ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

181–200 of 266 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Neuraesthenia revisited: ICD-10 and DSM-III-R psychiatric syndromes in chronic fatigue patients and comparison subjects.

Farmer, A, Jones, I, Hillier, J et al.·The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·1995

This study examined psychiatric conditions in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using standardized diagnostic interviews. Most CFS patients met criteria for a condition called neuraesthenia (an older term for nerve exhaustion) and had higher rates of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems compared to healthy people. Interestingly, when researchers followed patients over about 11 months without giving specific treatment, some psychiatric symptoms improved on their own, while the core fatigue condition remained.

DiagnosticsSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleep disturbances and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Schaefer, K M·Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN·1995

This study looked at sleep problems in women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Researchers found that both groups had significant sleep difficulties, and that trouble staying asleep was the most common sleep problem reported. There was a clear link between poor sleep and fatigue—women who slept poorly felt more tired.

Sleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Dimensional assessment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vercoulen, J H, Swanink, C M, Fennis, J F et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·1994

This study asked 298 people with ME/CFS to fill out detailed questionnaires about how the illness affected them. Researchers found that ME/CFS affects people in nine different ways: mood and emotional health, ability to do daily activities, sleep quality, physical avoidance, thinking and memory problems, beliefs about what caused their illness, relationships and social life, confidence in their own abilities, and overall life satisfaction. Understanding these separate aspects could help doctors better assess and treat ME/CFS in individual patients.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Sleep disorders in patients with chronic fatigue.

Buchwald, D, Pascualy, R, Bombardier, C et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

This study looked at sleep problems in 59 people with chronic fatigue, most of whom had ME/CFS. Researchers found that 81% had at least one sleep disorder—most commonly sleep apnea—that might be treatable. Importantly, these sleep problems occurred whether or not people met the full criteria for ME/CFS, suggesting they are a separate issue worth investigating and treating.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Alpha-delta sleep in patients with a chief complaint of chronic fatigue.

Manu, P, Lane, T J, Matthews, D A et al.·Southern medical journal·1994

This study looked at sleep patterns in 30 patients with chronic fatigue to understand what might be causing their exhaustion. Researchers found that a specific type of abnormal sleep pattern called 'alpha-delta sleep' appeared in about 26% of patients, but it was not clearly linked to ME/CFS or fibromyalgia. The study also found that one-third of the patients had other primary sleep disorders like sleep apnea that may have been contributing to their fatigue.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Primary juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents.

Bell, D S, Bell, K M, Cheney, P R·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

This study looked at whether children diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) also had fibromyalgia, a condition involving widespread muscle pain and tender points. Researchers found that about 30% of children with CFS met the criteria for fibromyalgia, and these children experienced more muscle pain, sleep problems, and neurological symptoms than those without fibromyalgia. The study suggests that CFS and fibromyalgia in children may be closely related or even the same condition.

SleepPain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleep disturbance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Krupp, L B, Jandorf, L, Coyle, P K et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·1993

This study looked at sleep problems in 72 people with ME/CFS, comparing them to people with multiple sclerosis and healthy volunteers. People with ME/CFS reported much worse sleep and fatigue than the other groups. When researchers used sleep monitoring equipment on some ME/CFS patients, they found that over half had treatable sleep disorders like sleep apnea or periodic leg movements during sleep.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Sleep, Epstein-Barr virus infection, musculoskeletal pain, and depressive symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Whelton, C L, Salit, I, Moldofsky, H·The Journal of rheumatology·1992

This study compared sleep patterns, virus exposure, and symptoms in 14 ME/CFS patients versus 12 healthy people. Patients reported sleep that didn't feel refreshing and had unusual brain wave patterns during sleep, but didn't show excessive daytime sleepiness. The study found no evidence that a chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection was causing the illness, but patients did have more widespread pain, tender points, and depression symptoms.

SleepPain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

"Chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection" syndrome and polymyalgia rheumatica.

