ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

2121–2140 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Epidemiology of chronic fatigue syndrome and self reported myalgic encephalomyelitis in 5-15 year olds: cross sectional study.

Chalder, T, Goodman, R, Wessely, S et al.·BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2003

This study looked at how common ME/CFS is in children aged 5-15 years old in the United Kingdom. Researchers surveyed thousands of families to find out how many children experienced long-lasting tiredness and muscle pain similar to ME/CFS. The findings help doctors understand how widespread this condition is in young people.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Psychiatric adjustment in chronic fatigue syndrome of childhood and in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Rangel, L, Garralda, M E, Hall, A et al.·Psychological medicine·2003

This study compared psychiatric and emotional problems in children with ME/CFS versus children with juvenile arthritis, another serious chronic illness. Children with ME/CFS had significantly more depression, anxiety, and personality difficulties than the arthritis group, even though both groups faced similar challenges from living with chronic illness. This suggests that ME/CFS may involve specific factors that increase psychiatric risk beyond what chronic illness alone would explain.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

A population-based study of the clinical course of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nisenbaum, Rosane, Jones, James F, Unger, Elizabeth R et al.·Health and quality of life outcomes·2003

This study followed 65 people with ME/CFS for up to 3 years to understand how the illness changes over time. Most people experienced periods where symptoms improved (called remission), though only 10% had complete and lasting improvement. The study found that people who had been sick for 2 years or less were more likely to recover, and that sleep problems remained a major issue even when other symptoms improved.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

RNase L levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells: 37-kilodalton/83-kilodalton isoform ratio is a potential test for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Tiev, Kiet Phong, Demettre, Edith, Ercolano, Philippe et al.·Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology·2003

This study looked at a protein called RNase L in the immune cells of ME/CFS patients and healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had a different pattern of RNase L forms compared to healthy volunteers, and this pattern could potentially be used as a simple blood test to help diagnose ME/CFS. The test showed promise in distinguishing ME/CFS patients from healthy people in this small group.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Unexplained fatigue syndromes in a multinational primary care sample: specificity of definition and prevalence and distinctiveness from depression and generalized anxiety.

Skapinakis, Petros, Lewis, Glyn, Mavreas, Venetsanos·The American journal of psychiatry·2003

This study looked at how different definitions of unexplained fatigue affect how many people are diagnosed and whether they also have depression or anxiety. Researchers interviewed over 5,400 primary care patients from 14 countries and found that when they required more physical symptoms in addition to fatigue, fewer people were diagnosed, but those diagnosed were more likely to also have depression or anxiety.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Functional status, neuropsychological functioning, and mood in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): relationship to psychiatric disorder.

Tiersky, Lana A, Matheis, Robert J, Deluca, John et al.·The Journal of nervous and mental disease·2003

This study looked at how depression and anxiety affect people with ME/CFS. Researchers compared four groups: people with ME/CFS alone, people with ME/CFS plus mental health symptoms that started after CFS, people with ME/CFS plus mental health symptoms that started before CFS, and healthy controls. The main finding was that while mental health problems don't make the physical fatigue and weakness worse, they do make people feel more emotionally distressed—especially if those mental health issues came before the CFS diagnosis.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The head-up tilt test with haemodynamic instability score in diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome.

Naschitz, J E, Rosner, I, Rozenbaum, M et al.·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·2003

Researchers developed a simple test using a tilting table to measure how well the body controls blood pressure and heart rate in ME/CFS patients. By tilting people upright and measuring these vital signs, they found a pattern (called a haemodynamic instability score) that appeared in ME/CFS patients but not in healthy people or those with other conditions. This test could help doctors confirm an ME/CFS diagnosis with objective measurements rather than relying only on symptoms.

Autonomic Nervous SystemDiagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Prospective study of the prognosis of unexplained chronic fatigue in a clinic-based cohort.

