ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2061–2080 of 6,160 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

From good health to illness with post-infectious fatigue syndrome: a qualitative study of adults' experiences of the illness trajectory.

Stormorken, Eva, Jason, Leonard A, Kirkevold, Marit·BMC family practice·2017

This study followed 26 adults in Norway who developed severe fatigue and other symptoms after a water contamination outbreak caused by a parasite. Researchers interviewed these patients about how their illness developed and affected their daily lives. Everyone described similar patterns: getting worse over time, reaching a lowest point, then gradually improving—but none returned to their pre-illness health, and most had to stop working or studying.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Specialist treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME: a cohort study among adult patients in England.

Collin, Simon M, Crawley, Esther·BMC health services research·2017

This study looked at how 952 ME/CFS patients fared after receiving treatment at 11 specialist NHS clinics in England. One year after starting treatment, about 27% felt much better, 37% felt a little better, but 20% felt the same or worse. Even 2-5 years later, 85% of patients still had ME/CFS symptoms, showing that this is a long-lasting condition that often continues despite specialist care.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Anxiety and depression in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): Examining the incidence of health anxiety in CFS/ME.

Daniels, Jo, Brigden, Amberly, Kacorova, Adela·Psychology and psychotherapy·2017

This study looked at how many people with ME/CFS also experience health anxiety—worry about physical symptoms and their meaning. Researchers surveyed 45 ME/CFS patients and found that most had elevated worry about their health, and many had clinically significant health anxiety. The findings suggest that health anxiety is common in ME/CFS and may be worth screening for and treating.

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 not requiredObservational

Endogenous Pain Facilitation Rather Than Inhibition Differs Between People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, and Controls: An Observational Study.

Collin, Simon M, Nijs, Jo, Meeus, Mira et al.·Pain physician·2017

This study tested how people with ME/CFS, people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and healthy people respond to pain. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have lower pain thresholds and more pain amplification than people with MS, suggesting their nervous systems may process pain differently. These findings suggest that ME/CFS pain may involve a different biological mechanism than MS pain.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Guided Self-Help for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Prior to Starting Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: a Cohort Study.

Ali, Sheila, Goldsmith, Kimberley, Burgess, Mary et al.·Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy·2017

This study tested whether guided self-help materials could help ME/CFS patients improve their physical functioning while waiting for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Patients filled out questionnaires at the start, just before CBT began, and after CBT ended. The self-help guidance helped improve how much patients could physically do, but didn't significantly reduce fatigue or improve social life during the waiting period. However, CBT itself did help with all three areas.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Patterns of control beliefs in chronic fatigue syndrome: results of a population-based survey.

Doerr, Johanna M, Jopp, Daniela S, Chajewski, Michael et al.·BMC psychology·2017

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients think about their ability to solve problems and manage their condition. Researchers surveyed 113 people with ME/CFS, 264 with severe fatigue that didn't quite meet CFS criteria, and 124 healthy people. They found that people who didn't feel confident in their problem-solving skills were much more likely to have ME/CFS or severe fatigue. Interestingly, some healthy people also had low confidence, suggesting that mindset alone doesn't determine who gets ME/CFS.

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 not requiredCase-Control

RNA-Seq Analysis of Gene Expression, Viral Pathogen, and B-Cell/T-Cell Receptor Signatures in Complex Chronic Disease.

Bouquet, Jerome, Gardy, Jennifer L, Brown, Scott et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2017

Researchers used genetic testing to compare blood samples from people with ME/CFS and a similar condition called alternative Lyme disease to healthy controls and people with lupus. They looked for differences in gene activity, immune cell patterns, and viral infections. Surprisingly, they found no major differences in gene activity between ME/CFS patients and healthy people, though they did find differences in lupus patients as expected.

Immune System

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 unclearCross-Sectional

Can physical assessment techniques aid diagnosis in people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis? A diagnostic accuracy study.

Hives, Lucy, Bradley, Alice, Richards, Jim et al.·BMJ open·2017

Researchers tested whether five simple physical examination techniques could help doctors quickly identify ME/CFS. They examined 52 people with ME/CFS and 42 people without the condition, using trained practitioners to check for specific physical signs like spine problems and tender points. The study found that two of these physical signs were reliable and accurate enough to potentially help with diagnosis, suggesting that quick physical checks might be a useful screening tool.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Reductions in circulating levels of IL-16, IL-7 and VEGF-A in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Landi, Abdolamir, Broadhurst, David, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·Cytokine·2016

Researchers measured 34 different immune system proteins in blood samples from 100 ME/CFS patients and 79 healthy controls. They found that three specific immune proteins—IL-16, IL-7, and VEGF-A—were significantly lower in ME/CFS patients. This pattern was different from what is seen in other chronic diseases with similar fatigue symptoms, suggesting it may be unique to ME/CFS.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

TauG-guidance of dynamic balance control during gait initiation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Rasouli, Omid, Stensdotter, Ann-Katrin, Van der Meer, Audrey L H·Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)·2016

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia balance themselves when they start to walk. Using special equipment that measures foot pressure, researchers found that patients with both conditions had more difficulty controlling their weight shift onto one foot compared to healthy people. This suggests that balance problems in these conditions aren't just about standing still—they also affect the dynamic movements needed for everyday activities like walking.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Workers on transformation of the shelter object of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant into an ecologically-safe system show qEEG abnormalities and cognitive dysfunctions: A follow-up study.

