ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2807 studies

1661–1680 of 2,807 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cumulative life stress in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nater, Urs M, Maloney, Elizabeth, Heim, Christine et al.·Psychiatry research·2011

This study looked at whether stressful life events are more common in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had experienced more stressors and reported higher levels of psychological distress, and were more likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder. This suggests that life stress may play a role in ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Cognitive behavioural treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome in a rehabilitation setting: effectiveness and predictors of outcome.

Schreurs, K M G, Veehof, M M, Passade, L et al.·Behaviour research and therapy·2011

This study tested whether combining cognitive behavioural therapy (a type of talking therapy that addresses thought patterns and behaviours) with graded exercise therapy (gradually increasing physical activity) helps people with ME/CFS. About one-third of patients experienced meaningful improvement in fatigue and physical function. The study found that patients who were more physically active before treatment, felt more in control of their symptoms, and had been unwell for a shorter time tended to do better.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A brain MRI study of chronic fatigue syndrome: evidence of brainstem dysfunction and altered homeostasis.

Barnden, Leighton R, Crouch, Benjamin, Kwiatek, Richard et al.·NMR in biomedicine·2011

This study used specialized brain imaging (MRI) to compare 25 people with ME/CFS to 25 healthy controls, looking at brain structure and how it related to fatigue severity and other symptoms. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS showed differences in brainstem volume (a critical part of the brain controlling basic functions) that correlated with how long fatigue had lasted, and unusual patterns in how blood pressure related to brainstem structure. These findings suggest ME/CFS may involve damage to a specific brain region that disrupts the body's automatic control systems.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Selected Health Conditions Among Overweight, Obese, and Non-Obese Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War: Results from a Survey Conducted in 2003-2005.

Coughlin, Steven S, Kang, Han K, Mahan, Clare M·The open epidemiology journal·2011

This study looked at nearly 10,000 Gulf War veterans and veterans from the same era to see if weight and obesity were connected to health problems like chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multi-symptom illness. The researchers found that obese veterans were more likely to have PTSD, but obesity did not explain why Gulf War veterans had more CFS-like illness or multi-symptom illness compared to other veterans.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[The role of depression in cognitive impairment in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Santamarina-Pérez, Pilar, Freniche, Verónica, Eiroa-Orosa, Francisco Jose et al.·Medicina clinica·2011

This study tested whether depression explains the thinking and memory problems that people with ME/CFS experience. Researchers gave 57 women with ME/CFS a variety of cognitive tests measuring attention, memory, and processing speed, then compared results between those with and without depression. The findings showed that cognitive problems were present in ME/CFS patients regardless of whether they had depression, suggesting that the brain fog and thinking difficulties are part of ME/CFS itself, not caused by depression.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Plasma cytokine profiles in females with irritable bowel syndrome and extra-intestinal co-morbidity.

Scully, Paul, McKernan, Declan P, Keohane, John et al.·The American journal of gastroenterology·2010

This study looked at inflammation markers in the blood of women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), particularly those who also had fibromyalgia, premenstrual symptoms, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers found that women with IBS plus these extra conditions had higher levels of four inflammation-related substances (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα) compared to healthy women, while those with IBS alone had elevated levels of two of these markers.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Physical and psychosocial correlates of severe fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis.

van Hoogmoed, Dewy, Fransen, Jaap, Bleijenberg, Gijs et al.·Rheumatology (Oxford, England)·2010

This study looked at severe fatigue in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a condition that causes joint inflammation. Researchers found that 42% of RA patients experienced severe fatigue that felt frustrating and exhausting. Importantly, this severe fatigue was more closely linked to pain, mood, sleep quality, and how patients thought about their fatigue—rather than to inflammation markers alone.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal MRI shows no cerebral abnormality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Perrin, R, Embleton, K, Pentreath, V W et al.·The British journal of radiology·2010

This study used MRI brain scans to look for physical abnormalities in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Eighteen patients with ME/CFS and nine healthy volunteers were scanned twice, one year apart. The researchers found no significant differences between the two groups in brain size, fluid levels, blood flow, or white matter lesions, and these measurements remained stable over the year.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Sex differences in plasma prolactin response to tryptophan in chronic fatigue syndrome patients with and without comorbid fibromyalgia.

Weaver, Shelley A, Janal, Malvin N, Aktan, Nadine et al.·Journal of women's health (2002)·2010

Researchers gave patients with ME/CFS a tryptophan infusion (a building block for serotonin, a brain chemical) to see how their bodies would respond. They found that women with ME/CFS alone had a stronger response in a hormone called prolactin compared to healthy women, but women with ME/CFS plus fibromyalgia did not show this difference. Men in all groups showed similar responses, suggesting ME/CFS may work differently in women than in men.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Impaired cardiovascular response to standing in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hollingsworth, Kieren G, Jones, David E J, Taylor, Roy et al.·European journal of clinical investigation·2010

This study found that people with ME/CFS have abnormal heart function when standing up, and their heart and muscle cells struggle to produce energy efficiently. Researchers used specialized scans to measure energy metabolism in the heart and muscles, and found that about one-third of ME/CFS patients showed significant heart energy problems. When standing, ME/CFS patients had stronger heart contractions and more symptoms compared to healthy controls, suggesting their bodies are working much harder to maintain blood flow.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Impaired sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome: how is it best measured?