Schmaling, Karen B, Fiedelak, Jessica I, Katon, Wayne J et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2003

This study followed 100 patients with unexplained chronic fatigue for 18 months to see how their symptoms changed over time. Researchers found that about 1 in 5 patients no longer met criteria for chronic fatigue by the end of the study, and energy levels improved somewhat, but fatigue symptoms themselves did not decrease much. Mental health, education level, employment status, and how people thought about their symptoms were important factors in predicting whether patients would improve or get worse.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Non-vascular claudication: a clinical conundrum.

Fasih, T, Pickin, M, Cuschieri, R J·International journal of clinical practice·2003

Doctors sometimes see patients complaining of leg pain that resembles poor circulation (claudication), but the pain isn't actually caused by blood vessel problems. This study looked at over 1,000 patients with suspected circulation problems and found that 33 had other causes for their symptoms, including spine problems, nerve damage, or other conditions. One patient was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The study highlights that doctors need to correctly identify the real cause of symptoms before recommending treatments.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Prolonged acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation in the peripheral microcirculation of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Khan, Faisel, Spence, Vance, Kennedy, Gwen et al.·Clinical physiology and functional imaging·2003

This study looked at how blood vessels in the skin of ME/CFS patients respond to acetylcholine, a chemical messenger in the body. Researchers found that while the initial response was similar in patients and healthy controls, the blood vessels of ME/CFS patients took much longer to return to normal after the chemical was applied. This suggests that the way nerve signals control blood vessel function may be different in ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Subclassifying chronic fatigue syndrome through exercise testing.

Vanness, J Mark, Snell, Christopher R, Strayer, David R et al.·Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2003

Researchers tested 189 people with ME/CFS using an exercise test that measures how much oxygen the body can use. They sorted patients into four groups based on fitness level—from no impairment to severe. The study found that people with ME/CFS vary widely in their physical capacity, and that fitness level affects how the body responds to exercise in measurable ways.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence and incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome in Wichita, Kansas.

Reyes, Michele, Nisenbaum, Rosane, Hoaglin, David C et al.·Archives of internal medicine·2003

This study surveyed over 90,000 residents in Wichita, Kansas to find out how many people have ME/CFS. Researchers found that about 235 out of every 100,000 people have the condition, with women affected about 4 times more often than men. They also followed some people for a year to see how many newly developed ME/CFS, finding 180 new cases per 100,000 people.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Detection of enterovirus in human skeletal muscle from patients with chronic inflammatory muscle disease or fibromyalgia and healthy subjects.

Douche-Aourik, Fatima, Berlier, Willy, Féasson, Léonard et al.·Journal of medical virology·2003

Researchers tested muscle tissue samples from patients with fibromyalgia/ME/CFS and inflammatory muscle diseases to see if they contained enterovirus (a type of virus). They found viral genetic material in some patient samples but not in healthy people, though they did not find evidence of active viral proteins. This suggests that if a virus is present, it may be dormant or not fully active in muscle tissue.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Differences between patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and with chronic fatigue at an infectious disease clinic in Stockholm, Sweden.

Evengård, Birgitta, Jonzon, Eva, Sandberg, Anneli et al.·Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences·2003

This study compared two groups of people with severe, long-lasting fatigue seen at an infectious disease clinic in Sweden: those who met criteria for ME/CFS and those with chronic fatigue (CF) but not ME/CFS. The main finding was that ME/CFS patients reported more physical symptoms and work disability, and most had a sudden onset following an infection, whereas CF patients had more mental health symptoms and a more gradual, burnout-like pattern. The researchers suggest these may be two different conditions with different underlying causes.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Life events, difficulties and dilemmas in the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.

Hatcher, Simon, House, Allan·Psychological medicine·2003

This study compared 64 people with ME/CFS to 64 similar people without the condition to see if stressful life events played a role in developing the illness. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients were much more likely to have experienced severe stress or difficult situations in the few months before getting sick. Particularly interesting was that about 30% of ME/CFS patients had faced an unsolvable dilemma (a 'no-win' situation) before illness onset, while none of the healthy controls had experienced this.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Distinguishing patients with chronic fatigue from those with chronic fatigue syndrome: a diagnostic study in UK primary care.

