ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2201–2220 of 6,188 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

The pre-interventional psychiatric history - an underestimated confounder in benign intracranial lesions studies.

Wenz, H, Wenz, R, Groden, C et al.·Clinical neurology and neurosurgery·2015

This study looked at 103 patients who had surgery for benign brain tumors or aneurysms and were physically recovered afterward. Researchers found that patients with a history of psychiatric conditions before surgery reported worse quality of life, more sleep problems, more fatigue symptoms, and more PTSD symptoms after surgery compared to those without prior psychiatric history—even though both groups had similar physical recovery.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Relationship between chronic nonurological associated somatic syndromes and symptom severity in urological chronic pelvic pain syndromes: baseline evaluation of the MAPP study.

Krieger, John N, Stephens, Alisa J, Landis, J Richard et al.·The Journal of urology·2015

This study looked at people with chronic pelvic pain conditions and found that many of them also had other chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, or chronic fatigue syndrome. People who had both pelvic pain and these other conditions reported more severe symptoms and higher rates of depression and anxiety. The researchers found this pattern was more common in women than in men.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Study findings challenge the content validity of the Canadian Consensus Criteria for adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.

Asprusten, Tarjei Tørre, Fagermoen, Even, Sulheim, Dag et al.·Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)·2015

Researchers tested whether the Canadian Consensus Criteria—a set of guidelines used to diagnose ME/CFS in teenagers—actually identify meaningful differences between patients. They compared 120 adolescents with ME/CFS, grouping them by whether they met these criteria or not. The study found that the two groups were nearly identical in most disease markers and how they recovered over time, suggesting the criteria may not be capturing important real-world differences between patients.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Statin Use Is Associated with Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Huang, C Y, Chung, S D, Kao, L T et al.·Urologia internationalis·2015

This study found that women who took statin drugs (commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol) were about 1.5 times more likely to develop bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) compared to women who didn't take statins. The researchers think statins may damage the protective lining of the bladder, which could contribute to this painful condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is different in children compared to in adults: a study of UK and Dutch clinical cohorts.

Collin, Simon M, Nuevo, Roberto, van de Putte, Elise M et al.·BMJ open·2015

This study compared how ME/CFS affects children, teenagers, and adults by looking at patient data from clinics in the UK and a trial in the Netherlands. The researchers found that ME/CFS looks quite different depending on age: younger children were more likely to have sore throats and less likely to have problems with thinking or memory, while teenagers were more prone to headaches and depression. Adults showed more severe fatigue and disability overall.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia in diagnosed sleep disorders: a further test of the 'unitary' hypothesis.

Pejovic, Slobodanka, Natelson, Benjamin H, Basta, Maria et al.·BMC neurology·2015

This study looked at whether ME/CFS and fibromyalgia are actually the same condition or different disorders. Researchers compared patients with sleep-breathing problems, sleep insomnia, and healthy controls, measuring how often each group had ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, or both. They found that while both conditions occurred in sleep disorder patients, fibromyalgia was much more common in insomnia patients, whereas ME/CFS appeared in both groups equally—suggesting these may be separate conditions with different causes.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluids of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Peterson, D, Brenu, E W, Gottschalk, G et al.·Mediators of inflammation·2015

Researchers tested cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid around the brain and spinal cord) from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls to see if immune chemicals called cytokines were different. Out of 27 different immune chemicals tested, they found that only one—called IL-10—was lower in ME/CFS patients. This suggests that immune system problems in the brain and nervous system may play a role in ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Painful Bladder Filling and Painful Urgency are Distinct Characteristics in Men and Women with Urological Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes: A MAPP Research Network Study.

Lai, H Henry, Krieger, John N, Pontari, Michel A et al.·The Journal of urology·2015

This study looked at bladder pain patterns in people with chronic pelvic pain conditions. Researchers found that most patients experienced either pain when their bladder filled up or pain/pressure sensations when feeling the urge to urinate. People with these bladder symptoms also reported more severe pain, more frequent urges to urinate, depression, fatigue, and poorer quality of life compared to those without these specific bladder symptoms.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and DNA Hypomethylation of the Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene Promoter 1F Region: Associations With HPA Axis Hypofunction and Childhood Trauma.

Vangeel, Elise, Van Den Eede, Filip, Hompes, Titia et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2015

This study looked at a chemical marker called DNA methylation on a gene (NR3C1) that controls how the body responds to stress. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had lower levels of this methylation compared to healthy people, which may explain why their bodies don't handle stress hormones properly. Interestingly, childhood trauma did not appear to create additional changes in this marker among ME/CFS patients.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Increased risk of organic erectile dysfunction in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Chao, C-H, Chen, H-J, Wang, H-Y et al.·Andrology·2015

This study found that men with ME/CFS are nearly twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction compared to men without ME/CFS. The risk was even higher in men with ME/CFS who did not have other health conditions like heart disease or diabetes, suggesting ME/CFS alone may play a significant role. The researchers tracked nearly 2,000 men with ME/CFS and compared them to over 7,900 healthy men over several years.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The Process of Change in Pain During Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Bloot, Lotte, Heins, Marianne J, Donders, Rogier et al.·The Clinical journal of pain·2015

This study looked at how cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)—a talk therapy that helps change thoughts and behaviors—reduces pain in ME/CFS patients. Researchers followed 142 patients over the course of their treatment and found that pain and fatigue tend to improve together. The improvement in pain appeared to be partly explained by patients doing more physical activity and thinking less about their symptoms, though other factors also played a role.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with migraine: A retrospective cohort study.

