ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

21–40 of 238 studies

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredPreliminaryRCTEditor reviewed

Effects of Yijinjing Qigongin Alleviating Fatigue, Sleep Quality, and Health Status on Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized, Controlled, and Parallel Group Clinical Study.

Xie, Fangfang, Dong, Wenjun, Guan, Chong et al.·Complementary medicine research·2023

This study tested whether Yijinjing, an ancient Chinese exercise practice with 12 movements, could help patients with ME/CFS. Forty patients either practiced Yijinjing six times per week for 12 weeks or received cognitive behavioral education. The Yijinjing group showed greater improvements in fatigue, sleep quality, and quality of life compared to the education group.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredModerate confidenceRCTEditor reviewed

Influence of Morphine and Naloxone on Pain Modulation in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia, and Controls: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Study.

Hermans, Linda, Nijs, Jo, Calders, Patrick et al.·Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain·2018

This study tested whether morphine and naloxone (a drug that blocks opioid effects) change how pain is processed in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy controls. Researchers measured pain sensitivity and pain relief in response to these medications using pressure tests and ischemic pain. They found that morphine slightly reduced pain sensitivity in patient groups similarly to placebo, but neither morphine nor naloxone significantly changed how the body's natural pain-relief system worked.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredModerate confidenceRCTEditor reviewed

Muscle injections with lidocaine improve resting fatigue and pain in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Staud, Roland, Kizer, Taylor, Robinson, Michael E·Journal of pain research·2017

Researchers tested whether injecting a numbing medication (lidocaine) into muscles could help ME/CFS patients with fatigue and pain. Compared to a placebo injection, lidocaine injections did reduce fatigue more effectively, and both types of injections reduced pain, depression, and anxiety. This suggests that signals from muscles themselves may play a role in ME/CFS symptoms.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredPreliminaryRCTEditor reviewed

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Wholistic Hybrid Derived From Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Emotional Freedom Technique (WHEE) for Self-Treatment of Pain, Depression, and Anxiety in Chronic Pain Patients.

Benor, Daniel, Rossiter-Thornton, John, Toussaint, Loren·Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine·2017

This small pilot study tested whether a self-help technique called WHEE (combining eye movements with tapping) could help people with chronic pain, depression, and anxiety. Twenty-four patients with chronic pain conditions (including 17 with ME/CFS or fibromyalgia) were split into two groups: one received WHEE treatment for 6 weeks while the other waited. The WHEE group showed improvements in anxiety and depression compared to those who waited, and when the waiting group later tried WHEE, they also experienced less pain and depression.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredModerate confidenceObservationalEditor reviewed

Kinesiophobia and maladaptive coping strategies prevent improvements in pain catastrophizing following pain neuroscience education in fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome: An explorative study.

Malfliet, Anneleen, Van Oosterwijck, Jessica, Meeus, Mira et al.·Physiotherapy theory and practice·2017

This study looked at why some people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia benefit more from a type of pain education (called pain neuroscience education) than others. The researchers found that patients who were very afraid of movement or who tended to worry a lot about their pain showed less improvement in their catastrophic thinking about pain after receiving this education. This suggests that for some patients, education alone may not be enough—they might need additional support to address their fears and worries.

Pain and SensitizationCognitive Impairment

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredPreliminaryRCTEditor reviewed

Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue: a multicenter, nonblinded, randomized controlled trial.

Kim, Jung-Eun, Seo, Byung-Kwan, Choi, Jin-Bong et al.·Trials·2015

This study tested whether acupuncture—a traditional practice involving thin needles inserted into the skin—could help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and related fatigue conditions. Researchers divided 150 patients into three groups: two received different types of acupuncture for 4 weeks along with their usual care, while one group continued usual care alone. The acupuncture groups showed some improvements in fatigue, stress, and pain compared to the usual care group.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredPreliminaryRCTEditor reviewed

Isometric yoga improves the fatigue and pain of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who are resistant to conventional therapy: a randomized, controlled trial.

Oka, Takakazu, Tanahashi, Tokusei, Chijiwa, Takeharu et al.·BioPsychoSocial medicine·2014

This study tested whether a gentle form of yoga called isometric yoga could help ME/CFS patients who hadn't improved with standard treatments. Thirty patients who had tried conventional therapies for at least six months were split into two groups: one continued their usual treatment, while the other added twice-weekly yoga sessions plus daily home practice. The yoga group showed significant improvements in fatigue and some also reported pain relief, with minimal side effects.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredModerate confidenceRCTEditor reviewed

Pain in chronic fatigue syndrome: response to rehabilitative treatments in the PACE trial.