Buchwald, D, Sullivan, J L, Leddy, S et al.·The Journal of rheumatology·1988

This study looked at 23 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a condition causing muscle pain and stiffness, and noticed many also experienced severe fatigue, sleep problems, and recurring sore throats—symptoms similar to ME/CFS. Even after treatment improved their muscle pain, these fatigue-related symptoms continued for months. However, blood tests showed their Epstein-Barr virus antibody levels were normal and similar to healthy people their age, suggesting the virus wasn't the primary cause.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Sleep and symptoms in fibrositis syndrome after a febrile illness.

Moldofsky, H, Saskin, P, Lue, F A·The Journal of rheumatology·1988

This study looked at sleep patterns in people with fibromyalgia (a condition causing widespread pain and fatigue) who developed the condition after a fever, compared to people with fibromyalgia without a clear trigger and healthy volunteers. All fibromyalgia patients showed abnormal brain wave patterns during sleep that prevented their sleep from being truly restful, and they experienced similar muscle pain and tender points. This suggests that post-illness fibromyalgia shares the same sleep problems as other forms of fibromyalgia.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Inspiratory muscle training improves autonomic function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: A pilot study.

Edgell, Heather, Pereira, Tania J, Kerr, Kathleen et al.·Respiratory physiology & neurobiology·2025

This study tested whether a simple breathing exercise program could help people with ME/CFS and Long COVID feel better. For 8 weeks, participants practiced strengthening their breathing muscles. People in all groups—including those with ME/CFS and Long COVID—showed improvements in how far they could walk, their heart rate, sleep quality, and how their nervous system functioned. Those with ME/CFS also noticed less pain and better blood vessel function.

Autonomic Nervous SystemSleep

E3 PreliminaryPEM required

Glymphatic System Dysregulation as a Key Contributor to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Nemat-Gorgani, Mohsen, Jensen, Michael Anthony, Davis, Ronald Wayne·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Your brain has a cleaning system called the glymphatic system that removes toxic waste buildup, especially during sleep. This review suggests that this cleaning system may not be working properly in ME/CFS, which could explain symptoms like fatigue and brain fog. If the glymphatic system is involved in ME/CFS, new treatments designed to fix this cleaning process might help patients feel better.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Nutrition and Chronobiology as Key Components of Multidisciplinary Therapeutic Interventions for Fibromyalgia and Associated Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Narrative and Critical Review.

Carrasco-Querol, Noèlia, Cabricano-Canga, Lorena, Bueno Hernández, Nerea et al.·Nutrients·2024

This review examines how diet and body rhythms (sleep-wake cycles) affect fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors found that what you eat, nutrient levels, gut bacteria, and your natural circadian rhythm all play important roles in these conditions. They conclude that treating FM/CFS effectively requires paying attention to nutrition and sleep timing alongside other therapies.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not required

Could Modafinil Be an Option in the Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions Due to Antidepressant Use in Women? Two Case Reports.

Yilbaş, Barış·Turk psikiyatri dergisi = Turkish journal of psychiatry·2022

Some antidepressant medications can cause sexual side effects like loss of desire and difficulty with arousal. This report describes two women whose sexual problems improved when modafinil (a medication used for sleep disorders and fatigue) was added to their antidepressant treatment. One woman saw significant improvement at 100 mg daily, while the other needed 200 mg daily to see meaningful improvement.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID.

Cardinali, Daniel P, Brown, Gregory M, Pandi-Perumal, Seithikurippu R·Biomolecules·2022

This review examines whether melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates sleep, might help people with long COVID who experience symptoms similar to ME/CFS—such as brain fog, fatigue, and muscle pain. Melatonin has several properties that could potentially help: it reduces inflammation, fights harmful molecules in the body, supports immune function, and protects nerve cells. The authors suggest melatonin might be worth studying further as a treatment for the lingering cognitive and pain symptoms some long COVID patients experience.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleepPain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Study on the active components and mechanism of Suanzaoren decoction in improving cognitive impairment caused by sleep deprivation.

