ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2401–2420 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Depression in paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome.

Bould, Helen, Collin, Simon M, Lewis, Glyn et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2013

This study looked at how many young people with ME/CFS also experience depression. Researchers surveyed 542 children aged 12-18 and found that about 29% had depression—much higher than in the general population. Depression was more common in those with worse physical symptoms, higher disability, more pain, and poorer school attendance.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

In myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, increased autoimmune activity against 5-HT is associated with immuno-inflammatory pathways and bacterial translocation.

Maes, Michael, Ringel, Karl, Kubera, Marta et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2013

This study found that people with ME/CFS often develop antibodies (immune proteins) against serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain. These antibodies were linked to higher levels of inflammation, signs of bacteria leaking from the gut, and worse symptoms including pain, fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes. The findings suggest ME/CFS involves immune system problems that may contribute to the condition's core symptoms.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Human endogenous retrovirus-K18 superantigen expression and human herpesvirus-6 and human herpesvirus-7 viral loads in chronic fatigue patients.

Oakes, Brendan, Hoagland-Henefield, Matthias, Komaroff, Anthony L et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2013

Researchers tested whether two common viruses (HHV-6 and HHV-7) and a genetic element called HERV-K18 were present at higher levels in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. They measured these in blood and saliva samples from 39 ME/CFS patients and 9 healthy people. They found no significant differences between the two groups, and these markers did not correlate with how severe patients' symptoms were.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue and personality: a twin study of causal pathways and shared liabilities.

Poeschla, Brian, Strachan, Eric, Dansie, Elizabeth et al.·Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·2013

This study looked at whether personality traits like emotional stability and sociability are connected to chronic fatigue and ME/CFS. Researchers studied 245 pairs of twins and found that people who are more emotionally unstable tend to have more chronic fatigue, while people who are less outgoing also experience more fatigue. Interestingly, emotional instability and fatigue appear to be linked through shared genes, but low sociability may actually contribute to fatigue in a way that works both directions.

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Detection of antinuclear antibodies by automated indirect immunofluorescence analysis.

Bossuyt, Xavier, Cooreman, Sarah, De Baere, Heidi et al.·Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry·2013

This study tested an automated machine to detect antinuclear antibodies (ANA)—proteins the immune system sometimes makes that can be seen in blood tests. Researchers compared how well this automated system worked compared to traditional methods, using blood samples from people with autoimmune diseases, healthy donors, people with chronic fatigue syndrome, and other patient groups. The machine was good at collecting images but had difficulty identifying the specific patterns of these antibodies accurately.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The role of neuroticism, perfectionism and depression in chronic fatigue syndrome. A structural equation modeling approach.

Valero, Sergi, Sáez-Francàs, Naia, Calvo, Natalia et al.·Comprehensive psychiatry·2013

This study examined whether personality traits and depression influence how severe ME/CFS symptoms are in patients. Researchers looked at 229 ME/CFS patients and tested whether neuroticism (a tendency toward negative emotions) and perfectionism affect fatigue severity, and whether depression acts as a connecting link between these traits and fatigue. They found that neuroticism appears to influence fatigue severity primarily through depression—meaning people with high neuroticism tend to develop depression, which then worsens fatigue.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Clinical characteristics of a novel subgroup of chronic fatigue syndrome patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Lewis, I, Pairman, J, Spickett, G et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2013

Some ME/CFS patients also have POTS (a condition where the heart rate and blood pressure don't adjust properly when standing up). This study found that ME/CFS patients with POTS are younger, experience less severe fatigue and depression, and have different patterns of daytime sleepiness compared to ME/CFS patients without POTS. A simple combination of two questionnaires can accurately identify which ME/CFS patients have POTS, potentially helping doctors decide who needs additional testing and treatment.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A comparison of sex-specific immune signatures in Gulf War illness and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Smylie, Anne Liese, Broderick, Gordon, Fernandes, Henrique et al.·BMC immunology·2013

