ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2021–2040 of 6,160 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Cognitive, Behavioural and Emotional Processing Vulnerability Factors.

Brooks, Samantha K, Chalder, Trudie, Rimes, Katharine A·Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy·2017

This study looked at whether certain personality traits and thinking patterns might make someone more vulnerable to developing ME/CFS. Researchers compared 67 people with ME/CFS to 73 healthy people, asking about their personalities both now and before they became ill. They found that people who later developed ME/CFS tended to be perfectionists, were very self-sacrificing, and had unhelpful beliefs about emotions—especially before they got sick.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Post-Exertional Malaise in Patients with ME and CFS with Comorbid Fibromyalgia.

McManimen, Stephanie L, Jason, Leonard A·SRL neurology & neurosurgery·2017

This study looked at how having fibromyalgia (FM) alongside ME/CFS affects post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms after physical or mental activity. Researchers surveyed people online about their PEM symptoms and found that those with both conditions experienced more severe and frequent PEM symptoms than those with ME/CFS alone, particularly affecting muscle pain and overall fatigue. The findings suggest that having fibromyalgia as an additional diagnosis makes ME/CFS symptoms significantly worse.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Health care resource use by patients before and after a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME): a clinical practice research datalink study.

Collin, Simon M, Bakken, Inger J, Nazareth, Irwin et al.·BMC family practice·2017

This study looked at doctor visits, tests, prescriptions, and referrals for people diagnosed with ME/CFS compared to similar people without the condition. Researchers found that people who were later diagnosed with ME/CFS visited their doctors much more frequently—both years before they received their diagnosis and for at least 10 years afterward. This suggests that people with ME/CFS have ongoing, significant health needs that require more medical care than the general population.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM unclearObservational

Multi-Site Clinical Assessment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (MCAM): Design and Implementation of a Prospective/Retrospective Rolling Cohort Study.

Unger, Elizabeth R, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Tian, Hao et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2017

Researchers created a large study called MCAM to better understand ME/CFS by collecting standardized health information from patients across seven U.S. clinics. They also enrolled healthy people and patients with similar illnesses for comparison. The study tracked patients over time, collected samples for future research, and documented how doctors were treating ME/CFS patients, aiming to identify different types of ME/CFS and find tests that could help diagnosis.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Vitamin D status in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a cohort study from the North-West of England.

Earl, Kate E, Sakellariou, Giorgos K, Sinclair, Melanie et al.·BMJ open·2017

This study investigated whether low vitamin D levels contribute to the fatigue experienced by people with ME/CFS. Researchers compared 92 ME/CFS patients with 94 healthy controls and found that ME/CFS patients actually had higher vitamin D levels, often because they were taking vitamin D supplements. Importantly, there was no connection between vitamin D levels and how fatigued patients felt, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency is not a cause of ME/CFS fatigue.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Familiality and Heritability of Fatigue in an Australian Twin Sample.

Corfield, Elizabeth C, Martin, Nicholas G, Nyholt, Dale R·Twin research and human genetics : the official journal of the International Society for Twin Studies·2017

This study looked at whether fatigue runs in families and whether genetics plays a role. Researchers compared identical twins (who share all genes) with fraternal twins (who share about half) and found that when one twin had fatigue, their identical twin was more likely to also have fatigue than fraternal twins were. The results suggest that about 40% of fatigue differences between people are due to genetics, while the remaining 60% comes from environmental factors or lifestyle.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Well-being in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Relationship to Symptoms and Psychological Distress.

Jackson, H, MacLeod, A K·Clinical psychology & psychotherapy·2017

This study looked at well-being in people with ME/CFS, not just focusing on what's wrong, but also on what's right. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had lower well-being than healthy people, especially in areas like personal growth, feeling in control of life, and self-acceptance. Importantly, well-being was more connected to emotional and psychological symptoms than to physical fatigue itself, suggesting that treating the emotional side of living with ME/CFS might be just as important as treating the fatigue.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Medial prefrontal cortex deficits correlate with unrefreshing sleep in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Shan, Zack Y, Kwiatek, Richard, Burnet, Richard et al.·NMR in biomedicine·2017

This study found that ME/CFS patients with the worst sleep quality had specific structural differences in a brain region called the medial prefrontal cortex compared to healthy people. The researchers used MRI brain scans to measure brain tissue and found that the brain tissue in this area appeared different in ME/CFS patients, especially those reporting unrefreshing sleep. This is important because it provides biological evidence that unrefreshing sleep in ME/CFS is a real physical problem, not just a patient's perception.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Giardia-specific cellular immune responses in post-giardiasis chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hanevik, Kurt, Kristoffersen, Einar, Mørch, Kristine et al.·BMC immunology·2017

Researchers studied whether people who developed ME/CFS after a Giardia infection (a parasite that causes stomach illness) had different immune responses compared to those who recovered. They found that fatigued patients had higher levels of a specific immune protein called sCD40L, which correlated with how tired they felt. However, most immune markers tested were similar between those who developed ME/CFS and those who recovered, suggesting the answer may be more complex than initially expected.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Down-regulation of renin-aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone systems in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Miwa, Kunihisa·Journal of cardiology·2017

This study found that ME/CFS patients have smaller hearts and lower levels of certain hormones that control blood volume and fluid balance compared to healthy people. When researchers gave half the ME/CFS patients a synthetic hormone called desmopressin for five days, about half of them felt better, with less dizziness when standing and improved ability to do daily activities.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

A Prospective Study of Infectious Mononucleosis in College Students.

