ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

1021–1040 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

THE CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF SOMATOFORM DISORDERS IN CHILDREN (REVIEW).

Khundadze, M, Mkheidze, R, Geladze, N et al.·Georgian medical news·2015

This review article examines somatoform disorders—conditions where physical symptoms occur without a clear physical cause—in children and teenagers. It covers several conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, and discusses why these disorders happen, how they present differently, and how doctors can diagnose and treat them. The authors note that these conditions have become more common over the past 20 years.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Nutrition facts in multiple sclerosis.

Riccio, Paolo, Rossano, Rocco·ASN neuro·2015

This review article examines how diet and exercise may influence multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms by affecting inflammation in the body. Western-style diets high in salt, sugar, and processed foods can increase inflammation and harm gut bacteria, while healthier diets rich in vegetables, fruits, and fish—combined with regular exercise—may reduce inflammation and support beneficial gut bacteria. The authors suggest that better nutrition might help reduce side effects from MS medications and improve chronic fatigue symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Evidence for sensitized fatigue pathways in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Staud, Roland, Mokthech, Meriem, Price, Donald D et al.·Pain·2015

This study tested whether ME/CFS patients have unusually sensitive "fatigue pathways" in their muscles and nerves that overreact to exercise. Researchers had patients and healthy controls do hand exercises, then briefly cut off blood flow to the forearm to trap muscle chemicals in the tissues. ME/CFS patients reported increased fatigue during the blood flow cutoff, while healthy people's fatigue actually decreased—suggesting their muscles and nerves are sending stronger fatigue signals.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM requiredEditorial

Living with ME/CFS. challenge for scientists?

Weiler, John J A·Neuro endocrinology letters·2015

This case describes a person with ME/CFS for 19 years who experienced an unusual pattern: they could run 10 kilometers without problems, but later that same day, 30 minutes of browsing for books triggered severe exhaustion, muscle pain, and brain fog lasting into the next day. This puzzling difference highlights how ME/CFS symptoms don't always follow expected patterns and suggests that exercise intolerance in ME/CFS may be more complex than previously thought.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM requiredMethods-Paper

Capturing the post-exertional exacerbation of fatigue following physical and cognitive challenge in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Keech, Andrew, Sandler, Carolina X, Vollmer-Conna, Ute et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2015

This study developed a new questionnaire called the Fatigue and Energy Scale (FES) to measure the specific type of exhaustion that ME/CFS patients experience after physical or mental activity. Researchers talked with 19 patients to understand what their fatigue feels like, then tested the questionnaire with patients doing exercise, driving simulation, and everyday tasks. The results showed that the FES successfully captured both the physical tiredness and mental fog that worsens after activity in ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Brain "fog," inflammation and obesity: key aspects of neuropsychiatric disorders improved by luteolin.

Theoharides, Theoharis C, Stewart, Julia M, Hatziagelaki, Erifili et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2015

This review discusses 'brain fog'—trouble thinking clearly, concentrating, and remembering—which affects people with ME/CFS and other conditions. Researchers suggest brain fog may be caused by inflammation and immune cells releasing harmful chemicals in the brain. A natural compound called luteolin, which has anti-inflammatory properties, shows promise in early studies for reducing brain fog symptoms.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Test-Retest Reliability of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire.

Jason, Leonard A, So, Suzanna, Brown, Abigail A et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2015

Researchers tested whether the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ)—a tool designed to help doctors diagnose ME/CFS—gives consistent results when used multiple times. They asked 26 people with ME/CFS and 25 healthy people to answer the same questions at different times. The questionnaire proved reliable, meaning patients' answers were consistent, making it a trustworthy tool for identifying who has ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The dopamine imbalance hypothesis of fatigue in multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders.

Dobryakova, Ekaterina, Genova, Helen M, DeLuca, John et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2015

This review examines why people with MS experience severe fatigue by looking at brain imaging studies and medication trials. The researchers propose that fatigue may result from a chemical imbalance in the brain involving dopamine, a messenger that helps different brain regions communicate with each other. They found that medications that boost dopamine can help reduce fatigue in various conditions, suggesting this chemical might be key to understanding fatigue.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mitoprotective dietary approaches for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Caloric restriction, fasting, and ketogenic diets.

