ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

1761–1780 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is related to fatigue, autonomic and neurocognitive symptoms and is another risk factor explaining the early mortality in ME/CFS due to cardiovascular disorder.

Maes, Michael, Mihaylova, Ivanka, Kubera, Marta et al.·Neuro endocrinology letters·2009

This study found that people with ME/CFS have significantly lower levels of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a substance that helps cells produce energy, compared to healthy people. Nearly 45% of ME/CFS patients had CoQ10 levels below what was found in any of the healthy control group. Low CoQ10 was connected to worse fatigue, problems with heart and blood pressure regulation, and difficulty with thinking and memory.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The doctor-patient relationship in chronic fatigue syndrome: survey of patient perspectives.

Van Hoof, Elke·Quality in primary care·2009

This study surveyed 177 ME/CFS patients about their experiences with their doctors. The researchers found that most general practitioners (GPs) do not feel confident diagnosing or treating ME/CFS, and patients often felt their doctors did not understand their condition. Poor communication and lack of GP knowledge about ME/CFS led many patients to feel unsupported and unheard in medical appointments.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Unexplained chronic fatigue and interpersonal problems: a study in a primary care population.

Vandenbergen, Jan, Vanheule, Stijn, Desmet, Mattias et al.·International journal of psychiatry in medicine·2009

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS experience more social withdrawal and interpersonal difficulties than people with other health conditions. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients reported much higher fatigue levels and were more likely to withdraw from social activities compared to people with minor illnesses. Interestingly, doctors and patients often disagreed about how motivated patients were, which may contribute to patients feeling misunderstood and isolated.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Psychiatric comorbidity in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome identified from the Georgia population.

Nater, Urs M, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Maloney, Elizabeth M et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2009

This study looked at how often people with ME/CFS also have psychiatric conditions like depression or anxiety. Researchers called random people in Georgia and invited those who were unwell to participate. They found that 57% of people with ME/CFS had at least one current psychiatric diagnosis, compared to 45% of people with similar but milder symptoms. Importantly, most people with ME/CFS who had these psychiatric conditions hadn't seen a mental health specialist in the past 6 months.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Further validation of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory in a US adult population sample.

Lin, Jin-Mann S, Brimmer, Dana J, Maloney, Elizabeth M et al.·Population health metrics·2009

This study tested whether a 20-question fatigue measurement tool (the MFI-20) works well for people with ME/CFS and other chronic illnesses. Researchers gave the questionnaire to 783 people in Georgia—some with ME/CFS-like illness, some with chronic unwellness, and some who were healthy—and found that the tool reliably distinguished between these groups and accurately measured different types of fatigue.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Severe versus Moderate criteria for the new pediatric case definition for ME/CFS.

Jason, Leonard, Porter, Nicole, Shelleby, Elizabeth et al.·Child psychiatry and human development·2009

This study tested a new way to diagnose ME/CFS in children and teenagers, comparing those with the illness to those without it. The researchers found that the new diagnostic criteria could successfully identify who has ME/CFS and could also distinguish between children with more severe symptoms versus those with moderate symptoms. The study looked at six main symptom areas: fatigue, post-exertional malaise (getting worse after activity), sleep problems, pain, thinking/memory difficulties, and autonomic/immune system problems.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Effect of supplement with lactic-acid producing bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sullivan, Asa, Nord, Carl E, Evengård, Birgitta·Nutrition journal·2009

This small study tested whether specific probiotic bacteria (live microorganisms that may benefit gut health) could reduce fatigue and improve physical activity in ME/CFS patients. Fifteen patients took probiotics for 4 weeks and were monitored for changes in fatigue, physical activity, and cognitive function. While some patients reported feeling better overall, the study did not find significant improvements in fatigue or activity levels, though cognitive function did improve.

Gut MicrobiomeImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Implications of gender in chronic Lyme disease.

