ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

221–240 of 277 studies

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 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 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 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 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 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 study looked at 138 ME/CFS patients and found that all of them had problems with their mitochondria—the parts of cells that produce energy. Patients received personalized treatment based on diet, sleep, supplements, and rest-activity balance, adjusted according to their specific mitochondrial problems. Those who followed the full treatment plan improved their mitochondrial function by about four times on average.

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 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.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

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 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Validation of the three-factor model of the PSQI in a large sample of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients.

Mariman, An, Vogelaers, Dirk, Hanoulle, Ignace et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2012

This study tested whether a sleep questionnaire commonly used in research works properly for people with ME/CFS. Researchers asked 413 patients with ME/CFS to fill out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which measures sleep problems. They found that the questionnaire best divides sleep issues into three separate categories: sleep efficiency (how much time you actually sleep), perceived sleep quality (how good your sleep feels), and daily disturbances (how tiredness affects daytime functioning).

Sleep

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

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Sleep disorders, medical conditions, and road accident risk.

Smolensky, Michael H, Di Milia, Lee, Ohayon, Maurice M et al.·Accident; analysis and prevention·2011

This review examined how sleep disorders and medical conditions—including ME/CFS, sleep apnea, insomnia, and others—may increase the risk of car accidents caused by drowsiness and fatigue. The authors found that while these conditions clearly cause tiredness and poor sleep, very few studies have actually looked at whether they make people more likely to have driving accidents. They call for better research to understand this connection and test whether treating these conditions reduces crash risk.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Fibromyalgia syndrome: a discussion of the syndrome and pharmacotherapy.

Smith, Howard S, Barkin, Robert L·American journal of therapeutics·2010

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain throughout the body, along with fatigue, sleep problems, brain fog, and mood changes. This article explains that fibromyalgia may share common features with ME/CFS and other conditions involving heightened pain sensitivity. While there is no cure, doctors can help manage symptoms through exercise, therapy, patient education, and specific medications.

Pain and SensitizationSleepCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Validation of ECG-derived sleep architecture and ventilation in sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Decker, Michael J, Eyal, Shulamit, Shinar, Zvika et al.·Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung·2010

Researchers tested a new computer method that analyzes heart rate patterns to measure sleep quality and breathing problems during sleep, comparing it to the traditional gold-standard method of manually reviewing sleep recordings. The new method worked very well for measuring overall sleep time, wake time, and most sleep stages, though it was less accurate at distinguishing between deep and light sleep. This could eventually allow easier and cheaper sleep testing for patients with ME/CFS who often have sleep problems.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Power spectral analysis of sleep EEG in twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Armitage, Roseanne, Landis, Carol, Hoffmann, Robert et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2009

Researchers compared brain wave patterns during sleep between identical twins where one had ME/CFS and one did not. They found no significant differences in the electrical activity of the brain during sleep between the sick and healthy twins, even though those with ME/CFS reported more sleep problems. This suggests that genetic factors may influence sleep patterns more strongly than the illness itself.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The tired teen: A review of the assessment and management of the adolescent with sleepiness and fatigue.

Findlay, Sheri M·Paediatrics & child health·2008

This review examines why teenagers feel tired and sleepy, and how doctors can help. Many teens experience sleepiness or fatigue, but the authors found that most cases are caused by not getting enough sleep rather than serious medical conditions. The review emphasizes that doctors need to thoroughly evaluate each teen's situation, as underlying medical problems are rarely discovered.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Possible links between behavioral and physiological indices of tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion in advanced cancer.

Olson, Karin, Turner, A Robert, Courneya, Kerry S et al.·Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·2008

This paper proposes a new framework for understanding tiredness and fatigue in advanced cancer patients. The researchers suggest that cancer and its treatments stress the body, which then affects four key systems: thinking ability, sleep quality, nutrition, and muscle strength. They propose that problems in all four of these areas together—not just one alone—are what cause severe fatigue, and that studying how these systems interact could lead to better treatments.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCase-Control

The impact of a 4-hour sleep delay on slow wave activity in twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Armitage, Roseanne, Landis, Carol, Hoffmann, Robert et al.·Sleep·2007

This study looked at how the brain's sleep patterns differ between people with ME/CFS and their healthy twins. Researchers kept twins awake 4 hours later than usual and then let them sleep normally. They found that people with ME/CFS showed weaker deep sleep activity when recovering from the sleep delay, suggesting their bodies may have trouble responding normally to sleep pressure.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Violence, stress, and somatic syndromes.

Crofford, Leslie J·Trauma, violence & abuse·2007

This review article examines how experiences of violence and stress may trigger or worsen conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome—illnesses that involve pain, exhaustion, mood changes, memory problems, and sleep issues. The authors explain that stress affects the brain and body's hormone and nervous system function, which may make people more vulnerable to developing these conditions. Understanding this connection could help us recognize how violence exposure affects long-term health.

Pain and SensitizationSleepCognitive Impairment

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Chronic fatigue in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-Hypermobile type.

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

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

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

Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review.

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

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].

The role of antipsychotics in the management of fibromyalgia.

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

Validation of the three-factor model of the PSQI in a large sample of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients.

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

Sleep disorders, medical conditions, and road accident risk.

Fibromyalgia syndrome: a discussion of the syndrome and pharmacotherapy.

Validation of ECG-derived sleep architecture and ventilation in sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Power spectral analysis of sleep EEG in twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The tired teen: A review of the assessment and management of the adolescent with sleepiness and fatigue.

Possible links between behavioral and physiological indices of tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion in advanced cancer.

The impact of a 4-hour sleep delay on slow wave activity in twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Violence, stress, and somatic syndromes.

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