Craig, Courtney·Medical hypotheses·2015

This study explores whether certain dietary approaches—like eating fewer calories, fasting, or following a ketogenic (low-carb, high-fat) diet—might help ME/CFS symptoms by protecting the mitochondria, which are the energy-producing parts of our cells. The authors review evidence suggesting that ME/CFS involves problems with mitochondrial function and immune activation that exhausts these cellular power plants. They propose that these three dietary strategies may help restore mitochondrial health and reduce symptoms, though they note that more research is needed to test this in actual ME/CFS patients.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Exercise, not to exercise, or how to exercise in patients with chronic pain? Applying science to practice.

Daenen, Liesbeth, Varkey, Emma, Kellmann, Michael et al.·The Clinical journal of pain·2015

This review examines how exercise affects people with chronic pain, including ME/CFS. While exercise helps many chronic pain conditions, some patients—especially those with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and chronic whiplash—experience worsening symptoms or 'crashes' after exercising. The authors emphasize that exercise programs need to be carefully tailored to each person, with proper recovery time built in, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Hybrid facial image feature extraction and recognition for non-invasive chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis.

Chen, Yunhua, Liu, Weijian, Zhang, Ling et al.·Computers in biology and medicine·2015

Researchers developed a computer program that analyzes facial features—such as forehead wrinkles, under-eye puffiness, skin color, and mouth shape—to help diagnose ME/CFS. The program was trained using photographs of Chinese patients and achieved about 88% accuracy in identifying who had the condition. This approach could potentially help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more objectively without needing blood tests or other invasive procedures.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review.

Borchers, Andrea T, Gershwin, M Eric·Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology·2015

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep problems, and it shares many symptoms with other conditions that are hard to diagnose. This review explains that while some people think fibromyalgia might be caused by infection, inflammation, or injury, there is not strong evidence supporting these ideas. The authors recommend that treatment should focus on education, exercise, physical therapy, and approved medications rather than opioids.

Pain and SensitizationSleepDiagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Induction Murine Models of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Brucella abortus Antigen Injections: Is Anemia Induced or Not?

Moriya, Junji, He, Qiang, Uenishi, Hiroaki et al.·BioMed research international·2015

Researchers injected mice with bacterial antigens from Brucella abortus to create an animal model of ME/CFS. They found that at high doses, the injections caused temporary anemia (low red blood cells), but at moderate doses, anemia did not develop. Importantly, in both groups, the mice showed persistent low activity levels for weeks after treatment stopped, suggesting the injections could trigger lasting fatigue-like symptoms without necessarily causing anemia.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

The Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Depression and Low Self-Esteem in the Context of Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME): A Case Study.

Loades, Maria·Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, Inc·2015

This study describes treating a 16-year-old girl with ME/CFS who also had depression and low self-esteem using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a talking treatment that helps change unhelpful thinking patterns. While the therapy successfully improved her mood and self-esteem, her ME/CFS symptoms got worse during treatment. This suggests that mood treatments for people with ME/CFS need to be carefully designed to avoid making fatigue symptoms worse.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Understanding medical students' views of chronic fatigue syndrome: a qualitative study.

Stenhoff, Alexandra Laura, Sadreddini, Shireen, Peters, Sarah et al.·Journal of health psychology·2015

This study asked 21 UK medical students about their knowledge and attitudes toward ME/CFS. Most students had learned little about the condition in their medical training and picked up information informally instead. The researchers found that students struggled to understand ME/CFS using traditional medical thinking and suggested that better teaching—one that considers both physical and psychological factors—could help future doctors develop more helpful attitudes toward the illness.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Neurovisceral phenotypes in the expression of psychiatric symptoms.

