ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

201–220 of 6,157 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

What treatments work for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome? An updated systematic review.

Clery, Philippa, Royston, Alexander, Driver, Katie et al.·BMJ open·2022

This review looked at studies on treating anxiety and depression in children with ME/CFS. Researchers found only 16 studies since 1991 that measured these mental health symptoms. While some treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) showed promise, the quality of evidence was poor and there were too few studies to say which treatments actually work best for children with ME/CFS who have anxiety or depression.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

A systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials evaluating prognosis following treatment for adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ingman, Tom, Smakowski, Abigail, Goldsmith, Kimberley et al.·Psychological medicine·2022

This review examined 15 studies testing whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) help adults with ME/CFS. About 44% of people felt better after CBT and 43% felt better after GET in the short to medium term, compared to smaller improvements in control groups. However, most studies were only moderate to weak quality, and results may not apply to people with severe ME/CFS.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The underlying sex differences in neuroendocrine adaptations relevant to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Thomas, Natalie, Gurvich, Caroline, Huang, Katherine et al.·Frontiers in neuroendocrinology·2022

This review examines why ME/CFS affects women much more often than men and how sex hormones may play a role. The authors found that female hormonal changes—such as those during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause—are linked to ME/CFS onset and symptoms. They suggest that differences in how men's and women's bodies handle stress hormones like cortisol and estrogen may help explain why women develop ME/CFS more frequently and sometimes experience different symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Analysis of post COVID-19 condition and its overlap with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sukocheva, Olga A, Maksoud, Rebekah, Beeraka, Narasimha M et al.·Journal of advanced research·2022

This study compared long-term effects of COVID-19 infection (long-COVID) with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to see how similar they are. Researchers found that many people who develop long-COVID experience the same symptoms as ME/CFS patients, including severe fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and worsening of symptoms after physical activity. The study suggests that COVID-19 may trigger a ME/CFS-like condition in some people through inflammatory processes in the body.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Human Herpesvirus 6 Infection and Risk of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Mozhgani, Sayed-Hamidreza, Rajabi, Farid, Qurbani, Mohsen et al.·Intervirology·2022

This study reviewed and combined the results of 17 different research studies to see if there's a connection between a common virus called HHV-6 and ME/CFS. The researchers found evidence suggesting that HHV-6 infection may be associated with developing ME/CFS, but they emphasize that more research is needed to fully understand this relationship.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not required

Systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive impairment in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Aoun Sebaiti, Mehdi, Hainselin, Mathieu, Gounden, Yannick et al.·Scientific reports·2022

This large review examined research on thinking and memory problems in ME/CFS by looking at 764 studies published over 30 years. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS commonly experience difficulties with memory (especially visual and verbal memory), processing speed when reading, and attention, but their problem-solving and basic mental functions are usually preserved. The study shows that cognitive problems in ME/CFS are real and measurable, though they vary from person to person.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredEditorial

Long-Term COVID 19 Sequelae in Adolescents: the Overlap with Orthostatic Intolerance and ME/CFS.

Morrow, Amanda K, Malone, Laura A, Kokorelis, Christina et al.·Current pediatrics reports·2022

Some teenagers who had COVID-19 develop long-lasting symptoms months after their initial infection, even if they weren't severely ill at first. These long COVID symptoms—like extreme fatigue, brain fog, and difficulty standing—look very similar to ME/CFS. This review examines how common long COVID is in teens and explains why current treatments don't work well for everyone because long COVID may actually be several different conditions.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning.

Porter, Nicole, Jason, Leonard A·Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment·2022

This review examines whether mindfulness meditation—a practice involving focused attention and relaxation—might help people with Long COVID and ME/CFS. The authors looked at existing research showing that meditation can reduce fatigue and sleep problems, and may help calm inflammation in the body after viral infections. They suggest that meditation could be a helpful tool to manage symptoms and potentially address some of the underlying biological problems in these conditions.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Animal Models for Neuroinflammation and Potential Treatment Methods.

Tamura, Yasuhisa, Yamato, Masanori, Kataoka, Yosky·Frontiers in neurology·2022

This review looked at how ME/CFS may be caused by inflammation in the brain and examined animal studies testing anti-inflammatory treatments. Researchers found that brain inflammation is connected to how severe ME/CFS symptoms are, and that certain compounds with anti-inflammatory properties showed promise in reducing these inflammatory responses in animal models. This suggests that anti-inflammatory medicines might help improve symptoms in ME/CFS patients.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Ginseng for the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies.

Yang, Juan, Shin, Kyung-Min, Abu Dabrh, Abd Moain et al.·Global advances in health and medicine·2022

Researchers looked at whether ginseng, a plant supplement used for fatigue in other conditions, might help people with ME/CFS. They found only 2 small studies with a total of 68 patients. While the results suggest ginseng might be helpful, there isn't enough evidence yet to say for certain whether it works or is safe for ME/CFS patients.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEvidence-Map

Fatigue, post-exertional malaise and orthostatic intolerance: a map of Cochrane evidence relevant to rehabilitation for people with post COVID-19 condition.

Arienti, Chiara, Cordani, Claudio, Lazzarini, Stefano G et al.·European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine·2022

This study looked at what treatments have helped people with fatigue and exercise problems in other conditions to understand what might help people with long COVID. Researchers found that exercise programs, telehealth rehabilitation, and educational interventions showed promise for fatigue, while combined aerobic and anaerobic training helped with exercise intolerance. However, they found very little research specifically on post-exertional malaise (feeling much worse after activity) or orthostatic intolerance (dizziness when standing), which are key symptoms in post-COVID and ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Fatigue in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and systemic sclerosis (SSc): similarities with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). A critical review of the literature.

van Eeden, Charmaine, Osman, Mohammed S, Cohen Tervaert, Jan Willem·Expert review of clinical immunology·2022

This review examined severe, long-lasting fatigue in patients with certain autoimmune diseases and compared it to ME/CFS. The researchers found that fatigue in these autoimmune diseases shares similarities with ME/CFS, including common immune and metabolic problems. Importantly, this fatigue often persists even after the main disease is brought under control, suggesting it may need different treatment approaches than the underlying condition.

