ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

201–220 of 266 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Central sensitivity and fibromyalgia.

Mezhov, Veronica, Guymer, Emma, Littlejohn, Geoffrey·Internal medicine journal·2021

This review describes fibromyalgia and related conditions—such as irritable bowel syndrome and, by analogy, chronic fatigue syndrome—as disorders associated with altered pain and sensory processing in the central nervous system. The authors propose that recognizing these overlaps may help doctors diagnose and manage patients more effectively, and they outline integrated treatment approaches including education, exercise, stress reduction, and medications. However, as a review article, this represents a synthesis of existing literature rather than new experimental evidence, and the strength of evidence for individual claims varies.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleep

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclear

Auricular acupuncture for insomnia of chronic fatigue syndrome: a case report.

Zhang, Feng, Shen, Yifeng, Li, Jie et al.·Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·2020

This study looked at whether auricular acupuncture (tiny needles placed in specific points on the ear) could help improve sleep in one patient with ME/CFS. The patient received acupuncture treatment and reported improvements in their insomnia symptoms. However, this is just one person's experience, so we cannot yet say whether this treatment would work for other ME/CFS patients.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Not what it seems to be: Depression versus periodic limb movement disorder.

Gupta, Ravi, Kundu, Kaustuv, Khayyam, Khwaja et al.·Indian journal of psychiatry·2020

This case report describes a patient who was initially diagnosed with depression and wasn't getting better with antidepressant medications. Doctors later realized he actually had a sleep disorder called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), where the legs move involuntarily during sleep. When treated with a medication called ropinirole, his symptoms improved significantly. This story highlights how sleep problems can look like depression or chronic fatigue, and getting the right diagnosis matters.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Treatment for Gulf War Illness (GWI) with KPAX002 (methylphenidate hydrochloride + GWI nutrient formula) in subjects meeting the Kansas case definition: A prospective, open-label trial.

Holodniy, Mark, Kaiser, Jon D·Journal of psychiatric research·2019

Researchers tested a combination treatment called KPAX002—containing a stimulant medication (methylphenidate) plus vitamins and nutrients meant to support energy production in cells—in 17 people with Gulf War Illness. After 12 weeks, patients reported about 25% improvement in their overall symptoms, including better fatigue, brain fog, sleep, and pain. The treatment was generally safe and well-tolerated, though a larger, more rigorous study is needed to confirm these results.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleepPain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Intra brainstem connectivity is impaired in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Barnden, Leighton R, Shan, Zack Y, Staines, Donald R et al.·NeuroImage. Clinical·2019

This study used brain imaging (fMRI) to compare how different parts of the brainstem communicate in people with ME/CFS versus healthy people. The brainstem is a critical control center that regulates automatic body functions like heart rate, breathing, and sleep. Researchers found that in ME/CFS patients, certain communication pathways between brainstem regions were weaker or missing, which could explain many ME/CFS symptoms like fatigue, cognitive problems, and autonomic dysfunction.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryPEM not required

[Clinical efficacy of neurometabolic therapy of dissomical disorders in asthenic syndrome].

Esipov, A V, Ivolgin, A F, Khritinin, D F et al.·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·2019

This study tested whether a medication called cytoflavin, which helps cells produce energy, could help 100 patients with fatigue and sleep problems. Patients received cytoflavin as an infusion, either alone or combined with melatonin or another sleep medication. By day 14, 97% of patients reported significant improvement in fatigue and sleep quality.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Narcolepsy and Other 'Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence'].

Mathis, Johannes·Praxis·2018

This article discusses how doctors can tell the difference between several sleep-related conditions that cause excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue. The authors explain that complaints like tiredness and fatigue are common, but they can have many different causes. Careful diagnosis using sleep studies and other tests is needed to distinguish narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and chronic fatigue syndrome from one another, since each condition requires different treatments.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryPEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Supplementation with Robuvit® in post-traumatic stress disorders associated to high oxidative stress.

