ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2807 studies

1801–1820 of 2,807 studies

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 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Anxiety in children with CFS/ME.

Crawley, Esther, Hunt, Linda, Stallard, Paul·European child & adolescent psychiatry·2009

This study looked at anxiety in children with ME/CFS and found that anxiety is common, especially in teenage girls. Researchers compared anxiety levels in 164 children with ME/CFS to healthy European children and found that 38% of teenage girls with ME/CFS had unusually high anxiety symptoms. Interestingly, anxiety levels did not seem to be connected to how much school the children attended or how severe their physical symptoms were.

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 requiredCase-Control

Molecular study of receptor for advanced glycation endproduct gene promoter and identification of specific HLA haplotypes possibly involved in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Carlo-Stella, N, Bozzini, S, De Silvestri, A et al.·International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology·2009

This study looked at two genes related to inflammation in 75 Italian ME/CFS patients and compared them to 141 healthy controls. The researchers found that certain genetic variations in the RAGE gene and immune system genes called HLA were more common in ME/CFS patients, suggesting these genetic differences might increase risk for the condition. The findings suggest ME/CFS may involve inherited factors that affect how the immune system responds.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome and DSM-IV personality disorders.

Courjaret, Joachime, Schotte, Christiaan K W, Wijnants, Herlindis et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2009

This study looked at whether ME/CFS patients have more personality disorders than people without ME/CFS. Researchers tested 50 women with ME/CFS and compared them to 50 healthy women and 50 women with psychiatric conditions. They found that women with ME/CFS had similar personality traits and rates of personality disorders as healthy women, suggesting that personality problems are not a major cause of ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Association of peripheral inflammatory markers with chronic fatigue in a population-based sample.

Raison, Charles L, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Reeves, William C·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2009

Researchers measured inflammation markers in the blood of people with ME/CFS, people with fatigue that didn't quite meet ME/CFS criteria, and healthy controls. They found that inflammation markers were elevated in both fatigue groups compared to healthy people. However, when they accounted for factors like depression, weight, age, and medications, the connection to ME/CFS specifically became less clear, suggesting that general fatigue and unwellness—not ME/CFS alone—may be linked to immune activation.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Diurnal pattern of cortisol output in postnatal depression.

Taylor, Alyx, Glover, Vivette, Marks, Maureen et al.·Psychoneuroendocrinology·2009

This study looked at how stress hormone (cortisol) levels change throughout the day in women with depression after having a baby, compared to women without postpartum depression and non-pregnant women. The researchers found that depressed women had unusually high cortisol levels when they woke up and didn't show the normal increase in cortisol that typically happens 30 minutes after waking, which is similar to patterns seen in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Endocrine Disruption

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.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Association between school absence and physical function in paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy.

Crawley, E, Sterne, J A C·Archives of disease in childhood·2009

This study looked at how often children with ME/CFS attended school and how their physical abilities changed over time. Researchers found that 62% of children attended school 40% of the time or less, and those with better physical function were more likely to go to school. The study suggests that improving school attendance should focus on treatments that reduce fatigue and pain, not treatments for anxiety.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Illness perceptions in patients with fibromyalgia.

van Ittersum, M W, van Wilgen, C P, Hilberdink, W K H A et al.·Patient education and counseling·2009

This study looked at how people with fibromyalgia understand and perceive their illness by having 196 patients complete a questionnaire. The researchers found that fibromyalgia patients often feel confused about their condition, believe it will last a long time, and worry it will significantly impact their daily life. The questionnaire tool was found to be reliable for measuring these beliefs in Dutch-speaking fibromyalgia patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome combines increased exercise-induced oxidative stress and reduced cytokine and Hsp responses.

Jammes, Y, Steinberg, J G, Delliaux, S et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2009

This study found that people with ME/CFS experience unusual stress on their cells during exercise, particularly involving harmful molecules called free radicals. Their bodies also fail to mount normal protective responses—both in terms of producing protective proteins (heat shock proteins) and inflammatory markers that healthy people produce during exertion. This combination of excessive cellular damage and insufficient protective response may explain why exercise is so difficult for people with ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Physiological cost of walking in those with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): a case-control study.

Paul, Lorna, Rafferty, Danny, Marshal, Rebecca·Disability and rehabilitation·2009

This study compared how much energy people with ME/CFS use when walking compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS walk more slowly and use more energy per unit of distance covered, meaning their bodies have to work harder to move the same distance as healthy people.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The relationship of Fennell phases to symptoms among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reynolds, Nadia L, Brown, Molly M, Jason, Leonard A·Evaluation & the health professions·2009

This study looked at whether ME/CFS symptoms change over time in predictable phases. Researchers used a questionnaire called the Fennell Phase Inventory to sort 111 patients into three groups: those in crisis (worst symptoms), stabilization (middle ground), or resolution (improving). They found that patients in the crisis phase had more depression, anxiety, worse quality of life, and used less helpful coping strategies—like avoidance—compared to those improving or stable.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Reduced complexity of activity patterns in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a case control study.

