Search and filter 6,171 studies by evidence level, diagnostic criteria, PEM status, and research domain. Each entry links to the original source.
Studies sorted by evidence level, then year. Browse by topic instead →
Evidence level (E0–E3) reflects study type and replication, not methodological quality. A weak systematic review still sits at E0. How evidence levels work →
1781–1800 of 2,422 studies
Jackson, Elizabeth·Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)·2003
This article reviews what we know about ME/CFS, including the symptoms people commonly experience and how they can be treated. The author describes a new model of patient care that was tested in the community, which combines several different therapeutic approaches to help manage the condition.
Kurup, Ravi Kumar, Kurup, Parameswara Achutha·The International journal of neuroscience·2003
This study examined chemical pathways in the brains of 15 ME/CFS patients, focusing on how the body produces energy and manages stress. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had lower levels of important protective molecules and higher levels of harmful byproducts, along with imbalances in brain chemicals that affect mood, energy, and pain. The study suggests these biochemical problems may be linked to how the brain is organized in people with ME/CFS.
Taylor, Renee R, Kielhofner, Gary W, Abelenda, Judith et al.·Occupational therapy in health care·2003
This study looked at how ME/CFS affects people's ability to work, study, and participate in daily life. The researchers used a framework called the Model of Human Occupation to understand how motivation, habits, physical abilities, and surroundings all work together to influence how people with ME/CFS manage their daily activities. The paper draws on real examples from patients' experiences and clinical practice to show the many ways this illness disrupts normal life.
Schmaling, Karen B, Lewis, David H, Fiedelak, Jessica I et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2003
Researchers used brain imaging scans to compare how the brains of people with ME/CFS and healthy people work during a challenging listening and memory task. People with ME/CFS performed just as well on the task as healthy people, but reported feeling like they had to work much harder mentally. The brain scans showed that people with ME/CFS had a different pattern of brain activity—more spread out rather than focused in specific areas—suggesting their brains may be working less efficiently.
Sabin, Thomas D·The neurologist·2003
This paper helps doctors, especially neurologists, understand how to properly evaluate patients who are experiencing severe fatigue. The author emphasizes that while ME/CFS is a real condition, it's important to rule out other medical problems that can cause similar symptoms before confirming an ME/CFS diagnosis. Since there is no blood test or scan that can definitively diagnose ME/CFS, careful evaluation and questioning of patients is essential.
Yip, H K, Li, D K C, Yau, D C Y·International dental journal·2003
This review examines whether dental fillings containing mercury cause chronic fatigue syndrome and other neurological diseases. After 30 years of research, scientists have found that while small amounts of mercury do leak from these fillings, there is no clear evidence that they cause widespread health problems in patients. Most international health organizations agree these fillings are safe for patients, though protecting dental workers from mercury exposure remains important.
Cleare, A J·Acta neuropsychiatrica·2003
This study looks at whether a hormone system called the HPA axis—which controls stress responses and cortisol production—might explain why people with ME/CFS experience severe fatigue. Researchers found that some patients have lower cortisol levels and changes in how their bodies respond to stress, and that giving cortisol replacement therapy in some cases improved fatigue. However, the changes weren't the same in all patients, suggesting multiple different factors may be contributing to fatigue rather than one single problem.
Zeman, Krzysztof, Lewandowicz-Uszyńska, Aleksandra·Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej·2002
This review article examines whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)—a blood product containing antibodies—might help patients with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV and chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors looked at published research to understand when and how IVIG might be useful, particularly for people recovering from serious injuries, burns, or major surgery.
Gaab, Jens, Hüster, Dominik, Peisen, Renate et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2002
This study looked at how the stress-response system (a hormone system in the brain called the HPA axis) works in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. Researchers exposed both groups to different types of stress—mental stress, exercise, and a hormone test—and measured how their bodies responded. ME/CFS patients showed lower levels of a stress hormone called ACTH at baseline and during stress tests, but their cortisol levels were mostly normal, suggesting their stress system works differently rather than being broken.
Silver, A, Haeney, M, Vijayadurai, P et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2002
This study looked at whether fear of movement and activity contributes to people with ME/CFS avoiding exercise. Researchers created a questionnaire to measure this fear and asked patients to ride an exercise bike as long as they could. They found that people's beliefs about whether activity was dangerous predicted how much they exercised, even when other factors like tiredness and heart rate did not.
