ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2041–2060 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Obesity in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: an observational study.

Norris, T, Hawton, K, Hamilton-Shield, J et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2017

This study looked at whether adolescents with ME/CFS are more likely to be overweight or obese than young people without the condition. Researchers compared teenagers attending specialist ME/CFS clinics with healthy teenagers from a large population study. They found that adolescents with severe ME/CFS (those referred to specialist services) had higher rates of obesity, particularly by age 16.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Differences in ME and CFS Symptomology in Patients with Normal and Abnormal Exercise Test Results.

McManimen, Stephanie L, Jason, Leonard A·International journal of neurology and neurotherapy·2017

This study looked at ME/CFS patients who had different results after exercise testing. Some patients showed abnormal test results and experienced severe post-exertional malaise (PEM)—that exhaustion and symptom flare-up after activity—while others had normal test results with milder PEM. The researchers found that patients with abnormal test results tended to be more disabled, experience worse PEM, and were more likely to be bedbound than those with normal results.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Unperturbed Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Phenotype and Function in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Theorell, Jakob, Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre, Tesi, Bianca et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2017

Researchers tested whether immune cells called cytotoxic lymphocytes—which normally fight infections and respond to stress—work differently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. They studied 48 ME/CFS patients and found that these immune cells looked and functioned normally, suggesting they are not responsible for ME/CFS symptoms. This means cytotoxic lymphocytes alone cannot be used as a simple blood test to diagnose the condition.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Long-term follow-up after cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Janse, Anthonie, Nikolaus, Stephanie, Wiborg, Jan F et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2017

This study followed 511 people for up to 10 years after they completed cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for ME/CFS. While about 70% of people maintained improved physical function, fatigue levels increased somewhat over time, and some people experienced a return of severe fatigue and activity limitations. The results suggest CBT can help many people in the long term, but not everyone stays better.

Interventions

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.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Clinically proven mtDNA mutations are not common in those with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Schoeman, Elizna M, Van Der Westhuizen, Francois H, Erasmus, Elardus et al.·BMC medical genetics·2017

This study examined the DNA inside the energy-producing parts of cells (mitochondria) in 93 ME/CFS patients from the UK and South Africa. The researchers looked for specific mutations that are known to cause mitochondrial disease. They found that these known harmful mutations were not present in the ME/CFS patients studied, suggesting that ME/CFS is not caused by these well-established mitochondrial mutations.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Activity patterns in response to symptoms in patients being treated for chronic fatigue syndrome: An experience sampling methodology study.

Band, Rebecca, Barrowclough, Christine, Caldwell, Kim et al.·Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association·2017

This study looked at how 23 people with ME/CFS change their activity levels in response to their symptoms throughout the day. Researchers had participants use an app on their phones to report their fatigue, pain, mood, and activity patterns 10 times per day for 6 days. They found that when symptoms got worse, people tended to either do less activity or swing between doing too much and then crashing—patterns that may keep the illness going.

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 not requiredCross-Sectional

Stress vulnerability in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: experimental study investigating heart rate variability and skin conductance responses.

Rimes, Katharine A, Lievesley, Kate, Chalder, Trudie·Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines·2017

This study looked at how adolescents with ME/CFS respond to stress compared to young people with asthma and healthy teenagers. Researchers measured physical stress responses (heart rate and skin sweating) while young people gave a speech. Adolescents with ME/CFS showed signs of being more stressed before, during, and after the task, and their bodies took longer to calm down afterward compared to the other groups.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Poor sleep quality is associated with greater circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and severity and frequency of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) symptoms in women.

Milrad, Sara F, Hall, Daniel L, Jutagir, Devika R et al.·Journal of neuroimmunology·2017

This study looked at 60 women with ME/CFS to understand how sleep quality affects their symptoms and inflammation levels. Researchers found that women who slept poorly had higher levels of inflammatory substances in their blood and experienced more severe fatigue and ME/CFS symptoms. The findings suggest that improving sleep quality might help reduce both inflammation and symptom severity in people living with ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not required

Research Volunteers' Attitudes Toward Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Nehrke, Pamela I, Fox, Pamela A, Jason, Leonard A·Neurology (E-Cronicon)·2017

This study looked at whether learning about ME/CFS reduces negative stereotypes about the illness. College students who volunteered for ME/CFS research projects showed less stigmatizing attitudes compared to students working on unrelated projects. The findings suggest that education and accurate information about ME/CFS can help reduce the harmful misconceptions many people hold about this serious medical condition.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Activity Pacing is Associated With Better and Worse Symptoms for Patients With Long-term Conditions.

