ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2661–2680 of 6,160 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Evidence for generalized hyperalgesia in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case control study.

Meeus, Mira, Nijs, Jo, Huybrechts, Sven et al.·Clinical rheumatology·2010

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS feel pain more intensely than healthy people, even in areas where they don't typically experience pain. Researchers measured how much pressure patients and healthy volunteers could tolerate before feeling pain. They found that ME/CFS patients with chronic pain had significantly lower pain thresholds everywhere on their body, suggesting their nervous system may be in a heightened state of sensitivity.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Latent class analysis of functional somatic symptoms in a population-based sample of twins.

Kato, Kenji, Sullivan, Patrick F, Pedersen, Nancy L·Journal of psychosomatic research·2010

This study looked at how people with chronic fatigue and multiple physical symptoms cluster into different groups. Researchers studied over 28,000 twins and found five distinct groups: those with no symptoms, those mainly tired, those with stomach problems, those with pain, and those with many symptoms across all areas. The study suggests that while genes play a small role, environmental factors (like stress, infections, or lifestyle) are much more important in determining who develops these symptoms.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

[Transcranial magnetic stimulation in the chronic fatigue syndrome].

Sholomov, I I, Cherevashchenko, L A, Bolotova, N V et al.·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·2010

This study examined whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)—a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain—might help people with ME/CFS. Researchers observed patients receiving TMS treatment and tracked their responses. While the study provides early observations about this treatment approach, more rigorous testing is needed to confirm whether TMS is truly effective for ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Failure to detect Xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus in Chinese patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hong, Ping, Li, Jinming, Li, Yongzhe·Virology journal·2010

Researchers tested 65 people with ME/CFS and 85 healthy controls to see if a virus called XMRV might cause ME/CFS. Using sensitive laboratory tests, they found no evidence of XMRV in any of the study participants' blood cells. This study suggests XMRV is not associated with ME/CFS in Chinese patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

No evidence for XMRV association in pediatric idiopathic diseases in France.

Jeziorski, Eric, Foulongne, Vincent, Ludwig, Catherine et al.·Retrovirology·2010

Researchers tested whether a virus called XMRV might be causing various childhood illnesses and respiratory diseases. They checked samples from 151 children and adults with different conditions, but found no evidence that XMRV was present in any of them. This suggests that XMRV is likely not responsible for these particular diseases.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

New dimensions of abnormal illness behaviour derived from the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire.

Prior, Kirsty N, Bond, Malcolm J·Psychology & health·2010

Researchers tested a questionnaire that measures how people respond to and think about illness. They gave the questionnaire to 675 people, including 77 with ME/CFS, to see if it could identify different patterns of illness-related thoughts and behaviors. They found three main patterns: how much people affirm their illness, how concerned they are about their health, and their overall emotional state.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Personality features and personality disorders in chronic fatigue syndrome: a population-based study.

Nater, Urs M, Jones, James F, Lin, Jin-Mann S et al.·Psychotherapy and psychosomatics·2010

This study looked at whether certain personality traits are more common in people with ME/CFS. Researchers compared 113 people with ME/CFS to people without it and found that those with ME/CFS had higher rates of certain personality patterns (like being more anxious or withdrawn) and personality disorders. However, these personality differences were not unique to ME/CFS—they also appeared in other chronically ill groups.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Lipid peroxidation is elevated in female patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brkic, Snezana, Tomic, Slavica, Maric, Daniela et al.·Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research·2010

This study found that women with ME/CFS have higher levels of a harmful substance called malondialdehyde (MDA), which is produced when the body experiences oxidative stress—like cellular damage from free radicals. The researchers also found that women with ME/CFS had lower levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL) and higher triglycerides, patterns usually seen in people at risk for heart disease. These findings suggest that oxidative stress may be contributing to ME/CFS in ways that could affect heart health.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Does hypocortisolism predict a poor response to cognitive behavioural therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome?

Roberts, A D L, Charler, M-L, Papadopoulos, A et al.·Psychological medicine·2010

This study looked at whether a hormone called cortisol, which helps regulate stress and energy, affects how well cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) works for ME/CFS patients. The researchers measured cortisol levels in 84 ME/CFS patients and tracked how many improved after receiving CBT. They found that patients with lower cortisol levels were less likely to respond well to CBT, suggesting that abnormal cortisol may be one reason why ME/CFS persists in some people.

Interventions

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Cognitive behavioural therapy and psycho-education for chronic fatigue syndrome in young people: reflections from the families' perspective.

Dennison, Laura, Stanbrook, Rachel, Moss-Morris, Rona et al.·British journal of health psychology·2010

This study asked 16 young people with ME/CFS and their parents about their experiences with two types of therapy: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and psycho-education (PE). Most families found both treatments helpful and acceptable, particularly the practical parts like setting goals and gradually increasing activity. However, some felt the emotional aspects of the illness weren't fully addressed, and others had mixed feelings about how much family involvement was needed.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A formal analysis of cytokine networks in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Broderick, Gordon, Fuite, Jim, Kreitz, Andrea et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2010

Researchers studied immune system chemicals called cytokines in people with ME/CFS and healthy controls to understand how their immune systems differ. Instead of looking at single markers, they examined how 16 different cytokines work together as networks. They found that people with ME/CFS have a very different immune system pattern—like a hub with one central point—compared to the more balanced network in healthy people.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Failure to detect xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in blood of individuals at high risk of blood-borne viral infections.