Severe MEImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Could the kynurenine pathway be the key missing piece of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) complex puzzle?

Kavyani, Bahar, Lidbury, Brett A, Schloeffel, Richard et al.·Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2022

This review explores whether problems with how your body processes an amino acid called tryptophan might explain ME/CFS symptoms. The kynurenine pathway is a biochemical process that helps your cells make energy and affects immune function and brain inflammation. The authors suggest that abnormalities in this pathway could be a missing piece in understanding why ME/CFS develops.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkers

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEditorial

Post COVID fatigue: Can we really ignore it?

Sharma, Priya, Bharti, Sumit, Garg, Isha·The Indian journal of tuberculosis·2022

This review examines fatigue that develops after COVID-19 infection and lasts for at least 12 weeks. The authors explain that post-COVID fatigue is complex—it affects different people differently depending on age, other health conditions, and how severe their initial infection was. Some people recover while fatigue persists, making it hard for doctors to predict when patients will feel better.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Stabilometric Biofeedback Training in Cognitive and Affective Function Improvement. Contribution of the Russian Scientific School. Part II.

Bazanova, O M, Kovaleva, A V·Human physiology·2022

This review examines how balance training using computer feedback can help improve thinking, mood, and symptom management in people with chronic fatigue syndrome and other neurological conditions. The researchers looked at studies from Russia and other countries that used a technique called stabilometric biofeedback, which shows patients real-time information about their body's balance and posture to help them improve control and function.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhang, Yang, Jin, Fangfang, Wei, Xing et al.·Frontiers in pharmacology·2022

This review looked at 84 studies testing whether Chinese herbal medicines help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The analysis found that patients taking these herbal treatments reported improvements in fatigue, mood, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and showed some changes in immune markers. However, the researchers caution that the studies included were not high quality, so we should be careful about trusting these results until better research is done.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Genetics of COVID-19 and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Tziastoudi, Maria, Cholevas, Christos, Stefanidis, Ioannis et al.·Annals of clinical and translational neurology·2022

This study looked at genetic research on both COVID-19 and ME/CFS to see if they share common genetic factors that might explain why both conditions cause extreme fatigue. Researchers reviewed 71 studies on COVID-19 genetics and 26 studies on ME/CFS genetics, then identified six genes that appear in both conditions. The findings suggest that immune system dysfunction—specifically problems with inflammation and how immune cells communicate—may play a role in both illnesses.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredMeta-Analysis

Pain-Related Post-Exertional Malaise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis.

Barhorst, Ellen E, Boruch, Alexander E, Cook, Dane B et al.·Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)·2022

This review examined whether people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia experience increased pain after exercise. Researchers combined data from 15 studies and found that yes, patients do have more pain after physical activity than healthy people do—especially when pain was measured 8-72 hours later. This confirms that pain is a real and significant part of post-exertional malaise (the worsening of symptoms after activity).

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Fang, Yang, Yue, Bo-Wen, Ma, Han-Bo et al.·Medicine·2022

This review looked at 51 studies testing whether acupuncture and moxibustion (traditional Chinese medicine treatments) help people with chronic fatigue syndrome. The researchers combined results from these studies and found that traditional Chinese medicine treatments, especially moxibustion alone or combined with acupuncture, showed better improvements in fatigue symptoms compared to other treatments like standard Western medicines.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Long COVID or Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): An Overview of Biological Factors That May Contribute to Persistent Symptoms.

Proal, Amy D, VanElzakker, Michael B·Frontiers in microbiology·2021

Some people who recover from COVID-19 infection continue to experience symptoms for months afterward, a condition called Long COVID or PASC. This review examines multiple biological explanations for why this happens, including organ damage, lingering virus in the body, reactivation of dormant viruses, immune system dysfunction, blood clotting problems, and the body's own immune cells attacking healthy tissues. The authors suggest that different patients likely have different underlying causes, which means different treatments may work best for different people.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

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Evidence browser

What treatments work for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome? An updated systematic review.

A systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials evaluating prognosis following treatment for adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The underlying sex differences in neuroendocrine adaptations relevant to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Analysis of post COVID-19 condition and its overlap with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Human Herpesvirus 6 Infection and Risk of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive impairment in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Long-Term COVID 19 Sequelae in Adolescents: the Overlap with Orthostatic Intolerance and ME/CFS.

Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning.

Animal Models for Neuroinflammation and Potential Treatment Methods.

Ginseng for the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies.

Fatigue, post-exertional malaise and orthostatic intolerance: a map of Cochrane evidence relevant to rehabilitation for people with post COVID-19 condition.

Fatigue in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and systemic sclerosis (SSc): similarities with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). A critical review of the literature.

Could the kynurenine pathway be the key missing piece of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) complex puzzle?

Post COVID fatigue: Can we really ignore it?

Stabilometric Biofeedback Training in Cognitive and Affective Function Improvement. Contribution of the Russian Scientific School. Part II.

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Genetics of COVID-19 and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Pain-Related Post-Exertional Malaise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis.

Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Long COVID or Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): An Overview of Biological Factors That May Contribute to Persistent Symptoms.

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