ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

761–780 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and the Response to Group Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

De Venter, Maud, Illegems, Jela, Van Royen, Rita et al.·Frontiers in psychiatry·2020

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS who experienced trauma in childhood respond differently to a specific talking therapy called cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Researchers followed 105 patients receiving group CBT sessions over 9-12 months and tracked their fatigue levels and physical function at different time points. They found that having a history of childhood trauma did not affect how well people improved with CBT.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

The Economic Impacts of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in an Australian Cohort.

Close, Shara, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Byrnes, Joshua et al.·Frontiers in public health·2020

This Australian study calculated how much ME/CFS costs patients, their families, and the healthcare system. Researchers surveyed people with ME/CFS and found the total annual cost was approximately $14.5 billion, including medical visits, treatments, medicines, and lost income. The study shows that ME/CFS places a heavy financial burden on individuals and society.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Emotional Awareness Correlated With Number of Awakenings From Polysomnography in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-A Pilot Study.

Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre, Friberg, Danielle·Frontiers in psychiatry·2020

This study examined the connection between emotional awareness and sleep problems in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that patients who had difficulty recognizing and understanding their own emotions also experienced more frequent awakenings during sleep. The study involved 23 ME/CFS patients and 30 healthy controls who completed questionnaires about emotions, while the ME/CFS patients also underwent overnight sleep monitoring.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Predicting GP visits: A multinomial logistic regression investigating GP visits amongst a cohort of UK patients living with Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Walsh, R Stephen, Denovan, Andrew, Drinkwater, Kenneth et al.·BMC family practice·2020

This study looked at how often people with ME visit their GP and what factors affect these visits. Researchers surveyed 476 ME patients across the UK and found that several things—including how long someone has had ME, where they live, whether they trust their GP, how quickly they got diagnosed, and their gender—all predict how many GP visits they make each year. The study highlights that the relationship between ME patients and their doctors is really important for getting good care.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of functional somatic syndromes and bodily distress syndrome in the Danish population: the DanFunD study.

Petersen, Marie Weinreich, Schröder, Andreas, Jørgensen, Torben et al.·Scandinavian journal of public health·2020

This study looked at how common six functional somatic syndromes—including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS—are in the general Danish population. Researchers surveyed nearly 10,000 adults and found that about 16% had at least one of these conditions, with ME/CFS being the most common at 8.6%. People with these syndromes reported poor health, difficulty with daily activities, and higher rates of depression and anxiety, especially when they had multiple conditions.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Post-exertional malaise is associated with greater symptom burden and psychological distress in patients diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

May, Marcella, Milrad, Sara F, Perdomo, Dolores M et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2020

This study compared people with ME/CFS who experience severe post-exertional malaise (PEM—getting much worse after activity) with those who experience mild PEM. People with severe PEM reported more intense symptoms, greater disruption to their daily lives and social activities, and higher levels of depression and mood problems. Importantly, people in both groups had similarly stressful life experiences, suggesting that PEM severity itself—not just general stress—drives these differences.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Autonomic Phenotypes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Are Associated with Illness Severity: A Cluster Analysis.

Słomko, Joanna, Estévez-López, Fernando, Kujawski, Sławomir et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2020

This study looked at 131 ME/CFS patients to see if different types of autonomic nervous system problems (the system that controls heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion) exist. Researchers found four distinct patterns: some patients had sympathetic overactivity with dysfunction, some had sympathetic symptoms alone, some had parasympathetic issues, and some had an imbalance between the two systems. Patients with sympathetic overactivity had the most severe symptoms and worst quality of life, while those with balanced autonomic function were younger, less fatigued, and reported better quality of life.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Cognitive Function Declines Following Orthostatic Stress in Adults With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

van Campen, C Linda M C, Rowe, Peter C, Verheugt, Freek W A et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2020

This study found that people with ME/CFS experience significant problems with memory and thinking speed after their body has been stressed by a tilt test (a medical test that checks how the body handles position changes). Specifically, when tested right after the tilt procedure, patients made more mistakes on memory tasks and responded much more slowly compared to before the test. This suggests that the physical stress of orthostatic intolerance directly worsens cognitive problems in ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Phytotherapy for Cachexia: Where Do We Stand?

