ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2021–2040 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Physical Activity and Sleep in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Associations with Symptom Severity in the General Population Cohort LifeLines.

Joustra, Monica L, Zijlema, Wilma L, Rosmalen, Judith G M et al.·Pain research & management·2018

This study looked at how physical activity and sleep relate to symptom severity in ME/CFS and fibromyalgia by comparing nearly 91,000 people from a large population study. Patients with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia were less active and slept longer than healthy controls. Interestingly, both too little and too much physical activity or sleep were linked to worse symptoms, suggesting that finding the right balance is important for managing these conditions.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Physical activity at age 11 years and chronic disabling fatigue at ages 13 and 16 years in a UK birth cohort.

Collin, Simon M, Norris, Tom, Deere, Kevin C et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2018

This study followed children in England from age 11 to 16 years to see if being physically active at age 11 was connected to developing long-lasting, disabling fatigue later on. Children who were more physically active at age 11 had lower chances of developing chronic disabling fatigue by age 13, while those who spent more time sitting had higher chances. However, this connection weakened by age 16, suggesting the relationship may be more complicated than a simple cause-and-effect.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The X-Y factor: Females and males with urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome present distinct clinical phenotypes.

Hosier, Gregory W, Doiron, R Christopher, Tolls, Victoria et al.·Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada·2018

This study compared how chronic pelvic pain affects men and women differently. Researchers found that women with pelvic pain had more bladder symptoms, nerve-related symptoms, and were more likely to have other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and depression. Men and women with the same diagnosis actually experience quite different patterns of pain and related health problems.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredLongitudinal

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) symptom-based phenotypes and 1-year treatment outcomes in two clinical cohorts of adult patients in the UK and The Netherlands.

Collin, Simon M, Heron, Jon, Nikolaus, Stephanie et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2018

This study looked at different patterns of ME/CFS symptoms in nearly 2,300 patients across the UK and Netherlands to see if the types of symptoms people have when they first seek treatment predict how well they'll improve. Researchers found three main symptom patterns: patients with few extra symptoms, patients with multiple symptoms, and patients with mainly pain symptoms. After one year of treatment, patients who started with fewer symptoms were significantly more likely to feel much better, while those with many symptoms or pain-focused symptoms were less likely to improve.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Glucocorticoid receptor DNA methylation and childhood trauma in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Vangeel, Elise Beau, Kempke, Stefan, Bakusic, Jelena et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2018

This study looked at chemical changes (called methylation) on genes that control how the body handles stress in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. The researchers found small but consistent differences in a stress-response gene, particularly in patients who had experienced childhood trauma. While the differences were tiny (about 1-2%), they suggest that ME/CFS may involve changes in how the body's stress system works.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A test of the adaptive network explanation of functional disorders using a machine learning analysis of symptoms.

Melidis, Christos, Denham, Susan L, Hyland, Michael E·Bio Systems·2018

This study looked at whether ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS might result from the body's biological systems becoming overly adapted in ways that backfire. Researchers surveyed 1,751 people with these conditions about their symptoms and used computer analysis to identify patterns. They found that as symptoms become more severe and widespread, the differences between these three conditions blur, suggesting they may share common underlying mechanisms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Operationalizing Substantial Reduction in Functioning Among Young Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Gleason, Kristen D, Stoothoff, Jamie, McClellan, Damani et al.·International journal of behavioral medicine·2018

This study looked for the best way to measure the 'substantial reduction in functioning' that is required for ME/CFS diagnosis. Researchers used a standard health survey (SF-36) with young adults (ages 18-29) who had ME/CFS and compared them to people without the condition. They found that specific cutoff scores on four areas of the survey—physical functioning, general health, role physical (ability to work), and social functioning—could accurately identify who has ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Improvement in mood, oxidative stress, fatigue, and insomnia following supplementary management with Robuvit®.

Belcaro, Gianni, Saggino, Aristide, Cornelli, Umberto et al.·Journal of neurosurgical sciences·2018

This study tested whether a supplement made from French oak wood called Robuvit® could help people with ME/CFS who experience fatigue, sleep problems, mood difficulties, and high levels of oxidative stress (cellular damage). Eighteen patients took 300 mg of Robuvit® daily for 8 weeks, while 22 others received standard care. The Robuvit® group showed significant improvements in mood, fatigue, sleep, and oxidative stress levels, with no safety concerns reported.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Gross and fine motor function in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rasouli, Omid, Fors, Egil A, Borchgrevink, Petter Chr et al.·Journal of pain research·2017

This study compared how quickly people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia could start moving when they heard a sound, and how well they could do precise hand movements compared to healthy people. Both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia groups were slower to start walking in response to the sound, though their fine hand movements were similar to healthy controls. The results suggest that ME/CFS and fibromyalgia may affect the speed of starting movement, but not the precision of hand tasks.

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 not requiredObservational

Current Safety Concerns with Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: A Cluster Analysis of Reports in VigiBase®.