This study compared immune system markers in blood samples from Gulf War veterans with illness, people with ME/CFS, and healthy controls. Researchers measured immune chemicals (called cytokines) before, during, and after exercise to see if different patterns could identify each group. They found distinct immune fingerprints for each condition, and importantly, these patterns differed between men and women.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Undiagnosed and comorbid disorders in patients with presumed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mariman, An, Delesie, Liesbeth, Tobback, Els et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2013

Researchers studied nearly 280 patients who came to a specialized clinic thinking they had ME/CFS, and gave them thorough medical, sleep, and mental health assessments. They found that only about 23% actually had clear-cut ME/CFS; most others had sleep problems like sleep apnea, depression or anxiety, or a combination of these conditions. This suggests that when people feel persistently exhausted, many different medical and mental health issues could be the real cause.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Xenobiotic sensor- and metabolism-related gene variants in environmental sensitivity-related illnesses: a survey on the Italian population.

Caccamo, Daniela, Cesareo, Eleonora, Mariani, Serena et al.·Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity·2013

This study looked at genetic differences in how people's bodies process certain chemicals, comparing patients with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome to healthy people. Researchers found that specific genetic variations related to chemical processing were more common in patients with these conditions, suggesting that how your body handles toxins may be linked to environmental sensitivity illnesses. These genetic markers could potentially help doctors diagnose these conditions more accurately in the future.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Association of monoamine-synthesizing genes with the depression tendency and personality in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Fukuda, Sanae, Horiguchi, Mieko, Yamaguti, Kouzi et al.·Life sciences·2013

This study looked at whether specific genetic variations in two genes (GCH and TH) that help make important brain chemicals were linked to ME/CFS. Researchers compared DNA from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls and gave patients personality and fatigue questionnaires. They found that while these genetic variations weren't directly connected to developing ME/CFS, certain variations were associated with specific personality traits—like how perfectionist or cautious someone tends to be.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive performance is of clinical importance, but is unrelated to pain severity in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ickmans, Kelly, Meeus, Mira, Kos, Daphne et al.·Clinical rheumatology·2013

This study looked at whether cognitive problems (thinking, memory, attention) in women with ME/CFS are related to pain severity. Researchers gave cognitive tests and questionnaires to 29 women with ME/CFS and 17 healthy women. They found that cognitive problems were NOT linked to pain levels, but were connected to fatigue and mental health, suggesting that cognitive difficulties in ME/CFS may work differently than in other chronic pain conditions.

Pain and SensitizationCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Role of childhood adversity in the development of medical co-morbidities associated with bipolar disorder.

Post, Robert M, Altshuler, Lori L, Leverich, Gabriele S et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2013

This study looked at whether difficult experiences in childhood (such as abuse or having parents with mental health problems) are connected to physical health problems in adults with bipolar disorder. Over 900 adults answered questions about their childhood and their current medical conditions. The researchers found that people who experienced more childhood adversity tended to have more medical problems as adults, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and several other conditions.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Mental illness in metropolitan, urban and rural Georgia populations.

Reeves, William C, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Nater, Urs M·BMC public health·2013

This study looked at how common mental health conditions like anxiety and depression are in people living in different areas of Georgia (cities, towns, and rural areas). Researchers found that people with ME/CFS-like illness had higher rates of anxiety and depression than people without the condition. Women, people with less education, and those living in rural areas were more likely to experience these mental health conditions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive deficits in chronic fatigue syndrome and their relationship to psychological status, symptomatology, and everyday functioning.

Cockshell, Susan J, Mathias, Jane L·Neuropsychology·2013

Researchers compared thinking and memory skills between 50 people with ME/CFS and 50 healthy people. They found that people with ME/CFS were slower at processing information (like reaction time), but performed normally on other thinking tasks like memory and attention. Interestingly, this slowness was not explained by depression, anxiety, fatigue, or sleep problems.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI): establishing clinically significant values for identifying central sensitivity syndromes in an outpatient chronic pain sample.

