ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2501–2520 of 6,160 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

No evidence of murine-like gammaretroviruses in CFS patients previously identified as XMRV-infected.

Knox, Konstance, Carrigan, Donald, Simmons, Graham et al.·Science (New York, N.Y.)·2011

This study tested blood samples from 61 ME/CFS patients to look for viruses called XMRV and related mouse viruses that had been reported in earlier research. The researchers found no evidence of these viruses in the patients' blood, even in 43 patients who had previously tested positive. They concluded that earlier findings were likely due to contamination in the laboratory rather than actual infection.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

IgM-mediated autoimmune responses directed against multiple neoepitopes in depression: new pathways that underpin the inflammatory and neuroprogressive pathophysiology.

Maes, Michael, Mihaylova, Ivana, Kubera, Marta et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2011

This study looked at whether depression involves the immune system attacking the body's own molecules that have been damaged by stress and inflammation. Researchers compared antibody levels in 26 depressed patients and 17 healthy controls, finding that depressed patients had significantly higher levels of immune proteins attacking several molecular targets. These autoimmune responses were linked to fatigue and flu-like symptoms, suggesting a biological pathway that may connect depression, immune dysfunction, and physical exhaustion.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome in an ethnically diverse population: the influence of psychosocial adversity and physical inactivity.

Bhui, Kamaldeep S, Dinos, Sokratis, Ashby, Deborah et al.·BMC medicine·2011

This study looked at how common ME/CFS is in different ethnic groups in England and found that people from ethnic minority backgrounds had higher rates of the illness than White British people. The researchers discovered that anxiety, depression, lack of physical activity, stress in relationships, and poor social support were all linked to higher rates of ME/CFS, and together these factors explained why some ethnic groups had more cases.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

No evidence of XMRV or related retroviruses in a London HIV-1-positive patient cohort.

Gray, Eleanor R, Garson, Jeremy A, Breuer, Judith et al.·PloS one·2011

Researchers tested blood samples from 540 people with HIV to see if they carried a virus called XMRV, which had been proposed as a possible cause of ME/CFS. Despite having sensitive tests that could detect even tiny amounts of the virus, they found no evidence of XMRV in any of the patients. This suggests the virus is either not present or extremely rare in the population studied.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The retrovirus XMRV is not directly involved in the pathogenesis of common types of lymphoid malignancy.

Waugh, Elspeth M, Jarrett, Ruth F, Shield, Lesley et al.·Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology·2011

Researchers tested whether a virus called XMRV, which had been found in some ME/CFS patients, might cause blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia. They checked blood samples from 368 patients with these cancers and 507 control samples using three different sensitive tests. The virus was not found in any cancer patient samples, suggesting XMRV is not a major cause of these blood cancers.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

No detection of XMRV in blood samples and tissue sections from prostate cancer patients in Northern Europe.

Stieler, Kristin, Schindler, Sarah, Schlomm, Thorsten et al.·PloS one·2011

Researchers tested blood samples and tissue samples from prostate cancer patients to look for XMRV, a virus that had been claimed to be found in some chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Using multiple testing methods, they found no clear evidence that XMRV was present in the blood or cancer tissues they examined. This study helps clarify whether XMRV is actually linked to disease or if earlier findings might have been false alarms.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Therapist effects in routine psychotherapy practice: an account from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cella, Matteo, Stahl, Daniel, Reme, Silje Endresen et al.·Psychotherapy research : journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research·2011

This study looked at whether it matters which therapist treats patients with ME/CFS when they receive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Researchers tracked 374 ME/CFS patients treated by 12 different therapists in a specialized clinic and measured changes in fatigue and disability. They found that while patients improved overall, the individual therapist made almost no difference in outcomes—the patients' improvements were similar regardless of which qualified therapist treated them.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The functional status and well being of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and their carers.