Creti, Laura, Libman, Eva, Baltzan, Marcel et al.·Journal of health psychology·2010

This study compared three different ways of measuring sleep in people with ME/CFS: overnight hospital testing (polysomnography), wrist-worn activity monitors (actigraphy), and patients reporting on their own sleep. Researchers found that while objective measurements matched what patients reported about total sleep time, the objective tests didn't capture daytime symptoms like non-refreshing sleep, fatigue, or sleepiness that patients actually experience.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Plasma IL-6, its soluble receptors and F2-isoprostanes at rest and during exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Robinson, M, Gray, S R, Watson, M S et al.·Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2010

This study looked at specific markers of inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage) in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy individuals, both at rest and after exercise. Researchers found that a marker called F2-isoprostanes—which indicates oxidative stress—was consistently higher in ME/CFS patients. However, they did not find differences in inflammation markers like IL-6 between the two groups.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Serological and virological investigation of the role of the herpesviruses EBV, CMV and HHV-6 in post-infective fatigue syndrome.

Cameron, Barbara, Flamand, Louis, Juwana, Hedy et al.·Journal of medical virology·2010

Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls to see whether three common herpesviruses (EBV, CMV, and HHV-6) were actively reactivating or causing ongoing infection. They found no evidence that these viruses were actively infected or reactivating in ME/CFS patients compared to controls who recovered normally from infection.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus prevalence in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome or chronic immunomodulatory conditions.

Henrich, Timothy J, Li, Jonathan Z, Felsenstein, Donna et al.·The Journal of infectious diseases·2010

Researchers tested whether a virus called XMRV was present in people with ME/CFS and other conditions affecting the immune system. They collected samples from 293 patients, including 32 with ME/CFS, and looked for XMRV DNA. They found no evidence of this virus in any of the samples tested.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Nitric oxide concentrations are normal and unrelated to activity level in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.

Meeus, Mira, VAN Eupen, Inge, Hondequin, Jasmien et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2010

This study examined whether a chemical messenger in the blood called nitric oxide (NO) is related to how active people are in ME/CFS. Researchers measured activity levels and blood NO in 30 ME/CFS patients and 29 healthy but inactive people over one week. While ME/CFS patients were indeed much less active than controls, the amount of NO in their blood was normal and had no connection to their activity levels.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

PCR and serology find no association between xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) and autism.

Satterfield, Brent C, Garcia, Rebecca A, Gurrieri, Fiorella et al.·Molecular autism·2010

This study tested whether a virus called XMRV is present in children with autism, particularly those born to mothers with ME/CFS. Researchers used blood tests and antibody checks on over 400 participants and found no evidence that XMRV is linked to autism. This helps clarify that despite earlier media suggestions, this particular virus does not appear to contribute to autism development.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Illness duration and coping style in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brown, Molly M, Brown, Abigail A, Jason, Leonard A·Psychological reports·2010

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS cope with their illness depending on how long they've had it. Researchers found that people who had been sick for longer tended to use more helpful coping strategies—like planning, acceptance, and looking for positive aspects—compared to those who were more recently diagnosed. Interestingly, the severity of symptoms and physical limitations were similar in both groups, but people with longer illness duration were less likely to be working.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

[Omaron in the complex treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis].

Popova, N F, Kamchatnov, P R, Riabukhina, O V et al.·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·2010

This study tested a combination medication called omaron in 33 patients with multiple sclerosis to see if it could help with fatigue and thinking problems. After 12 weeks of treatment, patients taking omaron reported feeling less tired (28.6% improvement) and showed better memory and thinking skills compared to a similar group who didn't receive the medication. The drug was well-tolerated with no serious side effects.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Detection of MLV-related virus gene sequences in blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy blood donors.

Lo, Shyh-Ching, Pripuzova, Natalia, Li, Bingjie et al.·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2010

This study looked for traces of a virus called MLV (murine leukemia virus-related virus) in the blood of ME/CFS patients and healthy people. Researchers found viral genetic material in 86.5% of CFS patients compared to only 6.8% of healthy controls. The viruses found were diverse rather than identical, and some patients who tested positive years earlier still showed the virus in follow-up testing.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Postexertional malaise in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

VanNess, J Mark, Stevens, Staci R, Bateman, Lucinda et al.·Journal of women's health (2002)·2010

This study looked at how women with ME/CFS recover from exercise compared to healthy women. After a single exercise test, 85% of healthy women felt completely back to normal within 24 hours, but none of the women with ME/CFS did—in fact, most took much longer to recover, experiencing worsening fatigue, pain, cognitive problems, and other symptoms. This research confirms that postexertional malaise is a real and serious condition that makes recovery from physical activity dramatically different for people with ME/CFS.

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

Cumulative life stress in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cognitive behavioural treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome in a rehabilitation setting: effectiveness and predictors of outcome.

A brain MRI study of chronic fatigue syndrome: evidence of brainstem dysfunction and altered homeostasis.

Selected Health Conditions Among Overweight, Obese, and Non-Obese Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War: Results from a Survey Conducted in 2003-2005.

[The role of depression in cognitive impairment in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Plasma cytokine profiles in females with irritable bowel syndrome and extra-intestinal co-morbidity.

Physical and psychosocial correlates of severe fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis.

Longitudinal MRI shows no cerebral abnormality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sex differences in plasma prolactin response to tryptophan in chronic fatigue syndrome patients with and without comorbid fibromyalgia.

Impaired cardiovascular response to standing in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Impaired sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome: how is it best measured?

Plasma IL-6, its soluble receptors and F2-isoprostanes at rest and during exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Serological and virological investigation of the role of the herpesviruses EBV, CMV and HHV-6 in post-infective fatigue syndrome.

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus prevalence in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome or chronic immunomodulatory conditions.

Nitric oxide concentrations are normal and unrelated to activity level in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.

PCR and serology find no association between xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) and autism.

Illness duration and coping style in chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Omaron in the complex treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis].

Detection of MLV-related virus gene sequences in blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy blood donors.

Postexertional malaise in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research