ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2221–2240 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Pain in people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: the role of traumatic stress and coping strategies.

Krzeczkowska, Anna, Karatzias, Thanos, Dickson, Adele·Psychology, health & medicine·2015

This study looked at pain in people with ME/CFS and how they cope with it. Researchers compared 27 people with ME/CFS to 27 healthy people and found that those with ME/CFS experienced more pain and had different coping strategies. People with ME/CFS who had severe pain were less likely to use helpful coping methods like accepting their situation or thinking positively about it.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cardiac dysfunction and orthostatic intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and a small left ventricle.

Miwa, Kunihisa·Heart and vessels·2015

This study looked at heart function in 40 ME/CFS patients compared to 40 healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients frequently had smaller hearts and difficulty standing up without dizziness or other symptoms (orthostatic intolerance). The smaller heart size appeared to pump less blood with each beat, which may explain why patients struggle with upright posture and fatigue.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Distinct plasma immune signatures in ME/CFS are present early in the course of illness.

Hornig, Mady, Montoya, José G, Klimas, Nancy G et al.·Science advances·2015

This study found that people with ME/CFS have distinctive patterns of immune system markers in their blood, but only early in the disease. Researchers compared blood samples from 52 people with early-stage ME/CFS to 348 healthy people and 246 people with long-standing ME/CFS. The early-stage group showed heightened immune activity that was not present in people who had been sick longer, suggesting the disease's immune profile changes over time.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Attention network test: assessment of cognitive function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Togo, Fumiharu, Lange, Gudrun, Natelson, Benjamin H et al.·Journal of neuropsychology·2015

This study tested whether a computer-based attention test called the Attention Network Task (ANT) could measure thinking and processing speed problems in ME/CFS patients. Researchers compared 41 ME/CFS patients (some with depression, some without) to 29 healthy controls and found that ME/CFS patients took longer to respond to tasks, especially when the tasks were complex, even though they made the same number of mistakes as controls. This suggests that slowed thinking speed, rather than errors, may be the main cognitive problem in ME/CFS.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Early menopause and other gynecologic risk indicators for chronic fatigue syndrome in women.

Boneva, Roumiana S, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Unger, Elizabeth R·Menopause (New York, N.Y.)·2015

This study looked at whether gynecological conditions—like irregular periods, endometriosis, and early menopause—are more common in women with ME/CFS compared to healthy women. Researchers found that women with ME/CFS reported significantly more gynecological problems and surgeries, including hysterectomies (removal of the uterus) performed at younger ages. The findings suggest that gynecological issues may be connected to ME/CFS, though more research is needed to understand exactly how.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Longitudinal analysis of immune abnormalities in varying severities of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients.

Hardcastle, Sharni Lee, Brenu, Ekua Weba, Johnston, Samantha et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2015

This study tracked immune system changes in 42 ME/CFS patients (divided into moderate and severe groups) and 18 healthy controls over 6 months. Researchers used blood tests to count different types of immune cells. They found that people with severe ME/CFS had noticeably different immune cell patterns than those with moderate ME/CFS or healthy controls, suggesting the immune system may work differently depending on how severe the illness is.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Results From the LifeLines Cohort Study.

Janssens, Karin A M, Zijlema, Wilma L, Joustra, Monica L et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2015

This study looked at how often mood and anxiety disorders occur in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome compared to people without these conditions. Researchers found that people with these syndromes do experience depression and anxiety more often than the general population, but most people with these conditions do not have a psychiatric disorder. ME/CFS patients had the highest rates of mood and anxiety problems among the three conditions studied.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Falk Hvidberg, Michael, Brinth, Louise Schouborg, Olesen, Anne V et al.·PloS one·2015

This study measured how ME/CFS affects quality of life using a standard health questionnaire given to Danish ME/CFS patients. The results show that people with ME/CFS report significantly lower quality of life (a score of 0.47 out of 1.0) compared to the general population (0.85), and this impact is worse than 20 other health conditions studied. Even after accounting for other illnesses patients might have, ME/CFS itself was shown to cause substantial harm to daily life and wellbeing.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Fatigue in adults with post-infectious fatigue syndrome: a qualitative content analysis.

Stormorken, Eva, Jason, Leonard A, Kirkevold, Marit·BMC nursing·2015

This study interviewed 26 adults with ME/CFS about their fatigue to better understand what they experience. The researchers found that fatigue in ME/CFS is not just tiredness—it's a complex, all-consuming symptom that gets much worse with even small activities and is accompanied by other symptoms like brain fog and pain. The fatigue also changes throughout the day and is triggered by physical activity, emotions, stress, and sometimes things patients don't even realize are triggering it.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A comparison of patients with Q fever fatigue syndrome and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome with a focus on inflammatory markers and possible fatigue perpetuating cognitions and behaviour.

Keijmel, Stephan P, Saxe, Johanna, van der Meer, Jos W M et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2015

This study compared people with Q fever fatigue syndrome (a fatigue illness that develops after a specific infection) with people with ME/CFS to see if they were similar. Researchers found that both groups experienced similar levels of fatigue and emotional distress, but had some differences in their backgrounds and how they thought about their symptoms. The study suggests that physical activity might play a role in fatigue for both conditions, and that treatments focusing on behavior changes could potentially help people with Q fever fatigue syndrome.

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

Frequency of Migraine Headaches in Patients With Fibromyalgia.