Nacul, Luis C, Lacerda, Eliana M, Campion, Peter et al.·BMC public health·2011

This study measured how ME/CFS affects daily life and well-being in 170 patients and 44 family caregivers. Using a standard health questionnaire, researchers found that ME/CFS causes severe disability—worse than many other chronic illnesses like cancer—affecting both physical abilities and mental health. The emotional burden also significantly impacts the family members and caregivers who support people with ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Absence of XMRV retrovirus and other murine leukemia virus-related viruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Shin, Clifford H, Bateman, Lucinda, Schlaberg, Robert et al.·Journal of virology·2011

This study investigated whether a virus called XMRV or related viruses might cause ME/CFS by testing blood samples from 100 ME/CFS patients and 200 healthy volunteers. The researchers used multiple methods to look for the virus itself, genetic material, and antibodies to the virus. They found no evidence of these viruses in any of the patient samples, suggesting they are not responsible for ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Deviations in daily physical activity patterns in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome: a case control study.

Evering, Richard M H, Tönis, Thijs M, Vollenbroek-Hutten, Miriam M R·Journal of psychosomatic research·2011

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS move and exercise throughout the day compared to healthy people, using motion-tracking devices. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients are less active in the afternoon and evening, do fewer intense activities, and experience more unpredictable activity patterns day-to-day. Interestingly, ME/CFS patients were also more aware of their activity levels than healthy controls.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Serologic and PCR testing of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome in the United States shows no association with xenotropic or polytropic murine leukemia virus-related viruses.

Satterfield, Brent C, Garcia, Rebecca A, Jia, Hongwei et al.·Retrovirology·2011

In 2009, researchers reported finding a virus called XMRV in most people with ME/CFS, which sparked hope for a potential cause. This study tested blood samples from 45 ME/CFS patients and 42 healthy people from across the United States using sensitive laboratory methods to look for XMRV and related viruses. The researchers found no evidence of these viruses in any of the samples, suggesting that XMRV is not present in most ME/CFS cases.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Reliability and validity of Short Form 36 Version 2 to measure health perceptions in a sub-group of individuals with fatigue.

Davenport, Todd E, Stevens, Staci R, Baroni, Katie et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2011

This study tested whether a common health questionnaire (SF-36) could accurately measure how ME/CFS affects quality of life and symptom burden. Researchers gave the questionnaire to 16 people with ME/CFS and 14 healthy controls, then had them perform exercise tests to see how their symptoms changed. The SF-36 successfully captured differences between the two groups and predicted who would recover quickly after exercise.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The pathway from glandular fever to chronic fatigue syndrome: can the cognitive behavioural model provide the map?

Moss-Morris, R, Spence, M J, Hou, R·Psychological medicine·2011

This study followed 246 people with glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis) to see who developed chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in the months after infection. The researchers found that certain psychological factors—like anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and negative beliefs about the illness—were associated with developing CFS. Interestingly, an 'all-or-nothing' approach to activity (pushing hard then stopping completely) was the strongest predictor of CFS at 6 months.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Unidentified Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a major cause of school absence: surveillance outcomes from school-based clinics.

Crawley, Esther M, Emond, Alan M, Sterne, Jonathan A C·BMJ open·2011

Researchers set up clinics in three schools to identify students missing a lot of school without an obvious reason. They found that ME/CFS was responsible for about 1 in 100 cases of unexplained school absence. Students identified through this school-based approach were less severely ill than those who went to specialist clinics through typical healthcare pathways, and many improved quickly once they received appropriate care.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Cognitive dysfunction and mental fatigue in childhood chronic fatigue syndrome--a 6-month follow-up study.

Kawatani, Junko, Mizuno, Kei, Shiraishi, Seishi et al.·Brain & development·2011

This study looked at thinking and attention problems in children with ME/CFS using a specialized test that measures how quickly and accurately the brain can process information. Children with ME/CFS performed worse on attention tasks compared to healthy children, especially when they had to switch between different tasks. After 6 months of combined treatment with therapy and medication, children showed improvements in both their thinking ability and fatigue levels.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Fatigue severity remains stable over time and independently associated with orthostatic symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome: a longitudinal study.