Cheng, Li, Wang, Fei, Li, Zi-Heng et al.·Journal of ethnopharmacology·2022

This study examined how an ancient Chinese herbal remedy called Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRD) might help improve thinking and memory problems caused by poor sleep. Researchers used computer analysis and laboratory experiments to identify the active ingredients in the herbs and understand how they work in the body, finding that the remedy may work through pathways related to estrogen in the brain.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleep

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Sleep state misperception: is there a CNS structural source?

Truzzi, Giselle de Martin, Teixeira, Igor de Lima, do Prado, Lucila Bizari Fernandes et al.·Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil)·2021

This case report describes one patient with AIDS and a brain lesion (from a parasitic infection) who reported feeling sleepless for 2 years, even though sleep monitoring showed she was actually sleeping. The authors suggest that brain structural abnormalities in a specific region (left nucleocapsular area) may be associated with this disconnect between feeling awake and actually sleeping. The relevance of this single case to ME/CFS is uncertain and requires further study.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Fibromyalgia and Associated Disorders: From Pain to Chronic Suffering, From Subjective Hypersensitivity to Hypersensitivity Syndrome.

Maugars, Yves, Berthelot, Jean-Marie, Le Goff, Benoit et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2021

This article reviews what scientists know about fibromyalgia as of 2020, including how it's diagnosed and why it happens. The authors explain that fibromyalgia involves the brain processing pain signals too intensely, and that people with fibromyalgia often experience many other symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and sensitivity to sounds, lights, and touch. They also discuss how fibromyalgia shares common features with other conditions like ME/CFS, all involving a heightened sensitivity to stimuli controlled by the central nervous system.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryPEM not required

Building-related illness (BRI) in all family members caused by mold infestation after dampness damage of the building.

Kramer, Axel, Wichelhaus, Thomas A, Kempf, Volkhard et al.·GMS hygiene and infection control·2021

A family of five living in a house with severe mold damage all developed health problems. The mother developed symptoms very similar to ME/CFS, including extreme fatigue, cognitive problems, sleep issues, and respiratory complaints. After the family moved out, symptoms improved gradually—the father recovered in 2 weeks, the children in 6 months, and the mother took 18 months to fully recover.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleep

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

An Open-Label, Pilot Trial of HRG80™ Red Ginseng in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Viral Fatigue.

Teitelbaum, Jacob, Goudie, Sarah·Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This study tested a special form of red ginseng called HRG80 in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and post-COVID fatigue. Over one month, 188 patients took daily ginseng supplements and reported their symptoms. About 60% of participants felt better, with improvements in energy, mental clarity, sleep, and stamina.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleepPain and Sensitization

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Evidence browser

Neuraesthenia revisited: ICD-10 and DSM-III-R psychiatric syndromes in chronic fatigue patients and comparison subjects.

Sleep disturbances and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Dimensional assessment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sleep disorders in patients with chronic fatigue.

Alpha-delta sleep in patients with a chief complaint of chronic fatigue.

Primary juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents.

Sleep disturbance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sleep, Epstein-Barr virus infection, musculoskeletal pain, and depressive symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome.

"Chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection" syndrome and polymyalgia rheumatica.

Sleep and symptoms in fibrositis syndrome after a febrile illness.

Inspiratory muscle training improves autonomic function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: A pilot study.

Glymphatic System Dysregulation as a Key Contributor to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Nutrition and Chronobiology as Key Components of Multidisciplinary Therapeutic Interventions for Fibromyalgia and Associated Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Narrative and Critical Review.

Could Modafinil Be an Option in the Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions Due to Antidepressant Use in Women? Two Case Reports.

Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID.

Study on the active components and mechanism of Suanzaoren decoction in improving cognitive impairment caused by sleep deprivation.

Sleep state misperception: is there a CNS structural source?

Fibromyalgia and Associated Disorders: From Pain to Chronic Suffering, From Subjective Hypersensitivity to Hypersensitivity Syndrome.

Building-related illness (BRI) in all family members caused by mold infestation after dampness damage of the building.

An Open-Label, Pilot Trial of HRG80™ Red Ginseng in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Viral Fatigue.

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