Barnes, Eleanor, Flanagan, Peter, Brown, Anthony et al.·The Journal of infectious diseases·2010

In 2010, researchers tested 230 people with HIV or hepatitis C to see if they carried a virus called XMRV, which had recently been suggested as a possible cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. They found no trace of XMRV in blood samples or immune cells, and people's immune systems showed no signs of having fought off this virus. This suggested that XMRV was not common in people with these blood-borne infections.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

[Multiple chemical sensitivity: epidemiological, clinical and prognostic differences between occupational and non-occupational cases].

Nogué Xarau, Santiago, Alarcón Romay, María, Martínez Martínez, José-Miguel et al.·Medicina clinica·2010

This study looked at 165 people with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)—a condition where people react badly to everyday chemicals—to see if it made a difference whether their condition started from workplace exposure or other sources. People whose MCS began at work had fewer related conditions like chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and were less likely to become permanently disabled, compared to those whose MCS developed from non-work exposures.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: a follow-up study.

van Geelen, Stefan M, Bakker, Rob J, Kuis, Wietse et al.·Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine·2010

This study followed 54 teenagers with ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) for about 2 years to see how they were doing. About half of the teens improved significantly, but the other half remained severely fatigued and physically limited. Teens who were older when they first got sick, had pain, struggled with mental health, or felt poorly about themselves were less likely to recover.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in the Netherlands: retrospective analysis of samples from an established cohort.

van Kuppeveld, Frank J M, de Jong, Arjan S, Lanke, Kjerstin H et al.·BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2010

Researchers in the Netherlands tested whether a virus called XMRV, which had been reported in ME/CFS patients in other studies, was present in blood samples from Dutch ME/CFS patients. Using sensitive laboratory tests, they found no trace of this virus in any of the patients or healthy control participants. This challenges earlier claims that XMRV might be connected to ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

One single diagnosis, bodily distress syndrome, succeeded to capture 10 diagnostic categories of functional somatic syndromes and somatoform disorders.

Fink, Per, Schröder, Andreas·Journal of psychosomatic research·2010

This study looked at whether a new diagnosis called 'bodily distress syndrome' could capture several different conditions that cause physical symptoms not explained by standard medical tests—including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers tested nearly 1,000 patients and found that bodily distress syndrome successfully identified 95% of patients across all these different diagnoses, suggesting these conditions might be better understood as variations of one underlying problem rather than completely separate diseases.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Classification of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome by types of fatigue.

Jason, Leonard A, Boulton, Aaron, Porter, Nicole S et al.·Behavioral medicine (Washington, D.C.)·2010

This study looked at 100 people with ME/CFS to see if they experience fatigue in different ways. Researchers used a questionnaire to measure five different types of fatigue and found that patients naturally fell into distinct groups based on their fatigue patterns. The results show that ME/CFS affects people differently—some experience mostly one type of fatigue heavily, while others have combinations of different fatigue types.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Biomarkers in chronic fatigue syndrome: evaluation of natural killer cell function and dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26.

Fletcher, Mary A, Zeng, Xiao R, Maher, Kevin et al.·PloS one·2010

This study tested whether two immune system markers could reliably identify ME/CFS patients. Researchers measured natural killer (NK) cell function—a type of immune cell that fights infections—and CD26, a protein found on immune cells. They found that ME/CFS patients had lower NK cell function and different patterns of CD26 compared to healthy people, suggesting these markers could potentially help diagnose the condition.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Microbial infections in eight genomic subtypes of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Zhang, Lihan, Gough, John, Christmas, David et al.·Journal of clinical pathology·2010

This study looked at blood samples from ME/CFS patients to identify different genetic subtypes based on how 88 genes were turned on or off. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had distinct genetic patterns that were different from healthy people and those with depression. They also discovered that different viral infections—particularly Epstein-Barr virus and enterovirus—were linked to different genetic subtypes of ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Failure to detect the novel retrovirus XMRV in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Erlwein, Otto, Kaye, Steve, McClure, Myra O et al.·PloS one·2010

In 2009, researchers reported finding a virus called XMRV in about two-thirds of ME/CFS patients in the US, raising hopes for a breakthrough in understanding the disease. This UK study tested blood samples from 186 ME/CFS patients to see if they also carried this virus, but found no evidence of XMRV in any of them. The results suggest the virus may not be common in ME/CFS patients in Europe, or that earlier findings may have been specific to certain populations.

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Evidence for generalized hyperalgesia in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case control study.

Latent class analysis of functional somatic symptoms in a population-based sample of twins.

[Transcranial magnetic stimulation in the chronic fatigue syndrome].

Failure to detect Xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus in Chinese patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

No evidence for XMRV association in pediatric idiopathic diseases in France.

New dimensions of abnormal illness behaviour derived from the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire.

Personality features and personality disorders in chronic fatigue syndrome: a population-based study.

Lipid peroxidation is elevated in female patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Does hypocortisolism predict a poor response to cognitive behavioural therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome?

Cognitive behavioural therapy and psycho-education for chronic fatigue syndrome in young people: reflections from the families' perspective.

A formal analysis of cytokine networks in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Failure to detect xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in blood of individuals at high risk of blood-borne viral infections.

[Multiple chemical sensitivity: epidemiological, clinical and prognostic differences between occupational and non-occupational cases].

Adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: a follow-up study.

Prevalence of xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in the Netherlands: retrospective analysis of samples from an established cohort.

One single diagnosis, bodily distress syndrome, succeeded to capture 10 diagnostic categories of functional somatic syndromes and somatoform disorders.

Classification of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome by types of fatigue.

Biomarkers in chronic fatigue syndrome: evaluation of natural killer cell function and dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26.

Microbial infections in eight genomic subtypes of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Failure to detect the novel retrovirus XMRV in chronic fatigue syndrome.

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