Jason, Leonard A, Katz, Ben, Gleason, Kristen et al.·International journal of psychiatry (Overland Park)·2017

This study followed healthy college students over time to see what happens when they catch infectious mononucleosis (IM) and whether some develop ME/CFS afterward. Researchers collected information about students' physical health and emotional well-being before they got sick, while they had IM, and about 6 months later. By tracking students this way, the study aimed to identify which factors might put someone at higher risk of developing ME/CFS after a mono infection.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Novel characterisation of mast cell phenotypes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients.

Nguyen, Thao, Johnston, Samantha, Chacko, Anu et al.·Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology·2017

This study looked at immune cells called mast cells in the blood of people with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients—especially those with severe illness—had more mast cells and these cells showed different activation patterns. Mast cells are known to release chemicals that cause inflammation, so understanding them better could help explain some ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comorbidity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Faro, Mónica, Aliste, Luisa et al.·Psychosomatics·2017

This study looked at 1,757 people with ME/CFS in Spain to understand what other health conditions they commonly experience alongside their ME/CFS. Researchers found that more than 80% of patients had at least one additional condition, such as fibromyalgia, thyroid problems, vitamin D deficiency, or ligament issues. The study identified five different groups of ME/CFS patients based on their comorbidities, with some groups experiencing significantly worse fatigue and quality of life than others.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) among adults in Canada: Comorbidity, health care use and employment.

Park, Jungwee, Gilmour, Heather·Health reports·2017

This Canadian study found that about 5.5% of adults (roughly 1.3 million people) report medically unexplained physical symptoms, including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and chemical sensitivities. People with these conditions use more healthcare services, have higher rates of other health problems, and struggle more with employment than those without these conditions. About 1 in 4 people with these symptoms said they couldn't get the healthcare they needed.

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired redox signalling in a subgroup of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Cara Tomas, Jessica Newton, Stuart Watson·The EPMA Journal·2017·n=25

This UK study analyzed mitochondrial function in immune cells from ME/CFS patients using the Seahorse assay. They found reduced ATP production capacity, impaired electron transport chain function, and altered redox signaling in a subgroup of ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Differentiating Multiple Sclerosis from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Jason, L A, Ohanian, D, Brown, A et al.·Insights in biomedicine·2017

This study compared how people with MS, ME, and chronic fatigue syndrome experience their illnesses. Researchers surveyed 120 people with MS and 269 people with ME/CFS about their symptoms using a standardized questionnaire. They found that people with ME/CFS reported more severe symptoms and greater functional limitations than people with MS, suggesting these conditions have different disability profiles.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Examining those Meeting IOM Criteria Versus IOM Plus Fibromyalgia.

Jason, Leonard A, McManimen, Stephanie, Sunnquist, Madison et al.·Neurology (E-Cronicon)·2017

This study compared two groups of people with ME/CFS: those who met the official Institute of Medicine diagnostic criteria, and those who met those same criteria plus also had fibromyalgia (a condition involving widespread pain and tender points). The researchers found that patients with both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia experienced more severe symptoms and greater functional impairment across many areas than those with ME/CFS alone.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Fatigue and psychosocial variables in autoimmune rheumatic disease and chronic fatigue syndrome: A cross-sectional comparison.

Ali, Sheila, Matcham, Faith, Irving, Katherine et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2017

This study compared how people with ME/CFS and people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis) experience fatigue and cope with their symptoms. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS were more fatigued, had worse sleep, and were more likely to avoid activities and struggle with accepting their illness, while people with rheumatic diseases were more likely to worry about damage to their bodies. This suggests that fatigue in these different conditions may need different treatment approaches.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Serological profiling of the EBV immune response in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using a peptide microarray.

Loebel, Madlen, Eckey, Maren, Sotzny, Franziska et al.·PloS one·2017

This study examined whether ME/CFS patients have different immune responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that can cause mononucleosis. Researchers compared antibody patterns in 92 ME/CFS patients versus 50 healthy people and found that ME/CFS patients had slightly higher antibody levels against a specific EBV protein called EBNA-6. This suggests that some ME/CFS patients may have an altered immune response to EBV, though most antibody patterns were similar between patients and healthy controls.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Elevations of Ventricular Lactate Levels Occur in Both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

Natelson, Benjamin H, Vu, Diana, Coplan, Jeremy D et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2017

Researchers used brain imaging to measure a substance called lactate in the fluid around the brain in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, both conditions together, and healthy people. They found that lactate levels were higher in all three patient groups compared to healthy controls, but the levels were similar among the three patient groups. This means lactate alone cannot be used to distinguish ME/CFS from fibromyalgia.

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Cognitive, Behavioural and Emotional Processing Vulnerability Factors.

Post-Exertional Malaise in Patients with ME and CFS with Comorbid Fibromyalgia.

Health care resource use by patients before and after a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME): a clinical practice research datalink study.

Multi-Site Clinical Assessment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (MCAM): Design and Implementation of a Prospective/Retrospective Rolling Cohort Study.

Vitamin D status in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a cohort study from the North-West of England.

Familiality and Heritability of Fatigue in an Australian Twin Sample.

Well-being in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Relationship to Symptoms and Psychological Distress.

Medial prefrontal cortex deficits correlate with unrefreshing sleep in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Giardia-specific cellular immune responses in post-giardiasis chronic fatigue syndrome.

Down-regulation of renin-aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone systems in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

A Prospective Study of Infectious Mononucleosis in College Students.

Novel characterisation of mast cell phenotypes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients.

Comorbidity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) among adults in Canada: Comorbidity, health care use and employment.

Evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired redox signalling in a subgroup of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Differentiating Multiple Sclerosis from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Examining those Meeting IOM Criteria Versus IOM Plus Fibromyalgia.

Fatigue and psychosocial variables in autoimmune rheumatic disease and chronic fatigue syndrome: A cross-sectional comparison.

Serological profiling of the EBV immune response in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using a peptide microarray.

Elevations of Ventricular Lactate Levels Occur in Both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research