Kuchta, Kenny, Cameron, Silke·Frontiers in pharmacology·2020

This review examines herbal medicines used in Japan and Russia to treat cachexia—a condition of muscle loss, weight loss, and fatigue. The researchers found that three traditional plant-based preparations (Hochuekkito, Juzentaihoto, and Rikkunshito) showed promise in clinical studies for reducing fatigue, increasing weight, and improving overall health in patients with cancer, COPD, dementia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Since no approved medications currently exist for cachexia in Western medicine, the authors suggest these herbal treatments deserve further research and potential use in Europe and North America.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Hospital Records of Pain, Fatigue, or Circulatory Symptoms in Girls Exposed to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Cohort, Self-Controlled Case Series, and Population Time Trend Studies.

Thomsen, Reimar Wernich, Öztürk, Buket, Pedersen, Lars et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2020

This large Danish study looked at whether the HPV vaccine (which prevents cervical cancer) was linked to symptoms like pain, fatigue, or heart problems in girls. Researchers compared vaccinated and unvaccinated girls over 14 years and found no increase in hospital visits for these symptoms in vaccinated girls. The symptoms they tracked increased over time in both vaccinated and unvaccinated children, suggesting other factors were responsible.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The association between exposure to childhood maltreatment and the subsequent development of functional somatic and visceral pain syndromes.

Chandan, Joht Singh, Keerthy, Deepiksana, Zemedikun, Dawit Tefra et al.·EClinicalMedicine·2020

This study looked at whether people who experienced childhood maltreatment are more likely to develop chronic pain and fatigue conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome as adults. Researchers compared over 80,000 people with a history of childhood maltreatment to 161,000 similar people without this history and found that those with maltreatment exposure had a significantly higher risk of developing several of these conditions. The findings suggest that childhood trauma may be an important risk factor for developing these debilitating syndromes.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Hemodynamics during the 10-minute NASA Lean Test: evidence of circulatory decompensation in a subset of ME/CFS patients.

Lee, Jihyun, Vernon, Suzanne D, Jeys, Patricia et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study tested a simple 10-minute standing test called the NASA Lean Test in ME/CFS patients to understand heart and blood vessel problems that cause dizziness and weakness. Researchers found that patients who became sick more recently (within 4 years) showed signs of circulation problems during the test—their hearts beat faster and their blood pressure changed abnormally—while those sick for over 10 years showed fewer of these changes. The NASA Lean Test appears to be a useful tool that doctors can use to diagnose and monitor these circulation problems.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Health-related quality of life in Norwegian adolescents living with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Similä, Wenche Ann, Halsteinli, Vidar, Helland, Ingrid B et al.·Health and quality of life outcomes·2020

This study measured how ME/CFS affects the quality of life of teenagers in Norway. Researchers found that adolescents with ME/CFS reported significantly lower quality of life compared to healthy peers, with boys reporting better outcomes than girls. Having support from teachers, attending school, participating in activities, and avoiding depression were linked with better quality of life.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Chronic Pain Conditions in Men: A Twin Study.

Gasperi, Marianna, Panizzon, Matthew, Goldberg, Jack et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2020

This study looked at whether trauma-related stress (PTSD) and chronic pain conditions share common causes in twins. Using data from nearly 5,000 male twins, researchers found that both genetics and life experiences contribute to why people with PTSD often also develop chronic pain. The study suggests these two problems frequently occur together because they share some of the same underlying risk factors.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Health Conditions and Psychotic Experiences: Cross-Sectional Findings From the American Life Panel.

Oh, Hans, Smith, Lee, Koyanagi, Ai·Frontiers in psychiatry·2020

This study looked at whether people who experience psychotic symptoms (like unusual beliefs or perceptions) also tend to have more physical health problems. Researchers surveyed a representative group of American adults and found that people reporting lifetime psychotic experiences were more likely to have conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, sleep disorders, migraines, and gastrointestinal problems. The more health conditions someone had, the stronger the association with psychotic experiences.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Post-exertional Malaise in People With Chronic Cancer-Related Fatigue.