Chandler, Rebecca E, Juhlin, Kristina, Fransson, Jonas et al.·Drug safety·2017

Researchers analyzed thousands of reports from a global database of side effects following HPV vaccination. They found that certain combinations of symptoms—headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and fainting—were reported more often after HPV vaccination than with other vaccines, particularly in young women. These symptom clusters resemble conditions like POTS, CRPS, and chronic fatigue syndrome, though most reports did not include an official diagnosis.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wyller, Vegard Bruun, Nguyen, Chinh Bkrong, Ludviksen, Judith Anita et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2017

This study tested whether a protein called TGF-β, which helps regulate immune and stress responses, was elevated in adolescents with ME/CFS. Researchers compared blood levels of TGF-β in 120 young ME/CFS patients to 68 healthy controls and found the protein levels were actually the same in both groups. However, they discovered that in ME/CFS patients, TGF-β levels were connected to stress hormones and fatigue severity, suggesting it may play a role in how the illness affects the body even if it's not simply 'too high.'

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

An attention and interpretation bias for illness-specific information in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hughes, A M, Chalder, T, Hirsch, C R et al.·Psychological medicine·2017

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS notice illness-related information more than healthy people, and whether they tend to interpret unclear situations in a health-focused way. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS do pay more attention to fatigue-related words and are more likely to interpret ambiguous situations negatively related to their health compared to healthy controls. These thought patterns were connected to beliefs about fear and avoidance, suggesting they may help keep ME/CFS symptoms going.

Cognitive Impairment

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 requiredCross-Sectional

The utility of patient-reported outcome measures among patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Murdock, Kyle W, Wang, Xin Shelley, Shi, Qiuling et al.·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2017

Researchers tested three common questionnaires that measure fatigue and symptoms in ME/CFS patients to see which ones work best. They found that two popular questionnaires had problems—many patients scored so high they hit the ceiling (meaning the test couldn't measure if they got worse), and the questions weren't reliable. The DePaul Symptom Questionnaire worked much better, especially at measuring post-exertional malaise (the worsening of symptoms after activity), and could reliably distinguish ME/CFS patients from healthy people.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Differential effects of childhood trauma subtypes on fatigue and physical functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome.

De Venter, Maud, Illegems, Jela, Van Royen, Rita et al.·Comprehensive psychiatry·2017

This study looked at whether different types of childhood trauma are linked to fatigue and physical disability in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that childhood sexual harassment was strongly associated with worse fatigue and lower physical functioning, while other types of trauma (emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical threat, and sexual abuse) showed no significant connection. The findings suggest that the specific type of childhood trauma may matter when understanding how trauma relates to ME/CFS symptoms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

An assessment of fatigue in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Wise, Shelby, Ross, Amanda, Brown, Abigail et al.·Journal of health psychology·2017

This study looked at fatigue in people with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), a condition that shares many symptoms with ME/CFS. Researchers asked 138 young people with POTS to describe their fatigue and brain fog using questionnaires. They found that fatigue comes in multiple forms and that people with POTS fall into two groups: those with mild symptoms and those with severe symptoms, with the severe group experiencing much worse brain fog and activity limitations.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Chronic prostatitis and comorbid non-urological overlapping pain conditions: A co-twin control study.

Gasperi, Marianna, Krieger, John N, Forsberg, Christopher et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2017

This study looked at men who had chronic prostate pain and found that many of them also had other long-term pain conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers used twins to figure out how much of this overlap was due to shared genes versus shared life experiences. They found that while family factors explained some of the connection, these pain conditions remained linked even after accounting for genetics and environment.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Factors impacting the illness trajectory of post-infectious fatigue syndrome: a qualitative study of adults' experiences.

Stormorken, Eva, Jason, Leonard A, Kirkevold, Marit·BMC public health·2017

This study interviewed 26 adults who developed severe fatigue lasting at least four years after a bacterial infection (Giardia). Researchers asked them about their experiences and what factors made their illness better or worse. The study found that both the healthcare system (like delayed diagnosis and doctors dismissing symptoms) and personal choices (like ignoring body signals or pushing too hard) significantly affected how people's illness progressed over time.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Subtyping Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) By Course of Illness.

Stoothoff, Jamie, Gleason, Kristen, McManimen, Stephanie et al.·Journal of biosensors, biomarkers and diagnostics·2017

This study looked at how ME/CFS progresses differently in different people. Researchers asked 541 patients to describe how their illness changed over time—whether it stayed the same, got worse, got better, or went up and down. They found that patients with different illness patterns had different symptom severity and ability to function, suggesting that grouping patients by how their illness progresses could help doctors better understand and treat the condition.

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Physical Activity and Sleep in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Associations with Symptom Severity in the General Population Cohort LifeLines.

Physical activity at age 11 years and chronic disabling fatigue at ages 13 and 16 years in a UK birth cohort.

The X-Y factor: Females and males with urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome present distinct clinical phenotypes.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) symptom-based phenotypes and 1-year treatment outcomes in two clinical cohorts of adult patients in the UK and The Netherlands.

Glucocorticoid receptor DNA methylation and childhood trauma in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

A test of the adaptive network explanation of functional disorders using a machine learning analysis of symptoms.

Operationalizing Substantial Reduction in Functioning Among Young Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Improvement in mood, oxidative stress, fatigue, and insomnia following supplementary management with Robuvit®.

Gross and fine motor function in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Current Safety Concerns with Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: A Cluster Analysis of Reports in VigiBase®.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.

An attention and interpretation bias for illness-specific information in chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

The utility of patient-reported outcome measures among patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Differential effects of childhood trauma subtypes on fatigue and physical functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome.

An assessment of fatigue in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Chronic prostatitis and comorbid non-urological overlapping pain conditions: A co-twin control study.

Factors impacting the illness trajectory of post-infectious fatigue syndrome: a qualitative study of adults' experiences.

Subtyping Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) By Course of Illness.

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