Lau, Chi-ieong, Lin, Che-Chen, Chen, Wei-Hung et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2015

This study found that people with migraine headaches are 1.5 times more likely to develop ME/CFS than people without migraine. The risk was even higher in older adults (age 65+), who were more than twice as likely to develop ME/CFS if they had migraines. The more frequently someone had migraines, the higher their risk of developing ME/CFS appeared to be.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleep characteristics, exercise capacity and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Aerenhouts, Dirk, Ickmans, Kelly, Clarys, Peter et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2015

This study looked at how sleep problems and low activity levels are connected in people with ME/CFS. Researchers measured fitness capacity, sleep patterns, and daily activity in 42 women with ME/CFS and compared them to 24 healthy inactive women. People with ME/CFS slept more, spent more time in bed, had difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, and were less physically active than the control group.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Specific and number of comorbidities are associated with increased levels of temporomandibular pain intensity and duration.

Dahan, Haissam, Shir, Yoram, Velly, Ana et al.·The journal of headache and pain·2015

This study examined how jaw pain (temporomandibular disorder) relates to other chronic pain conditions, particularly in people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that people with jaw pain who also had migraine or ME/CFS experienced more severe and longer-lasting jaw pain. Having multiple pain conditions at the same time was linked to worse jaw pain symptoms.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

[Mapping of function in chronic fatigue syndrome].

Nyland, Harald, Næss, Halvor, Nyland, Morten·Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke·2015

This study examined how different body functions are affected in people with ME/CFS by mapping their characteristics across a group of patients. The research looked at various functional areas to better understand the pattern of symptoms and impairments experienced by those with the condition. This type of mapping helps clinicians and researchers see which functions are most commonly affected and how they relate to each other.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Painful temporomandibular disorders are common in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and impact significantly upon quality of life.

Durham, Justin, McDonald, Claire, Hutchinson, Luke et al.·Journal of oral & facial pain and headache·2015

This study found that people with PoTS (a condition causing rapid heart rate when standing) often also have painful jaw disorders (TMD). Nearly half of the patients studied screened positive for TMD, and those with TMD reported that it significantly worsened their quality of life. The researchers suggest that doctors should routinely check for jaw pain in PoTS patients.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Computerized training improves verbal working memory in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study.

Maroti, Daniel, Westerberg, Annika Fryxell, Saury, Jean-Michel et al.·Journal of rehabilitation medicine·2015

Many people with ME/CFS struggle with memory and thinking problems. This small study tested whether spending 30-45 minutes a day for 5 weeks doing computerized memory exercises on a computer could help. Nine out of eleven patients who completed the training showed real improvements in working memory and attention, while a control group of patients who didn't do the training showed no improvement.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

The role of the partner and relationship satisfaction on treatment outcome in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Verspaandonk, J, Coenders, M, Bleijenberg, G et al.·Psychological medicine·2015

This study looked at how a patient's partner and their relationship quality affect how well cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) works for ME/CFS. Researchers found that when partners were overly helpful or protective (called 'solicitous responses'), patients were less likely to improve significantly from their fatigue and disability. The study suggests that addressing how partners respond to the illness during treatment may be important for better outcomes.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The effect of fatigue and fibromyalgia on sexual dysfunction in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Blazquez, Alicia, Ruiz, Eva, Aliste, Luisa et al.·Journal of sex & marital therapy·2015

This study examined sexual problems in 615 women with ME/CFS and found that sexual dysfunction was more common in those with worse fatigue, more cognitive and nervous system symptoms, and co-occurring conditions like fibromyalgia or Sjögren's syndrome. The researchers used a validated questionnaire to measure sexual satisfaction and identified patterns linking symptom severity to sexual health problems. This suggests that ME/CFS symptoms directly impact intimate relationships and sexual function.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Slow wave sleep in the chronically fatigued: Power spectra distribution patterns in chronic fatigue syndrome and primary insomnia.

Neu, Daniel, Mairesse, Olivier, Verbanck, Paul et al.·Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2015

This study looked at the deepest, most restorative type of sleep in people with ME/CFS and primary insomnia to understand why both groups feel tired and don't feel rested despite sleeping. Researchers used special brain wave measurements during sleep and found that both groups had unusual patterns of very slow brain waves during deep sleep, even though they were getting normal or sometimes even extra amounts of deep sleep. The findings suggest that the problem may not be getting enough deep sleep, but rather that the quality or type of brain activity during that sleep is different.

Sleep

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The pre-interventional psychiatric history - an underestimated confounder in benign intracranial lesions studies.

Relationship between chronic nonurological associated somatic syndromes and symptom severity in urological chronic pelvic pain syndromes: baseline evaluation of the MAPP study.

Study findings challenge the content validity of the Canadian Consensus Criteria for adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.

Statin Use Is Associated with Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is different in children compared to in adults: a study of UK and Dutch clinical cohorts.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia in diagnosed sleep disorders: a further test of the 'unitary' hypothesis.

Cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluids of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Painful Bladder Filling and Painful Urgency are Distinct Characteristics in Men and Women with Urological Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes: A MAPP Research Network Study.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and DNA Hypomethylation of the Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene Promoter 1F Region: Associations With HPA Axis Hypofunction and Childhood Trauma.

Increased risk of organic erectile dysfunction in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

The Process of Change in Pain During Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with migraine: A retrospective cohort study.

Sleep characteristics, exercise capacity and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Specific and number of comorbidities are associated with increased levels of temporomandibular pain intensity and duration.

[Mapping of function in chronic fatigue syndrome].

Painful temporomandibular disorders are common in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and impact significantly upon quality of life.

Computerized training improves verbal working memory in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study.

The role of the partner and relationship satisfaction on treatment outcome in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The effect of fatigue and fibromyalgia on sexual dysfunction in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Slow wave sleep in the chronically fatigued: Power spectra distribution patterns in chronic fatigue syndrome and primary insomnia.

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