Burton, Christopher, Knoop, Hans, Popovic, Nikola et al.·BioPsychoSocial medicine·2009

This study measured how people with ME/CFS move and rest over a 12-day period compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have activity patterns that are more repetitive and predictable—like a broken record—whereas healthy people's activity patterns are more varied and flexible. This difference held true even when accounting for the fact that ME/CFS patients were less active overall.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Neuropsychological functioning, illness perception, mood and quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune thyroid disease and healthy participants.

Dickson, A, Toft, A, O'Carroll, R E·Psychological medicine·2009

This study compared thinking and memory skills, mood, and quality of life in people with ME/CFS, people with thyroid disease, and healthy people. People with ME/CFS showed more problems with memory, attention, and concentration, plus higher levels of anxiety and depression. Importantly, the attention problems stayed even after researchers accounted for mood issues, suggesting cognitive problems are a core feature of ME/CFS rather than just a result of feeling depressed or anxious.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Glucocorticoid receptor mediated negative feedback in chronic fatigue syndrome using the low dose (0.5 mg) dexamethasone suppression test.

Papadopoulos, Andrew, Ebrecht, Marcel, Roberts, Amanda D L et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2009

This study looked at how the body's stress hormone system works in ME/CFS patients. Researchers gave a small dose of a synthetic hormone called dexamethasone to 18 ME/CFS patients and 20 healthy people, then measured how much their natural stress hormone (cortisol) decreased in response. Interestingly, ME/CFS patients who also had depression showed a larger drop in cortisol than healthy controls, suggesting their feedback system may be working overtime.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Barriers to healthcare utilization in fatiguing illness: a population-based study in Georgia.

Lin, Jin-Mann S, Brimmer, Dana J, Boneva, Roumiana S et al.·BMC health services research·2009

This study looked at why people with ME/CFS and other fatiguing illnesses skip or delay needed medical care. Researchers surveyed 780 people, including 112 with CFS, and found that 55% of those with CFS faced barriers to getting healthcare. The main barriers fell into three categories: trouble accessing care (like travel or scheduling), healthcare providers' attitudes and knowledge gaps, and problems with how the healthcare system itself works.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Increased 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, a marker of oxidative damage to DNA, in major depression and myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

This study measured a marker of DNA damage in the urine of people with ME/CFS, depression, both conditions together, and healthy controls. Researchers found that people with both ME/CFS and depression had the highest levels of this DNA damage marker, and the damage correlated with fatigue severity and flu-like symptoms. This suggests that oxidative stress—a type of cellular damage from harmful molecules—may play a role in both conditions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cardiovascular dysfunction with low cardiac output due to a small heart in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Miwa, Kunihisa, Fujita, Masatoshi·Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2009

This study found that many ME/CFS patients experience heart-related symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, and dizziness. Using heart imaging tests, researchers discovered that about one-third of ME/CFS patients had smaller-than-normal hearts that pump less blood than expected, which may contribute to their fatigue and other symptoms.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Illness intrusiveness in myalgic encephalomyelitis: an exploratory study.

Goudsmit, E M, Stouten, B, Howes, S·Journal of health psychology·2009

This study looked at how much ME disrupts different areas of patients' lives—work, social activities, hobbies, and relationships. Researchers asked 24 people with ME about their symptoms, how disabled they felt, and their mood. They found that ME significantly intrudes on daily life, and this intrusion was linked to fatigue, brain fog, disability, and depression. Patients who had ME plus other health conditions reported even more life disruption than those with ME alone.

Cognitive Impairment

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

Anxiety in children with CFS/ME.

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

Molecular study of receptor for advanced glycation endproduct gene promoter and identification of specific HLA haplotypes possibly involved in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and DSM-IV personality disorders.

Association of peripheral inflammatory markers with chronic fatigue in a population-based sample.

Diurnal pattern of cortisol output in postnatal depression.

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

Association between school absence and physical function in paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy.

Illness perceptions in patients with fibromyalgia.

Chronic fatigue syndrome combines increased exercise-induced oxidative stress and reduced cytokine and Hsp responses.

Physiological cost of walking in those with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): a case-control study.

The relationship of Fennell phases to symptoms among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reduced complexity of activity patterns in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a case control study.

Neuropsychological functioning, illness perception, mood and quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune thyroid disease and healthy participants.

Glucocorticoid receptor mediated negative feedback in chronic fatigue syndrome using the low dose (0.5 mg) dexamethasone suppression test.

Barriers to healthcare utilization in fatiguing illness: a population-based study in Georgia.

Increased 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, a marker of oxidative damage to DNA, in major depression and myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cardiovascular dysfunction with low cardiac output due to a small heart in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Illness intrusiveness in myalgic encephalomyelitis: an exploratory study.

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