liabilities.

Association of monoamine-synthesizing genes with the depression tendency and personality in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

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

CFS in Children and Adolescent: Ten Years of Retrospective Clinical Evaluation.

Detection of antinuclear antibodies by automated indirect immunofluorescence analysis.

Lack of evidence for retroviral infections formerly related to chronic fatigue in Spanish fibromyalgia patients.

Screening NK-, B- and T-cell phenotype and function in patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

No association between XMRV or related gammaretroviruses in Australian prostate cancer patients.

Mental illness in metropolitan, urban and rural Georgia populations.

Are there sleep-specific phenotypes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome? A cross-sectional polysomnography analysis.

Medical comorbidities in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNES) referred for video-EEG monitoring.

Cognitive behavior therapy in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: the role of illness acceptance and neuroticism.

Human endogenous retrovirus-K18 superantigen expression and human herpesvirus-6 and human herpesvirus-7 viral loads in chronic fatigue patients.

Influence of symptom expectancies on stair-climbing performance in chronic fatigue syndrome: effect of study context.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research