Twomey, Rosie, Yeung, Samuel T, Wrightson, James G et al.·Journal of pain and symptom management·2020

This study looked at whether people with long-lasting cancer-related fatigue experience post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a condition where symptoms get worse after physical or mental activity. Researchers asked 18 people with severe, ongoing fatigue to report their experiences over six months and during exercise testing. They found that up to one-third of participants showed signs of PEM, including fatigue that worsened after minimal effort and recovery taking more than 24 hours.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cytokine profiling of extracellular vesicles isolated from plasma in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.

Giloteaux, Ludovic, O'Neal, Adam, Castro-Marrero, Jesús et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study looked at tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the blood of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients had more of these small particles, and the chemical messengers (cytokines) inside and around them showed unusual patterns of interaction that differed from healthy controls. This suggests that immune system signaling may be working differently in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Paradigm shift to disequilibrium in the genesis of orthostatic intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Miwa, Kunihisa, Inoue, Yukichi·International Journal of Cardiology. Hypertension·2020

This study looked at why people with ME/CFS struggle to stand up without feeling dizzy or unsteady. Researchers tested 72 patients and found that balance problems while standing (disequilibrium) were much more common in those who couldn't complete a 10-minute standing test than previously thought. The study suggests that poor balance, rather than just heart rate problems, may be a main reason why standing is so difficult for many ME/CFS patients.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are increased in joint hypermobility-related disorders with concomitant postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Tai, Foong Way David, Palsson, Olafur S, Lam, Ching Y et al.·Neurogastroenterology and motility·2020

This study looked at people with joint hypermobility disorders (including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) to understand how often they experience stomach and digestive problems. The researchers found that those who also have POTS (a condition affecting heart rate and blood pressure when standing) had significantly more digestive issues than those without POTS. The digestive problems remained worse in the POTS group even after accounting for other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Assessing functioning in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: psychometric properties and factor structure of the School and Social Adjustment Scale and the Physical Functioning Subscale of the SF36.

Loades, M E, Vitoratou, S, Rimes, K A et al.·Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy·2020

This study tested two short questionnaires to measure how much ME/CFS affects young people's daily activities—both at school and socially, and their physical abilities. The researchers found that both questionnaires work well, are reliable, and accurately capture the impact of the illness. These tools could help doctors and researchers better track how adolescents with ME/CFS are functioning over time.

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The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and the Response to Group Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

The Economic Impacts of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in an Australian Cohort.

Emotional Awareness Correlated With Number of Awakenings From Polysomnography in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-A Pilot Study.

Predicting GP visits: A multinomial logistic regression investigating GP visits amongst a cohort of UK patients living with Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Prevalence of functional somatic syndromes and bodily distress syndrome in the Danish population: the DanFunD study.

Post-exertional malaise is associated with greater symptom burden and psychological distress in patients diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Autonomic Phenotypes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Are Associated with Illness Severity: A Cluster Analysis.

Cognitive Function Declines Following Orthostatic Stress in Adults With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Phytotherapy for Cachexia: Where Do We Stand?

Hospital Records of Pain, Fatigue, or Circulatory Symptoms in Girls Exposed to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Cohort, Self-Controlled Case Series, and Population Time Trend Studies.

The association between exposure to childhood maltreatment and the subsequent development of functional somatic and visceral pain syndromes.

Hemodynamics during the 10-minute NASA Lean Test: evidence of circulatory decompensation in a subset of ME/CFS patients.

Health-related quality of life in Norwegian adolescents living with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Chronic Pain Conditions in Men: A Twin Study.

Health Conditions and Psychotic Experiences: Cross-Sectional Findings From the American Life Panel.

Post-exertional Malaise in People With Chronic Cancer-Related Fatigue.

Cytokine profiling of extracellular vesicles isolated from plasma in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.

Paradigm shift to disequilibrium in the genesis of orthostatic intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are increased in joint hypermobility-related disorders with concomitant postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Assessing functioning in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: psychometric properties and factor structure of the School and Social Adjustment Scale and the Physical Functioning Subscale of the SF36.

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