ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

201–220 of 6,187 studies

The Updated NICE Guidance Exposed the Serious Flaws in CBT and Graded Exercise Therapy Trials for ME/CFS.

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Alexandra·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This study reviewed the evidence that was used to support two common ME/CFS treatments: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET). The authors found that the studies supporting these treatments had serious design problems—such as unclear definitions of recovery, not properly measuring actual improvements, and not publishing results that didn't support the treatments. The authors conclude that these flawed studies don't actually prove CBT and GET work, which aligns with the new British health guidelines recommending against these treatments.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Systemic conditions associated with increased risk to develop oral squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dos Santos, Erison Santana, Pérez-de-Oliveira, Maria Eduarda, Normando, Ana Gabriela Costa et al.·Head & neck·2022

This review looked at whether people with certain long-term health conditions—including chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)—are at higher risk for developing oral squamous cell carcinoma (a type of mouth cancer). Researchers analyzed data from over 1 million patients worldwide and found that people with ME/CFS, along with several rare genetic conditions and those who had bone marrow transplants, do have an increased risk. The study suggests doctors should pay special attention to mouth health in patients with these conditions.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Is It Useful to Question the Recovery Behaviour of Patients with ME/CFS or Long COVID?

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Friso·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This review looked at research studies testing two treatments commonly recommended for ME/CFS: graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The researchers found that patients were actually more likely to be unable to work after receiving these treatments than before, and that both treatments can be harmful. The authors conclude that doctors should stop encouraging ME/CFS patients to push themselves harder to recover, since these approaches don't work and may make things worse.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Stigma perceived by patients with functional somatic syndromes and its effect on health outcomes - A systematic review.

Ko, Charlotte, Lucassen, Peter, van der Linden, Britt et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2022

This review examined whether patients with functional somatic syndromes like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS experience more stigma and negative health effects than patients with other medical conditions. The researchers found that ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients did experience higher levels of stigma compared to patients with clearly explained medical conditions, and stigma was linked to worse health outcomes in all groups studied.

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

What Primary Care Practitioners Need to Know about the New NICE Guideline for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adults.

Kingdon, Caroline, Lowe, Adam, Shepherd, Charles et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

The new NICE guideline (published October 2021) represents an important shift in how ME/CFS is recognized and treated. It acknowledges that ME/CFS is a serious medical condition, recognizes post-exertional malaise as a core symptom, and recommends against treatments like graded exercise therapy that can worsen symptoms. Instead, it calls for personalized care plans developed by a team of healthcare professionals who understand the condition.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 unclearSystematic-Review

Post-viral fatigue in COVID-19: A review of symptom assessment methods, mental, cognitive, and physical impairment.

Campos, Maria Cristine, Nery, Tatyana, Starke, Ana Carolina et al.·Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2022

This review looked at how doctors and researchers measure fatigue in people who have long-term tiredness after COVID-19. The study found that fatigue after COVID-19 is common and can affect thinking, mood, and physical abilities. The researchers identified different tools—questionnaires and performance tests—that can help measure how tired someone feels and how much their tiredness limits their daily activities.

Cognitive Impairment

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.

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The Updated NICE Guidance Exposed the Serious Flaws in CBT and Graded Exercise Therapy Trials for ME/CFS.

Systemic conditions associated with increased risk to develop oral squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Is It Useful to Question the Recovery Behaviour of Patients with ME/CFS or Long COVID?

Stigma perceived by patients with functional somatic syndromes and its effect on health outcomes - A systematic review.

What Primary Care Practitioners Need to Know about the New NICE Guideline for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adults.

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

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

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.

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

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

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment 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.

Post-viral fatigue in COVID-19: A review of symptom assessment methods, mental, cognitive, and physical impairment.

Animal Models for Neuroinflammation and Potential Treatment Methods.

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

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