Wormser, Gary P, Shapiro, Eugene D·Journal of women's health (2002)·2009

This study compared three groups of patients: those with confirmed Lyme disease, those with lingering symptoms after Lyme disease treatment (post-Lyme disease syndrome), and those diagnosed with 'chronic Lyme disease' (a less clearly defined condition). The researchers found that women made up a much larger percentage of the chronic Lyme disease group compared to the other two groups. This suggests that some patients labeled with chronic Lyme disease may actually have other conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome that also affect more women.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents: do parental expectations of their child's intellectual ability match the child's ability?

Godfrey, Emma, Cleare, Anthony, Coddington, Alice et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2009

This study looked at whether parents of teenagers with ME/CFS have unrealistic expectations about their child's intellectual abilities compared to parents of healthy teenagers. Researchers tested the actual IQ of 28 teenagers with ME/CFS and 29 healthy teenagers, and also asked them and their parents what they thought their abilities were. They found that parents of teenagers with ME/CFS believed their children were more intelligent than they actually tested, more so than parents of healthy teenagers did.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Plasma cytokines in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fletcher, Mary Ann, Zeng, Xiao Rong, Barnes, Zachary et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2009

Researchers tested blood samples from women with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy women to look for immune system differences. They measured 16 different immune substances called cytokines and found that 10 of them were abnormal in ME/CFS patients—some were higher and some were lower than in healthy controls. While these differences suggest immune activation in ME/CFS, the pattern wasn't specific enough to use as a diagnostic test on its own.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Use of medications by people with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy persons: a population-based study of fatiguing illness in Georgia.

Boneva, Roumiana S, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Maloney, Elizabeth M et al.·Health and quality of life outcomes·2009

This study looked at what medications and supplements people with ME/CFS were taking compared to healthy people and those with other chronic illnesses. Researchers found that over 90% of people with ME/CFS used at least one medication or supplement, and they used significantly more drugs overall—an average of 5.8 compared to 3.7 in healthy people. People with ME/CFS were more likely to take antidepressants, sleep aids, muscle relaxants, and pain relievers.

Interventions

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Associations between pet ownership and self-reported health status in people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wells, Deborah L·Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2009

Researchers asked 193 people with ME/CFS whether they owned pets and how their health was doing. About 58% owned pets, mostly dogs and cats. While pet owners reported feeling that their animals helped their mental well-being, the study found no clear statistical link between owning a pet and having better health scores overall.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

An investigation into the cognitive deficits associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Thomas, Marie, Smith, Andrew·The open neurology journal·2009

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS have real problems with thinking and memory, not just imagine they do. The researchers gave a large group of properly diagnosed ME/CFS patients a thorough set of cognitive tests and found clear evidence of cognitive difficulties. Importantly, these problems were not caused by depression or anxiety, suggesting they are a direct part of the illness.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The role of coping in the relationship between depression and illness severity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Walker, Karen, Lindner, Helen, Noonan, Michelle·Journal of allied health·2009

This study looked at how depression and coping strategies affect how severely people with ME/CFS feel their illness impacts them. Researchers surveyed 156 ME/CFS patients about their mood, how they cope with their condition, and how they perceive their illness severity. They found that how patients cope—especially seeking social support and finding positive ways to think about their situation—may be just as important as treating depression when it comes to how sick people feel.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Psychomotor functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder: a comparative study.

Schrijvers, D, Van Den Eede, F, Maas, Y et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2009

This study compared how quickly people with ME/CFS and depression could complete two drawing tasks—one simple and one complex. Both patient groups worked more slowly than healthy people, but the pattern of slowness differed between the two conditions. People with depression were especially slow at simple motor tasks, while both patient groups struggled similarly with the more cognitively demanding task.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal change in chronic fatigue syndrome: what home-based assessments reveal.