Eccles, Jessica A, Owens, Andrew P, Mathias, Christopher J et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2015

This review examines how physical differences in the body's automatic nervous system—the system that controls heart rate, blood pressure, and stress responses—may explain why some people experience anxiety more easily. The authors focus on three conditions: joint hypermobility (loose joints due to collagen differences), postural tachycardia syndrome (rapid heart rate when standing), and fainting with emotional stress. They propose that differences in how the brain controls these bodily functions may make people more vulnerable to anxiety and related conditions.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Role of Toll-Like Receptors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A New Promising Therapeutic Approach?

Gambuzza, Maria Elsa, Salmeri, Francesca Maria, Soraci, Luca et al.·CNS & neurological disorders drug targets·2015

This review examines how certain immune system sensors called Toll-like receptors (TLRs) may contribute to ME/CFS. These receptors sit on cells in the gut and detect bacteria and other microbes, triggering inflammation that may spread to the brain and cause fatigue and other symptoms. The researchers suggest that targeting these TLRs with new medications might help reduce inflammation and improve symptoms.

NeuroinflammationGut MicrobiomeImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Borderline Intracranial Hypertension Manifesting as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treated by Venous Sinus Stenting.

Higgins, Nicholas, Pickard, John, Lever, Andrew·Journal of neurological surgery reports·2015

This case study describes one woman with severe chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) who was found to have slightly elevated pressure inside her skull. Doctors discovered that blood vessels in her brain were narrowed, similar to a condition called idiopathic intracranial hypertension. When doctors placed stents (small tubes) to open these narrowed vessels, her fatigue symptoms dramatically improved and stayed better for at least 2 years.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

TMD and chronic pain: a current view.

Furquim, Bruno D'Aurea, Flamengui, Lívia Maria Sales Pinto, Conti, Paulo César Rodrigues·Dental press journal of orthodontics·2015

This review examines how temporomandibular disorders (jaw joint and muscle problems) develop and persist. The authors found that chronic muscle pain in the jaw works similarly to other widespread pain conditions like fibromyalgia and ME/CFS—through a process called central sensitization where the nervous system becomes overly sensitive to pain signals. They explain that genetics and nervous system function influence whether symptoms improve or worsen.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

In silico analysis of exercise intolerance in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lengert, Nicor, Drossel, Barbara·Biophysical chemistry·2015

This study used computer models to understand why people with ME/CFS struggle with exercise. The researchers simulated what happens in muscle cells during and after physical activity, focusing on mitochondria—the parts of cells that produce energy. Their model showed that when mitochondrial function is reduced, muscles can't make enough energy (ATP), which causes them to accumulate toxic substances like lactate and acid, and can lead to cell death. Importantly, repeated exercise made this problem much worse in their simulations.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

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THE CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF SOMATOFORM DISORDERS IN CHILDREN (REVIEW).

Nutrition facts in multiple sclerosis.

Evidence for sensitized fatigue pathways in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Living with ME/CFS. challenge for scientists?

Capturing the post-exertional exacerbation of fatigue following physical and cognitive challenge in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brain "fog," inflammation and obesity: key aspects of neuropsychiatric disorders improved by luteolin.

Test-Retest Reliability of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire.

The dopamine imbalance hypothesis of fatigue in multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders.

Mitoprotective dietary approaches for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Caloric restriction, fasting, and ketogenic diets.

Exercise, not to exercise, or how to exercise in patients with chronic pain? Applying science to practice.

Hybrid facial image feature extraction and recognition for non-invasive chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis.

Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review.

Induction Murine Models of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Brucella abortus Antigen Injections: Is Anemia Induced or Not?

The Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Depression and Low Self-Esteem in the Context of Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME): A Case Study.

Understanding medical students' views of chronic fatigue syndrome: a qualitative study.

Neurovisceral phenotypes in the expression of psychiatric symptoms.

The Role of Toll-Like Receptors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A New Promising Therapeutic Approach?

Borderline Intracranial Hypertension Manifesting as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treated by Venous Sinus Stenting.

TMD and chronic pain: a current view.

In silico analysis of exercise intolerance in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

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