Antcliff, Deborah, Campbell, Malcolm, Woby, Steve et al.·The Clinical journal of pain·2017

This study looked at different ways people with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain manage their activities day-to-day. Researchers found that some pacing strategies work better than others: spreading activities consistently throughout the day helped, but drastically cutting back activities was linked to feeling worse. The study suggests that how you pace your activities matters—not all pacing strategies are equally helpful.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Fecal metagenomic profiles in subgroups of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nagy-Szakal, Dorottya, Williams, Brent L, Mishra, Nischay et al.·Microbiome·2017

This study looked at the bacteria living in the gut of 50 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy people to see if differences in gut bacteria might explain some ME/CFS symptoms. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients have unusual patterns of gut bacteria, and these patterns are different depending on whether the patient also has irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Importantly, the type and balance of gut bacteria were linked to how severe patients' fatigue, pain, and other symptoms were.

BiomarkersEnergy Metabolism

E2 ModeratePEM unclearBiobank-Resource

The UK ME/CFS Biobank for biomedical research on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Multiple Sclerosis.

Lacerda, Eliana M, Bowman, Erinna W, Cliff, Jacqueline M et al.·Open journal of bioresources·2017

The UK ME/CFS Biobank is a collection of blood samples and health information from 284 people with ME/CFS, 60 people with multiple sclerosis, and 135 healthy volunteers. Researchers created this resource to help scientists study what causes ME/CFS and find better ways to diagnose and treat it. The samples and detailed patient information can be used by researchers worldwide to search for biological markers of the disease.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence and factors associated with the use of acupuncture and Chinese medicine: results of a nationally representative survey of 17161 Australian women.

Yang, Lu, Adams, Jon, Sibbritt, David·Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·2017

This study surveyed over 17,000 Australian women to find out how many use acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, and what health conditions are associated with using these treatments. The researchers found that women with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), along with other long-term health problems like low iron, arthritis, and endometriosis, were more likely to try acupuncture or Chinese medicine.

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.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Altered right anterior insular connectivity and loss of associated functions in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wortinger, Laura Anne, Glenne Øie, Merete, Endestad, Tor et al.·PloS one·2017

This study looked at how the brains of adolescents with ME/CFS work differently compared to healthy teenagers. Researchers used brain imaging to examine a region called the anterior insula, which helps coordinate motivation and responses to pain. They found that this brain region had weaker connections to areas involved in thinking and decision-making in ME/CFS patients, which may help explain why patients struggle with concentration, pain sensitivity, and physical activity.

Cognitive Impairment

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 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 requiredCross-Sectional

Persistent neuropsychiatric impairment in HCV patients despite clearance of the virus?!

Dirks, M, Pflugrad, H, Haag, K et al.·Journal of viral hepatitis·2017

This study looked at whether people who had hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection experience long-lasting fatigue, mood problems, and memory difficulties even after the virus is cleared from their body. Researchers found that 85% of HCV patients reported chronic fatigue and about half experienced depression or anxiety, regardless of whether they still had active virus or had been treated. The findings suggest HCV may cause lasting brain-related effects that persist even after successful treatment.

Cognitive Impairment

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Obesity in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: an observational study.

Differences in ME and CFS Symptomology in Patients with Normal and Abnormal Exercise Test Results.

Unperturbed Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Phenotype and Function in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Long-term follow-up after cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Clinically proven mtDNA mutations are not common in those with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Activity patterns in response to symptoms in patients being treated for chronic fatigue syndrome: An experience sampling methodology study.

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

Stress vulnerability in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: experimental study investigating heart rate variability and skin conductance responses.

Poor sleep quality is associated with greater circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and severity and frequency of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) symptoms in women.

Research Volunteers' Attitudes Toward Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Activity Pacing is Associated With Better and Worse Symptoms for Patients With Long-term Conditions.

Fecal metagenomic profiles in subgroups of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

The UK ME/CFS Biobank for biomedical research on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Multiple Sclerosis.

Prevalence and factors associated with the use of acupuncture and Chinese medicine: results of a nationally representative survey of 17161 Australian women.

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

Altered right anterior insular connectivity and loss of associated functions in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

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

Persistent neuropsychiatric impairment in HCV patients despite clearance of the virus?!

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research