Loganovsky, Konstantyn, Perchuk, Iryna, Marazziti, Donatella·The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry·2016

This study followed 196 workers who helped clean up and secure the damaged Chernobyl nuclear reactor between 2004 and 2008. Researchers tested their brain electrical activity and thinking skills before and after the work. The workers showed changes in brain wave patterns and developed mild memory and concentration problems after exposure to radiation, similar to symptoms seen in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Stressful Events in the Onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Gimeno Pi, Iraida, Guitard Sein-Echaluce, M Luisa, Rosselló Aubach, Lluís et al.·Revista espanola de salud publica·2016

This study looked at whether stressful life events might trigger ME/CFS by comparing 77 people with the disease to 77 healthy people of similar age, sex, and education. Researchers found that certain stressful experiences—like pregnancy, domestic abuse, workplace bullying, eating disorders, car accidents, money problems, and sleep disruptions—occurred more often in people before they developed ME/CFS. The study suggests that identifying these stressful events in at-risk people might help doctors recognize ME/CFS earlier.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Characteristics of patients contacting a center for undiagnosed and rare diseases.

Mueller, Tobias, Jerrentrup, Andreas, Bauer, Max Jakob et al.·Orphanet journal of rare diseases·2016

This study looked at 522 adults who visited a hospital center for help with diseases that hadn't been diagnosed yet. Most patients were women, and their main complaints were general weakness, joint pain, and stomach discomfort. The researchers found that many patients had been given diagnoses like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or irritable bowel syndrome—conditions where symptoms are real but hard to explain with standard medical tests.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Distinctive personality profiles of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Ablin, Jacob N, Zohar, Ada H, Zaraya-Blum, Reut et al.·PeerJ·2016

This study looked at whether people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have different personality patterns. Researchers surveyed 204 patients and found two distinct groups: one group tended to worry more, avoid situations that felt threatening, had difficulty identifying their emotions, and received less social support; the other group showed more resilience and healthier coping patterns. Importantly, these personality differences existed even though the groups had similar illness severity, suggesting that how people psychologically respond to their illness varies significantly.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Variability of postural orthostatic tachycardia in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and orthostatic intolerance.

Miwa, Kunihisa·Heart and vessels·2016

This study looked at how the hearts and nervous systems of 24 ME/CFS patients with orthostatic intolerance (dizziness or fatigue when standing) behaved on their "good days" versus "bad days." Researchers found that on bad days, patients' hearts raced more when standing up, they couldn't stand as long, and their hearts pumped less blood—suggesting their nervous systems were working abnormally, sometimes overactive and sometimes underactive.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Abnormal resting state functional connectivity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: an arterial spin-labeling fMRI study.

Boissoneault, Jeff, Letzen, Janelle, Lai, Song et al.·Magnetic resonance imaging·2016

This study used a special brain imaging technique to look at how different parts of the brain communicate with each other in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have unusual patterns of brain communication, particularly in areas related to memory, thinking, and movement. Importantly, the strength of connections in memory-related brain regions was linked to how severe patients' fatigue symptoms were.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Occupational exposure and health problems among Polish denturists: a population-based study in Łódź province.

Garus-Pakowska, Anna, Leśniewska, Agnieszka, Gaszyńska, Ewelina et al.·International dental journal·2016

This study surveyed 103 denturists (dental laboratory workers) in Poland to understand how their work affects their health. The researchers found that over 60% experienced chronic fatigue syndrome and 70% had back pain, along with skin irritation and eye problems. Poor workplace design and stress from work organization were identified as major contributing factors.

Pain and Sensitization

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From good health to illness with post-infectious fatigue syndrome: a qualitative study of adults' experiences of the illness trajectory.

Specialist treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME: a cohort study among adult patients in England.

Anxiety and depression in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): Examining the incidence of health anxiety in CFS/ME.

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

Endogenous Pain Facilitation Rather Than Inhibition Differs Between People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, and Controls: An Observational Study.

Guided Self-Help for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Prior to Starting Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: a Cohort Study.

Patterns of control beliefs in chronic fatigue syndrome: results of a population-based survey.

A Prospective Study of Infectious Mononucleosis in College Students.

RNA-Seq Analysis of Gene Expression, Viral Pathogen, and B-Cell/T-Cell Receptor Signatures in Complex Chronic Disease.

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

Can physical assessment techniques aid diagnosis in people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis? A diagnostic accuracy study.

Reductions in circulating levels of IL-16, IL-7 and VEGF-A in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

TauG-guidance of dynamic balance control during gait initiation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Workers on transformation of the shelter object of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant into an ecologically-safe system show qEEG abnormalities and cognitive dysfunctions: A follow-up study.

Stressful Events in the Onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Characteristics of patients contacting a center for undiagnosed and rare diseases.

Distinctive personality profiles of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Variability of postural orthostatic tachycardia in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and orthostatic intolerance.

Abnormal resting state functional connectivity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: an arterial spin-labeling fMRI study.

Occupational exposure and health problems among Polish denturists: a population-based study in Łódź province.

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