Bourke, J H, Johnson, A L, Sharpe, M et al.·Psychological medicine·2014

This study looked at whether four different ME/CFS treatments—cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), graded exercise therapy (GET), adaptive pacing therapy (APT), and standard medical care—could reduce pain symptoms. Both CBT and GET appeared to reduce muscle and joint pain more than APT or standard care, though the improvements were modest in size. Importantly, these pain improvements happened independently of whether fatigue got better.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredPreliminaryRCTEditor reviewed

Does acetaminophen activate endogenous pain inhibition in chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis? A double-blind randomized controlled cross-over trial.

Meeus, Mira, Ickmans, Kelly, Struyf, Filip et al.·Pain physician·2013

This study tested whether acetaminophen (Tylenol) could help improve how the body's natural pain-blocking systems work in people with ME/CFS combined with fibromyalgia, compared to people with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy people. Researchers measured pain responses before and after taking acetaminophen or a placebo. The results were mixed: acetaminophen slightly helped pain thresholds in ME/CFS patients but actually made things slightly worse in arthritis patients and healthy controls, suggesting the drug affects different people very differently.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedPEM not requiredModerate confidenceRCTEditor reviewed

Pain physiology education improves pain beliefs in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared with pacing and self-management education: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Meeus, Mira, Nijs, Jo, Van Oosterwijck, Jessica et al.·Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation·2010

This study tested whether learning about how pain works in the nervous system could help people with ME/CFS who experience widespread pain. Researchers compared 48 patients who received either a 30-minute pain education session or standard pacing/self-management education. The group that learned about pain physiology showed better understanding of their pain and less worry and rumination about it right after the session.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceCase-ControlEditor reviewed

Increased Disease Burden in Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Comorbid Conditions and Psychiatric Diagnoses in a Multinational European Cohort: Results From the DISCOvERIE Project.

Midenfjord, Irina, Khadija, Mahrukh, Sundelin, Elias et al.·United European gastroenterology journal·2026

This study looked at 607 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) across nine European centers to understand how other conditions—like anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome—affect their symptoms and overall health. Patients who had IBS along with one or more of these comorbid conditions experienced more severe digestive symptoms, mood problems, and fatigue than those with IBS alone. The more comorbidities someone had, the worse their symptoms became.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Altered Pain Perception and Modulation in Individuals With Post-COVID-Condition: Insights From Quantitative Sensory Testing.

Lange, Hannah, Reichert, Julian, Vock, Stephanie et al.·European journal of pain (London, England)·2026

This study tested how people with long COVID perceive and respond to pain compared to healthy people. Researchers applied pressure to participants' legs and measured when they first felt pain and when pain became unbearable. People with long COVID felt pain at lower pressure levels and their pain got worse more quickly than healthy controls, suggesting their nervous systems process pain differently.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Disentangling comorbidity: symptom dimensions of internalizing and functional disorders in a large general population sample.

Saini, Urvi, Aggen, Steven H, Oldehinkel, Albertine J et al.·BMC psychiatry·2026

This study looked at how symptoms of depression, anxiety, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome overlap in over 100,000 people. Researchers found that these conditions share common symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating—which they call 'general malaise'—rather than being completely separate diseases. Understanding these shared symptoms may help explain why people often have multiple conditions at the same time.

Pain and SensitizationCognitive Impairment

E2 ModeratePEM unclearModerate confidenceCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Chronic Pain Prevalence, Characteristics, and Impact in United States Adults With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Adamowicz, Jenna L, Sirotiak, Zoe, Lendvai, Dora et al.·Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses·2026

This study looked at how common chronic pain is in people with ME/CFS and how it affects their lives. Researchers found that about 7 out of 10 people with ME/CFS also experience chronic pain lasting months or longer. People with both ME/CFS and chronic pain reported more depression, anxiety, and difficulty with daily activities compared to people who only have chronic pain.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceObservationalEditor reviewed

Prevalence of Bodily Distress Syndrome and Prediction of Patient Outcomes: Cohort Study of 3762 Individuals With Persistent Pain.

Landmark, Live, Sunde, Hans Fredrik, Fors, Egil A et al.·European journal of pain (London, England)·2026

This study looked at how multiple physical symptoms often occur together in people with chronic pain, using a framework called Bodily Distress Syndrome (BDS). Among 3,762 people attending a specialized pain clinic, 92.5% showed moderate to severe BDS, and those with BDS experienced more severe symptoms and psychological stress. After one year, people with BDS improved less and reported less benefit from treatment compared to those without BDS.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredPreliminaryCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Clinical Importance of Central Sensitization and Neuropathic Pain in The Treatment and Follow-Up of Patients with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis.