Friedberg, Fred, Sohl, Stephanie J·Journal of behavioral medicine·2009

This study followed 75 people with ME/CFS for 2 years and compared different ways of measuring how they were doing. Researchers used both traditional questionnaires and home-based measurements like activity trackers and daily fatigue diaries. They found that people who reported feeling better had lower fatigue levels and stood up more often at home, but these improvements didn't always show up on activity trackers or psychological tests.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Autoantibodies, polymorphisms in the serotonin pathway, and human leukocyte antigen class II alleles in chronic fatigue syndrome: are they associated with age at onset and specific symptoms?

Ortega-Hernandez, Oscar-Danilo, Cuccia, Mariaclara, Bozzini, Sara et al.·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2009

This study looked at whether certain genetic traits and immune markers in the blood are linked to when ME/CFS develops and what symptoms people experience. Researchers tested 81 ME/CFS patients for specific genes related to serotonin (a brain chemical), immune system genes, and antibodies. They found that different genetic patterns were associated with developing ME/CFS at different ages and with certain symptoms like joint pain and fever, but not muscle pain.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome and high allostatic load: results from a population-based case-control study in Georgia.

Maloney, Elizabeth M, Boneva, Roumiana, Nater, Urs M et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2009

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have higher levels of 'allostatic load'—a measure of how much stress and wear-and-tear their bodies have accumulated over time. Researchers compared 83 people with ME/CFS, 202 people with some symptoms but not full ME/CFS, and 109 healthy controls in Georgia. They found that people with ME/CFS did have significantly higher allostatic load than healthy people, suggesting their bodies may be under greater physiological stress.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Anticardiolipin antibodies in the sera of patients with diagnosed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hokama, Yoshitsugi, Campora, Cara Empey, Hara, Cynthia et al.·Journal of clinical laboratory analysis·2009

Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and found abnormal antibodies called anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) in 95% of the samples. These antibodies mistakenly attack cardiolipin, a substance found in cell membranes. The study suggests that something in the immune system may be going wrong in ME/CFS, possibly affecting how cells produce energy.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Exploratory analysis of the relationships between aerobic capacity and self-reported fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Weinstein, Ali A, Drinkard, Bart M, Diao, Guoqing et al.·PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation·2009

This study looked at whether feeling tired (fatigue) matches up with how well the body can use oxygen during exercise in people with three different conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, and ME/CFS. Researchers tested 29 patients total and found that people who reported doing more physical activity had better oxygen capacity, but surprisingly, how fatigued people *said* they felt didn't match their actual aerobic fitness levels.

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Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is related to fatigue, autonomic and neurocognitive symptoms and is another risk factor explaining the early mortality in ME/CFS due to cardiovascular disorder.

The doctor-patient relationship in chronic fatigue syndrome: survey of patient perspectives.

Unexplained chronic fatigue and interpersonal problems: a study in a primary care population.

Psychiatric comorbidity in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome identified from the Georgia population.

Further validation of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory in a US adult population sample.

Severe versus Moderate criteria for the new pediatric case definition for ME/CFS.

Effect of supplement with lactic-acid producing bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Implications of gender in chronic Lyme disease.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents: do parental expectations of their child's intellectual ability match the child's ability?

Plasma cytokines in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Use of medications by people with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy persons: a population-based study of fatiguing illness in Georgia.

Associations between pet ownership and self-reported health status in people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

An investigation into the cognitive deficits associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The role of coping in the relationship between depression and illness severity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Psychomotor functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder: a comparative study.

Longitudinal change in chronic fatigue syndrome: what home-based assessments reveal.

Autoantibodies, polymorphisms in the serotonin pathway, and human leukocyte antigen class II alleles in chronic fatigue syndrome: are they associated with age at onset and specific symptoms?

Chronic fatigue syndrome and high allostatic load: results from a population-based case-control study in Georgia.

Anticardiolipin antibodies in the sera of patients with diagnosed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Exploratory analysis of the relationships between aerobic capacity and self-reported fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

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