Neblett, Randy, Cohen, Howard, Choi, YunHee et al.·The journal of pain·2013

This study tested a questionnaire called the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) to see if it could help doctors identify patients with conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers believe these conditions may share a common cause: the nervous system becoming overly sensitive to pain and other stimuli. The study found that a CSI score of 40 or higher was a good way to identify patients with these central sensitivity syndromes.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Examining the impact of obesity on individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Flores, Samantha, Brown, Abigail, Adeoye, Samuel et al.·Workplace health & safety·2013

This study looked at how weight affects people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people of similar weight. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS who were overweight or obese had worse health and functioning than healthy people carrying the same amount of weight. The findings suggest that having ME/CFS makes weight-related health challenges even more difficult.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Predictors and consequences of fatigue in prevalent kidney transplant recipients.

Chan, Winnie, Bosch, Jos A, Jones, David et al.·Transplantation·2013

This study looked at tiredness in people who have received kidney transplants and are doing well medically. Researchers found that nearly 6 out of 10 kidney transplant patients experience significant fatigue that affects their daily life and quality of life, yet most doctors weren't documenting this problem in their medical records. The fatigue levels were similar to those seen in chronic fatigue syndrome, and it was linked to factors like inflammation, kidney function decline, poor sleep, anxiety, and depression.

Sleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Internet-based therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: long-term follow-up.

Nijhof, Sanne L, Priesterbach, Loudy P, Uiterwaal, Cuno S P M et al.·Pediatrics·2013

This study followed adolescents with ME/CFS for nearly 3 years after they completed an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy program called FITNET. About 59% of teenagers had recovered from their illness by the end of the follow-up period, and most of those who improved right after treatment stayed better. Interestingly, teens who received standard care also recovered at similar rates over time, though it took longer.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

CFS in Children and Adolescent: Ten Years of Retrospective Clinical Evaluation.

Elgen, Irene, Hikmat, Omar, Aspevik, Tora N et al.·International journal of pediatrics·2013

This study looked at 27 children and adolescents diagnosed with ME/CFS over a 10-year period in one clinic. Almost all of them developed fatigue after an infection and showed evidence of past viral infections. About 44% were underweight. The researchers concluded that diagnosing ME/CFS in young people requires careful evaluation by multiple specialists and attention to nutrition and mental health.

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Depression in paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome.

In myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, increased autoimmune activity against 5-HT is associated with immuno-inflammatory pathways and bacterial translocation.

Human endogenous retrovirus-K18 superantigen expression and human herpesvirus-6 and human herpesvirus-7 viral loads in chronic fatigue patients.

Chronic fatigue and personality: a twin study of causal pathways and shared liabilities.

Detection of antinuclear antibodies by automated indirect immunofluorescence analysis.

The role of neuroticism, perfectionism and depression in chronic fatigue syndrome. A structural equation modeling approach.

Clinical characteristics of a novel subgroup of chronic fatigue syndrome patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

A comparison of sex-specific immune signatures in Gulf War illness and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Undiagnosed and comorbid disorders in patients with presumed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Xenobiotic sensor- and metabolism-related gene variants in environmental sensitivity-related illnesses: a survey on the Italian population.

Association of monoamine-synthesizing genes with the depression tendency and personality in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Cognitive performance is of clinical importance, but is unrelated to pain severity in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Role of childhood adversity in the development of medical co-morbidities associated with bipolar disorder.

Mental illness in metropolitan, urban and rural Georgia populations.

Cognitive deficits in chronic fatigue syndrome and their relationship to psychological status, symptomatology, and everyday functioning.

The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI): establishing clinically significant values for identifying central sensitivity syndromes in an outpatient chronic pain sample.

Examining the impact of obesity on individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Predictors and consequences of fatigue in prevalent kidney transplant recipients.

Internet-based therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: long-term follow-up.

CFS in Children and Adolescent: Ten Years of Retrospective Clinical Evaluation.

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