Koca, Tuba Tülay, Göğebakan, Hasan, Nazik, Hülya et al.·Indian journal of dermatology·2026

This study looked at whether people with skin and joint conditions (psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis) experience unusual pain processing in their nervous system, similar to what happens in conditions like fibromyalgia. Researchers found that many patients with these conditions had signs of nervous system sensitization and neuropathic pain (nerve-related pain). The more active their disease was, the more likely they were to have these pain processing problems.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceObservationalEditor reviewed

Identifying commonalities and differences between EHR representations of PASC and ME/CFS in the RECOVER EHR cohort.

Powers, John P, McIntee, Tomas J, Bhatia, Abhishek et al.·Communications medicine·2025

Researchers compared medical records from millions of patients to see how Long COVID (PASC) and ME/CFS are similar and different. They found that both conditions share common symptoms like fatigue, breathing difficulties, and trouble concentrating, but Long COVID tends to have more heart and lung problems, while ME/CFS more often involves pain and sleep issues. These similarities suggest that some treatment approaches might help both conditions.

Pain and SensitizationSleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModeratePEM requiredPreliminaryCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Exploratory study on autoantibodies to arginine-rich human peptides mimicking Epstein-Barr virus in women with post-COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hoheisel, Friederike, Fleischer, Kathrin Maria, Rubarth, Kerstin et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2025

This study looked for certain antibodies in the blood of women with post-COVID and ME/CFS that might mistakenly attack the body's own proteins. The researchers found that patients with these conditions had more of these problematic antibodies than healthy people, and these antibodies were linked to common ME/CFS symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, pain, and autonomic problems. The results suggest that a virus (EBV) may trigger the immune system to attack human proteins that look similar to viral proteins.

Pain and SensitizationAutonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Adverse effects of obesity on overall health, quality of life, and related physical health metrics: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study from the All of Us Research Program.

Yao, Zhiqi, Tchang, Beverly G, Chae, Kacey et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2025

This study looked at over 323,000 people in the United States to understand how obesity affects overall health and quality of life. Researchers found that people with higher body weight reported worse health, more pain, more fatigue, and greater difficulty with physical activity compared to people of normal weight. The effects were strongest in people with the most severe obesity, who were nearly 4 times more likely to report poor health and severe pain.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModeratePEM requiredModerate confidenceCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

The association of fatigue and pain with cognitive test performance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Oosterman, Joukje M, van der Schaaf, Marieke, de Kleijn, Willemien P E et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2025

This study looked at how fatigue and pain affect thinking and memory problems in people with ME/CFS. Researchers tested 1,375 patients on tasks like reaction time and attention, and found that both fatigue severity and pain severity were linked to worse cognitive performance. The effects were stronger in older patients, suggesting that age may play a role in how much fatigue and pain impact thinking abilities.

Pain and SensitizationCognitive Impairment

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Effects of Yijinjing Qigongin Alleviating Fatigue, Sleep Quality, and Health Status on Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized, Controlled, and Parallel Group Clinical Study.

Influence of Morphine and Naloxone on Pain Modulation in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia, and Controls: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Study.

Muscle injections with lidocaine improve resting fatigue and pain in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Wholistic Hybrid Derived From Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Emotional Freedom Technique (WHEE) for Self-Treatment of Pain, Depression, and Anxiety in Chronic Pain Patients.

Kinesiophobia and maladaptive coping strategies prevent improvements in pain catastrophizing following pain neuroscience education in fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome: An explorative study.

Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue: a multicenter, nonblinded, randomized controlled trial.

Isometric yoga improves the fatigue and pain of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who are resistant to conventional therapy: a randomized, controlled trial.

Pain in chronic fatigue syndrome: response to rehabilitative treatments in the PACE trial.

Does acetaminophen activate endogenous pain inhibition in chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis? A double-blind randomized controlled cross-over trial.

Pain physiology education improves pain beliefs in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared with pacing and self-management education: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Increased Disease Burden in Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Comorbid Conditions and Psychiatric Diagnoses in a Multinational European Cohort: Results From the DISCOvERIE Project.

Altered Pain Perception and Modulation in Individuals With Post-COVID-Condition: Insights From Quantitative Sensory Testing.

Disentangling comorbidity: symptom dimensions of internalizing and functional disorders in a large general population sample.

Chronic Pain Prevalence, Characteristics, and Impact in United States Adults With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Prevalence of Bodily Distress Syndrome and Prediction of Patient Outcomes: Cohort Study of 3762 Individuals With Persistent Pain.

Clinical Importance of Central Sensitization and Neuropathic Pain in The Treatment and Follow-Up of Patients with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis.

Identifying commonalities and differences between EHR representations of PASC and ME/CFS in the RECOVER EHR cohort.

Exploratory study on autoantibodies to arginine-rich human peptides mimicking Epstein-Barr virus in women with post-COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Adverse effects of obesity on overall health, quality of life, and related physical health metrics: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study from the All of Us Research Program.

The association of fatigue and pain with cognitive test performance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

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