Belcaro, Gianni, Luzzi, Roberta, Hosoi, Morio et al.·Minerva medica·2018

This study looked at whether a plant-based supplement called Robuvit® could help people with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) recover faster alongside standard therapy. Over 4 weeks, people who took Robuvit® along with therapy showed greater improvements in symptoms like intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, sleep problems, and fatigue compared to those who received therapy alone.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Open-label pilot for treatment targeting gut dysbiosis in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: neuropsychological symptoms and sex comparisons.

Wallis, Amy, Ball, Michelle, Butt, Henry et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2018

This study tested whether treating an overgrowth of Streptococcus bacteria in the gut could help ME/CFS patients, particularly those with brain fog and sleep problems. Forty-four patients received alternating weeks of an antibiotic and a probiotic for 4 weeks. The treatment reduced the problematic bacteria and improved several symptoms including sleep quality, attention, and memory, though it did not significantly affect fatigue or mood.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-Hypermobile type.

Hakim, Alan, De Wandele, Inge, O'Callaghan, Chris et al.·American journal of medical genetics. Part C, Seminars in medical genetics·2017

Chronic fatigue is common in people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder, and can significantly reduce quality of life. This review explains that EDS and ME/CFS share similar symptoms, and some people diagnosed with ME/CFS may actually have undiagnosed EDS. Treatment requires ruling out common causes of fatigue like anemia and thyroid problems, then addressing EDS-specific issues like sleep problems, pain, heart rhythm problems, and physical deconditioning through a combination of symptom management, physical therapy, and supportive care.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The experience of sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome: A qualitative interview study with patients.

Gotts, Zoe M, Newton, Julia L, Ellis, Jason G et al.·British journal of health psychology·2016

This study asked 11 people with ME/CFS to describe their sleep problems in detail through interviews. The researchers found that sleep is extremely important to everyone with ME/CFS—all participants felt their sleep was somehow 'broken' and spent a lot of energy trying to manage it. Everyone agreed that poor sleep made their daytime symptoms worse, though each person experienced sleep problems in their own unique way.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep disorders: clinical associations and diagnostic difficulties.

Ferré, A·Neurologia·2016

This review looked at the connection between ME/CFS and sleep problems. Many people with ME/CFS experience non-restorative sleep (where sleep doesn't feel refreshing) and fatigue, but these same symptoms can happen with other sleep disorders. The key finding is that doctors need to carefully check whether patients have a separate sleep disorder before or alongside an ME/CFS diagnosis, because treating the sleep problem might help improve overall quality of life.

SleepDiagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

[The theorotical basis for chronic fatigue syndrome from bladder meridian of foot-taiyang].

Yao, Fei, Zhao, Yi, Jiang, Shichao et al.·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2015

This study explores traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture) theory to understand chronic fatigue syndrome. The researchers examined how the bladder meridian—a pathway used in acupuncture treatment—may relate to fatigue, sleep problems, and organ function. They propose that treating this meridian might help reduce both physical and mental exhaustion in ME/CFS patients.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Sleep quality and the treatment of intestinal microbiota imbalance in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A pilot study.

Jackson, Melinda L, Butt, Henry, Ball, Michelle et al.·Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil)·2015

This small study tested whether reducing certain bacteria in the gut could improve sleep in people with ME/CFS. Researchers gave 21 participants a short course of antibiotics and measured changes in their gut bacteria and sleep. Seven participants showed significant reduction in a type of bacteria called Streptococcus, and these people did sleep better after treatment. However, most participants' gut bacteria returned to their original state, suggesting the antibiotic effects didn't last.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review.

Borchers, Andrea T, Gershwin, M Eric·Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology·2015

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep problems, and it shares many symptoms with other conditions that are hard to diagnose. This review explains that while some people think fibromyalgia might be caused by infection, inflammation, or injury, there is not strong evidence supporting these ideas. The authors recommend that treatment should focus on education, exercise, physical therapy, and approved medications rather than opioids.

Pain and SensitizationSleepDiagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in the treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) - a clinical audit.