Vij, Brinder, Whipple, Mary O, Tepper, Stewart J et al.·Headache·2015

This study examined how often people with fibromyalgia experience migraine headaches. Researchers surveyed over 1,700 fibromyalgia patients and found that about 56% met the criteria for migraines. People with both conditions were more likely to also have depression, anxiety, IBS, and chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting these overlapping conditions increase overall burden on patients.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Maintenance of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in Young CFS Patients Is Associated with the 5-HTTLPR and SNP rs25531 A > G Genotype.

Meyer, Benedicte, Nguyen, Chinh Bkrong Thuy, Moen, Aurora et al.·PloS one·2015

This study looked at whether differences in a specific gene related to serotonin (a brain chemical) might affect how severe ME/CFS stays in young patients. Researchers found that teenagers with certain versions of this gene had worse physical activity levels and greater disability 30 weeks later compared to those with other versions. This suggests that your genes may play a role in whether your ME/CFS improves or stays the same.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Characteristics of women with endometriosis from the USA and Puerto Rico.

Fourquet, Jessica, Sinaii, Ninet, Stratton, Pamela et al.·Journal of endometriosis and pelvic pain disorders·2015

This study compared women with endometriosis in the USA and Puerto Rico to see if their symptoms and health conditions differed. Researchers found that while both groups experienced similar types of pain and fertility problems, women in the USA reported more severe pain and more often had other chronic conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Women in Puerto Rico more frequently reported miscarriages.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Factor Analysis of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire: Identifying Core Domains.

Jason, Leonard A, Sunnquist, Madison, Brown, Abigail et al.·Journal of neurology and neurobiology·2015

Researchers analyzed symptom patterns in people with ME/CFS from three countries to better understand what makes this illness unique. Using statistical analysis, they found that ME/CFS symptoms naturally organize into four main groups: exhaustion that gets worse after activity, brain fog and memory problems, sleep issues, and a combination of hormone, nervous system, and immune problems. This organized way of thinking about symptoms could help doctors recognize and study the disease more effectively.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sympathetic activation is associated with increased IL-6, but not CRP in the absence of obesity: lessons from postural tachycardia syndrome and obesity.

Okamoto, Luis E, Raj, Satish R, Gamboa, Alfredo et al.·American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology·2015

This study looked at how an overactive nervous system relates to inflammation in the body. Researchers compared people with POTS (a condition causing increased heart rate when standing) to healthy controls, both lean and obese. They found that an overactive nervous system was linked to higher levels of IL-6, a marker of inflammation, even in people without obesity—but only obesity combined with nervous system overactivity produced high CRP, another inflammation marker.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A Novel Anxiety and Affective Spectrum Disorder of Mind and Body-The ALPIM (Anxiety-Laxity-Pain-Immune-Mood) Syndrome: A Preliminary Report.

Coplan, Jeremy, Singh, Deepan, Gopinath, Srinath et al.·The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences·2015

Researchers found that people with anxiety disorders often experience multiple related physical and mental health conditions together—including joint looseness, chronic pain, immune problems, and mood disorders. They studied 76 patients and discovered that over 80% had panic attacks, fibromyalgia, and depression at the same time. This suggests these conditions may be connected as part of a larger syndrome rather than separate illnesses.

Immune System

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 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Perceived Fatigue Interference and Depressed Mood: Comparison of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Patients with Fatigued Breast Cancer Survivors.

Hall, Daniel L, Antoni, Michael H, Lattie, Emily G et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2015

This study compared how fatigue affects daily life in people with ME/CFS versus breast cancer survivors who experience fatigue. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients reported more severe fatigue and more depression than the cancer survivors. Importantly, in ME/CFS patients, higher depression was closely tied to greater fatigue-related problems in daily activities, suggesting that mood and fatigue interference may be connected in ways worth exploring for treatment.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Increased Vulnerability to Pattern-Related Visual Stress in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Wilson, Rachel L, Paterson, Kevin B, Hutchinson, Claire V·Perception·2015

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS experience more visual discomfort when looking at certain patterns compared to healthy people. Forty participants (20 with ME/CFS and 20 without) viewed three different striped patterns and reported how distorted or uncomfortable they looked. People with ME/CFS reported significantly more visual distortion, especially when viewing medium-frequency patterns, suggesting their eyes and brains may process visual information differently.

Pain and SensitizationBiomarkers

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Pain in people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: the role of traumatic stress and coping strategies.

Cardiac dysfunction and orthostatic intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and a small left ventricle.

Distinct plasma immune signatures in ME/CFS are present early in the course of illness.

Attention network test: assessment of cognitive function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Early menopause and other gynecologic risk indicators for chronic fatigue syndrome in women.

Longitudinal analysis of immune abnormalities in varying severities of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Results From the LifeLines Cohort Study.

The Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Fatigue in adults with post-infectious fatigue syndrome: a qualitative content analysis.

A comparison of patients with Q fever fatigue syndrome and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome with a focus on inflammatory markers and possible fatigue perpetuating cognitions and behaviour.

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

Frequency of Migraine Headaches in Patients With Fibromyalgia.

Maintenance of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in Young CFS Patients Is Associated with the 5-HTTLPR and SNP rs25531 A > G Genotype.

Characteristics of women with endometriosis from the USA and Puerto Rico.

Factor Analysis of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire: Identifying Core Domains.

Sympathetic activation is associated with increased IL-6, but not CRP in the absence of obesity: lessons from postural tachycardia syndrome and obesity.

A Novel Anxiety and Affective Spectrum Disorder of Mind and Body-The ALPIM (Anxiety-Laxity-Pain-Immune-Mood) Syndrome: A Preliminary Report.

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

Perceived Fatigue Interference and Depressed Mood: Comparison of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Patients with Fatigued Breast Cancer Survivors.

Increased Vulnerability to Pattern-Related Visual Stress in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

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