Jones, D E J, Gray, J, Frith, J et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2011

This study followed ME/CFS patients over 4 years to see how their fatigue changed. Researchers found that while some patients improved and others got worse, the overall severity of fatigue stayed relatively stable for most people. Importantly, fatigue was most closely linked to standing-related symptoms (dizziness, lightheadedness) and mood changes like depression and anxiety.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Psychopathology and physical activity as predictors of chronic fatigue syndrome in the 1958 british birth cohort: a replication study of the 1946 and 1970 birth cohorts.

Goodwin, Laura, White, Peter D, Hotopf, Matthew et al.·Annals of epidemiology·2011

This study followed over 11,000 people born in 1958 in Britain to see whether emotional or mental health problems, and physical activity levels before they got sick, were connected to developing ME/CFS later in life. Researchers found that people who had psychological difficulties in their twenties and thirties were more likely to later develop ME/CFS, but childhood emotional problems or exercise habits didn't show this connection.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

[A study of median frequencies of skeletal muscle undergoing Tuina intervention in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Liu, Kun-peng, Fang, Min, Dai, De-chun et al.·Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine·2011

This study looked at whether a Chinese massage technique called Tuina could help people with ME/CFS by measuring muscle electrical activity and fatigue levels. Thirty-two CFS patients received 20 days of Tuina treatment, and researchers found that the treatment reduced fatigue symptoms on a standard questionnaire, though the electrical patterns in muscles did not change noticeably.

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Measuring disability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: reliability and validity of the Work and Social Adjustment Scale.

Cella, Matteo, Sharpe, Michael, Chalder, Trudie·Journal of psychosomatic research·2011

This study tested whether a simple questionnaire called the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) accurately measures how much ME/CFS affects a person's daily life and ability to work. Researchers gave this questionnaire to over 1,000 ME/CFS patients and found it was reliable and valid—meaning it consistently measured disability and actually reflected real-world functioning.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Social support needs for equity in health and social care: a thematic analysis of experiences of people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

de Carvalho Leite, Jose C, de L Drachler, Maria, Killett, Anne et al.·International journal for equity in health·2011

This study asked 35 people with ME/CFS in England about what support they needed from health and social care services. Participants described needing personalized help with managing symptoms, practical support for daily life, and financial assistance—but found it difficult to access these services because doctors and providers often didn't understand their condition. The researchers found that some groups, including certain ethnic minorities, faced even greater barriers to getting the help they needed.

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

No evidence of murine-like gammaretroviruses in CFS patients previously identified as XMRV-infected.

IgM-mediated autoimmune responses directed against multiple neoepitopes in depression: new pathways that underpin the inflammatory and neuroprogressive pathophysiology.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in an ethnically diverse population: the influence of psychosocial adversity and physical inactivity.

No evidence of XMRV or related retroviruses in a London HIV-1-positive patient cohort.

The retrovirus XMRV is not directly involved in the pathogenesis of common types of lymphoid malignancy.

No detection of XMRV in blood samples and tissue sections from prostate cancer patients in Northern Europe.

Therapist effects in routine psychotherapy practice: an account from chronic fatigue syndrome.

The functional status and well being of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and their carers.

Absence of XMRV retrovirus and other murine leukemia virus-related viruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Deviations in daily physical activity patterns in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome: a case control study.

Serologic and PCR testing of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome in the United States shows no association with xenotropic or polytropic murine leukemia virus-related viruses.

Reliability and validity of Short Form 36 Version 2 to measure health perceptions in a sub-group of individuals with fatigue.

The pathway from glandular fever to chronic fatigue syndrome: can the cognitive behavioural model provide the map?

Unidentified Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a major cause of school absence: surveillance outcomes from school-based clinics.

Cognitive dysfunction and mental fatigue in childhood chronic fatigue syndrome--a 6-month follow-up study.

Fatigue severity remains stable over time and independently associated with orthostatic symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome: a longitudinal study.

Psychopathology and physical activity as predictors of chronic fatigue syndrome in the 1958 british birth cohort: a replication study of the 1946 and 1970 birth cohorts.

[A study of median frequencies of skeletal muscle undergoing Tuina intervention in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Measuring disability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: reliability and validity of the Work and Social Adjustment Scale.

Social support needs for equity in health and social care: a thematic analysis of experiences of people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research