Myhill, Sarah, Booth, Norman E, McLaren-Howard, John·International journal of clinical and experimental medicine·2013

This observational study reports that 138 ME/CFS patients attending a private practice all showed signs of altered mitochondrial function on an ATP Profile test. Patients received a tailored treatment plan including dietary changes, sleep optimisation, nutritional supplements, and work–rest balance adjustments. The authors observed that 30 patients who followed all aspects of the treatment showed reported improvements in mitochondrial function scores, on average by a factor of 4, though this was not a controlled trial and outcomes depended on patient adherence.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

[Moxibustion at Yongquan (KI 1) for sleep disorders of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Chen, Xiao-Qin, Gang, Zhi-Xiu, Xu, Zhi-Peng·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2013

This study explored whether moxibustion—a traditional Chinese medicine technique involving burning herbs near the skin—might help improve sleep problems in people with ME/CFS. The treatment focused on a specific acupuncture point on the sole of the foot called Yongquan (KI 1). While the study suggests this approach may have helped some patients sleep better, the research quality is limited and more rigorous testing is needed.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Fatigue and disrupted sleep-wake patterns in patients with cancer: a shared mechanism.

Wu, Horng-Shiuann, Davis, Jean E, Natavio, Teofanes·Clinical journal of oncology nursing·2012

Cancer patients often experience severe tiredness and sleep problems at the same time, suggesting they may share a common cause. This paper proposes that stress hormones—particularly those controlled by a system called the HPA axis—may be disrupted in ways that trigger both fatigue and poor sleep. Because ME/CFS patients have similar symptoms and similar HPA axis problems, studying cancer-related fatigue might help us understand ME/CFS better.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The role of antipsychotics in the management of fibromyalgia.

Calandre, Elena P, Rico-Villademoros, Fernando·CNS drugs·2012

This review examines whether antipsychotic medications—drugs typically used to treat psychiatric conditions—might also help people with fibromyalgia manage pain, sleep problems, fatigue, and mood disturbances. The authors found that some antipsychotics, particularly quetiapine, have shown promise in small studies and case reports, though most research is preliminary and more rigorous testing is needed.

SleepPain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Linking disease symptoms and subtypes with personalized systems-based phenotypes: a proof of concept study.

Aschbacher, Kirstin, Adam, Emma K, Crofford, Leslie J et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2012

This study examined how the body's stress-response system (the HPA axis) works differently in people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia compared to healthy people. Researchers measured stress hormones (cortisol and ACTH) every 10 minutes for 24 hours and used computer modeling to understand each person's unique hormone patterns. They found that nighttime hormone patterns were different in patients versus healthy controls, and these patterns were linked to symptoms like pain, fatigue, and poor sleep.

Sleep

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Central sensitivity and fibromyalgia.

Auricular acupuncture for insomnia of chronic fatigue syndrome: a case report.

Not what it seems to be: Depression versus periodic limb movement disorder.

Treatment for Gulf War Illness (GWI) with KPAX002 (methylphenidate hydrochloride + GWI nutrient formula) in subjects meeting the Kansas case definition: A prospective, open-label trial.

Intra brainstem connectivity is impaired in chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Clinical efficacy of neurometabolic therapy of dissomical disorders in asthenic syndrome].

[Narcolepsy and Other 'Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence'].

Supplementation with Robuvit® in post-traumatic stress disorders associated to high oxidative stress.

Open-label pilot for treatment targeting gut dysbiosis in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: neuropsychological symptoms and sex comparisons.

Chronic fatigue in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-Hypermobile type.

The experience of sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome: A qualitative interview study with patients.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep disorders: clinical associations and diagnostic difficulties.

[The theorotical basis for chronic fatigue syndrome from bladder meridian of foot-taiyang].

Sleep quality and the treatment of intestinal microbiota imbalance in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A pilot study.

Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review.

Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in the treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) - a clinical audit.

[Moxibustion at Yongquan (KI 1) for sleep disorders of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Fatigue and disrupted sleep-wake patterns in patients with cancer: a shared mechanism.

The role of antipsychotics in the management of fibromyalgia.

Linking disease symptoms and subtypes with personalized systems-based phenotypes: a proof of concept study.

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