Darbishire, L, Ridsdale, L, Seed, P T·The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·2003

This study looked at 141 people in UK doctor's offices who came in with fatigue lasting six months or longer. The researchers found that about two-thirds had chronic fatigue that didn't quite meet the official ME/CFS definition, while one-third had ME/CFS. People with ME/CFS had more severe symptoms, were more likely to be depressed and unemployed, and visited their doctor much more often than those with chronic fatigue alone.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Associations between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and immune cell parameters in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nijs, Jo, De Becker, Pascale, De Meirleir, Kenny et al.·Chest·2003

Some ME/CFS patients experience unusual airway sensitivity (called bronchial hyperresponsiveness), but the reason why is unclear. This study tested whether this airway sensitivity is caused by specific immune system problems. Researchers found that patients with airway sensitivity had different immune cell patterns than healthy people, but these differences were not the same type seen in asthma, suggesting a different mechanism is at work.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Complement activation in a model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sorensen, Bristol, Streib, Joanne E, Strand, Matthew et al.·The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology·2003

Researchers asked people with ME/CFS and healthy controls to exercise on a stationary bike, then tracked their symptoms and blood markers over the following week. They found that people with ME/CFS had a specific increase in a immune system marker called C4a six hours after exercise, and their fatigue and reduced activity worsened significantly, while healthy controls did not show these changes.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome in children: a cross sectional survey.

Patel, M X, Smith, D G, Chalder, T et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2003

This study looked at 36 children with ME/CFS who were seen at a specialist clinic in England. Most children improved significantly or returned to normal health, and those who received treatment attended school more often. However, about one-third of children left school without any qualifications, showing that ME/CFS can seriously disrupt education even when health improves.

Interventions

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Fatigue in a community sample of twins.

Sullivan, P F, Kovalenko, P, York, T P et al.·Psychological medicine·2003

This study looked at fatigue that interferes with daily life in nearly 8,000 twins to understand what causes it. The researchers found that fatigue is connected to many different things—including depression, anxiety, stress, and how people view their health—but not always in the same way for everyone. The study suggests that fatigue is not one simple condition but rather several different types with different underlying causes.

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Epidemiology of chronic fatigue syndrome and self reported myalgic encephalomyelitis in 5-15 year olds: cross sectional study.

Psychiatric adjustment in chronic fatigue syndrome of childhood and in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

A population-based study of the clinical course of chronic fatigue syndrome.

RNase L levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells: 37-kilodalton/83-kilodalton isoform ratio is a potential test for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Unexplained fatigue syndromes in a multinational primary care sample: specificity of definition and prevalence and distinctiveness from depression and generalized anxiety.

Functional status, neuropsychological functioning, and mood in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): relationship to psychiatric disorder.

The head-up tilt test with haemodynamic instability score in diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prospective study of the prognosis of unexplained chronic fatigue in a clinic-based cohort.

Non-vascular claudication: a clinical conundrum.

Prolonged acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation in the peripheral microcirculation of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Subclassifying chronic fatigue syndrome through exercise testing.

Prevalence and incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome in Wichita, Kansas.

Detection of enterovirus in human skeletal muscle from patients with chronic inflammatory muscle disease or fibromyalgia and healthy subjects.

Differences between patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and with chronic fatigue at an infectious disease clinic in Stockholm, Sweden.

Life events, difficulties and dilemmas in the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.

Distinguishing patients with chronic fatigue from those with chronic fatigue syndrome: a diagnostic study in UK primary care.

Associations between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and immune cell parameters in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Complement activation in a model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in children: a cross sectional survey.

Fatigue in a community sample of twins.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research