Geraghty, J·Homeopathy : the journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy·2002
This study looked at three young people with ME/CFS that developed after a viral infection, and tried treating them with homeopathic remedies based on a specific system of selecting remedies. The researchers describe how they chose three different phosphate-based homeopathic medicines and claim that patients experienced improvement, though the study is very small and doesn't use a comparison group.
Cogan, E·Revue medicale de Bruxelles·2002
This review examines how doctors approach patients with chronic fatigue. The authors note that most chronic fatigue cases stem from psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety. A small group of patients have ME/CFS, which involves fatigue, mood and thinking problems, and various other physical symptoms—but doctors still don't know what causes it. Current treatments with limited evidence include antidepressants, talk therapy, and graded exercise programs.
Hoffman, Ronald·Seminars in oncology·2002
This article discusses how doctors should measure quality of life in patients with two rare blood disorders (essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera). The author explains that while treatments can control blood cell production and prevent some serious complications, they often cause side effects. The article suggests that doctors should use quality-of-life questionnaires to better understand whether treatments are truly helping patients feel better overall.
Quan, N, Herkenham, M·Histology and histopathology·2002
This review examines how immune molecules called cytokines communicate with the brain and affect how it works. Scientists have found that cytokines can trigger fatigue, changes in mood and behavior, and problems with the nervous system. The authors suggest that cytokines may play a role in several brain-related conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome.
Brunet, J L, Fatoohi, F, Liaudet, A Perret et al.·Allergie et immunologie·2002
This study investigated whether ME/CFS patients have exaggerated immune reactions to common fungi and bacteria that normally live on or around our bodies. Researchers tested this by placing small amounts of Candida (a common yeast) under the skin and watching for delayed reactions. They found that about half of ME/CFS patients showed these heightened reactions, and they developed methods to measure immune cell activation in the lab that matched what they saw on the skin.
Nash, John, Cheng, Joseph S, Meyer, Glenn A et al.·WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin·2002
Chiari Type I malformation is a condition where brain tissue extends into the spinal canal, potentially causing compression and various neurological symptoms. This review explains how doctors diagnose it using MRI imaging and discusses treatment options. The authors note that Chiari I symptoms can overlap significantly with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, making diagnosis challenging, and they highlight controversy around whether surgery is appropriate for patients with these overlapping conditions.
Durlach, Jean, Pagès, Nicole, Bac, Pierre et al.·Magnesium research·2002
This paper proposes that magnesium deficiency may be linked to disrupted circadian rhythms (biological clocks) and could contribute to several conditions including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and sleep problems. The authors suggest that light therapy, dark therapy, and magnesium supplementation may help by affecting the body's internal clock and natural sleep hormone production.
Shetzline, Susan E, Martinand-Mari, Camille, Reichenbach, Nancy L et al.·Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research·2002
Researchers found that ME/CFS patients have a smaller, altered form of a protein called RNase L in their immune cells compared to healthy people. This smaller protein (37-kDa) appears to work similarly to the normal-sized protein (80-kDa) in healthy controls, particularly in how it binds to immune signaling molecules. This discovery suggests that ME/CFS may involve a structural change in this immune system protein.
Senna, Gianenrico, Gani, Federica, Leo, Gualtiero et al.·Recenti progressi in medicina·2002
This review examined whether alternative medical tests can reliably diagnose food allergies and intolerances. The researchers found that popular tests like cytotoxic testing, hair analysis, applied kinesiology, and food IgG testing are not scientifically supported for diagnosing food problems. The authors warn patients and doctors to be cautious about these tests because following unnecessary restricted diets based on their results can be harmful, especially for children.
Merz, Susanne·Lakartidningen·2002
This review examines how ME/CFS is defined and diagnosed, and explains that several other medical conditions can look like ME/CFS but are actually different diseases. The authors highlight that many conditions—such as chronic infections, thyroid problems, and allergies—can cause similar symptoms to ME/CFS. They recommend that doctors carefully test patients to find the true cause of their symptoms rather than assuming everyone with severe fatigue has ME/CFS.
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Thematic groupings by clinical question or research area.
PET imaging and other studies providing evidence for brain inflammation in ME/CFS.
NeurologyMetabolomics and mitochondrial function studies revealing energy metabolism disruption.
MetabolismStudies identifying potential biological markers for ME/CFS diagnosis and stratification.
Biomarker