ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2741–2760 of 6,160 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Use of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) for assessment of personality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Van Campen, Elise, Van Den Eede, Filip, Moorkens, Greta et al.·Psychosomatics·2009

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have certain personality traits that might be connected to their illness. Researchers gave a personality questionnaire to 38 people with ME/CFS and 42 healthy people, and found that those with ME/CFS scored higher on two traits: being cautious about potential harm and being persistent in their efforts. The findings suggest that these personality characteristics might play a role in how ME/CFS develops or continues.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Anticardiolipin antibodies in the sera of patients with diagnosed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hokama, Yoshitsugi, Campora, Cara Empey, Hara, Cynthia et al.·Journal of clinical laboratory analysis·2009

Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and found abnormal antibodies called anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) in 95% of the samples. These antibodies mistakenly attack cardiolipin, a substance found in cell membranes. The study suggests that something in the immune system may be going wrong in ME/CFS, possibly affecting how cells produce energy.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Autoantibodies, polymorphisms in the serotonin pathway, and human leukocyte antigen class II alleles in chronic fatigue syndrome: are they associated with age at onset and specific symptoms?

Ortega-Hernandez, Oscar-Danilo, Cuccia, Mariaclara, Bozzini, Sara et al.·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2009

This study looked at whether certain genetic traits and immune markers in the blood are linked to when ME/CFS develops and what symptoms people experience. Researchers tested 81 ME/CFS patients for specific genes related to serotonin (a brain chemical), immune system genes, and antibodies. They found that different genetic patterns were associated with developing ME/CFS at different ages and with certain symptoms like joint pain and fever, but not muscle pain.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleep apnea and psychological functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Libman, Eva, Creti, Laura, Baltzan, Marcel et al.·Journal of health psychology·2009

This study looked at whether sleep apnea (a condition where breathing stops and starts during sleep) is common in people with ME/CFS and how it affects mood and psychological well-being. The researchers found that 68% of ME/CFS patients had sleep apnea, but those who did were not significantly more ill than those without it. Both the ME/CFS and sleep apnea groups showed more psychological difficulties than healthy controls, but the researchers suggest these emotional struggles are likely a natural response to living with a chronic illness rather than a separate psychiatric condition.

SleepDiagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

An investigation into the cognitive deficits associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Thomas, Marie, Smith, Andrew·The open neurology journal·2009

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS have real problems with thinking and memory, not just imagine they do. The researchers gave a large group of properly diagnosed ME/CFS patients a thorough set of cognitive tests and found clear evidence of cognitive difficulties. Importantly, these problems were not caused by depression or anxiety, suggesting they are a direct part of the illness.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Are chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome valid clinical entities across countries and health-care settings?

Hickie, Ian, Davenport, Tracey, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry·2009

This large international study analyzed data from nearly 38,000 people across 21 countries to determine whether chronic fatigue and ME/CFS are real, recognizable conditions. Researchers found that people with these conditions share a consistent pattern of five main symptom types—muscle pain and fatigue, thinking difficulties, inflammation-related symptoms, sleep problems, and mood changes—regardless of where they live or which type of doctor they see. This consistency across different countries and healthcare settings provides strong evidence that chronic fatigue and ME/CFS are genuine medical conditions, not just psychiatric problems.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Replication of an empirical approach to delineate the heterogeneity of chronic unexplained fatigue.

Aslakson, Eric, Vollmer-Conna, Uté, Reeves, William C et al.·Population health metrics·2009

This study looked at nearly 400 women from different parts of Georgia to understand why chronic fatigue affects people so differently. Instead of treating all chronic fatigue as one disease, researchers found that people fall into five distinct groups with different symptom patterns—some with sleep and mood problems, some with weight and metabolic issues, and some without significant fatigue at all. The findings suggest that chronic fatigue is not one-size-fits-all, and doctors may need personalized approaches for different patient groups.

Sleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[Relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome and type A behaviour].

Godás Sieso, Teresa, Gómez Gil, Esther, Salamero Baró, Manel et al.·Medicina clinica·2009

This study examined whether people with ME/CFS tend to have Type A personality traits—characteristics like urgency, competitiveness, and high-striving behavior. Researchers gave 82 ME/CFS patients a personality questionnaire and found their Type A scores were notably higher than healthy people and even higher than heart disease patients. The authors suggest that Type A personality may be connected to ME/CFS and should be considered when treating the condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Demographic and clinical aspects of an Italian patient population with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Carlo-Stella, N, Cuccia, M·Reumatismo·2009

This Italian study surveyed patients diagnosed with ME/CFS to understand their symptoms and backgrounds. The researchers found that Italian patients with ME/CFS experience persistent fatigue along with symptoms that resemble infectious illnesses, neurological problems, and joint/muscle issues—similar to what has been reported in other countries.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Risk markers for both chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndromes: a prospective case-control study in primary care.

Hamilton, W T, Gallagher, A M, Thomas, J M et al.·Psychological medicine·2009

This study looked at whether ME/CFS and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share common triggers or underlying causes. Researchers compared nearly 4,400 patients with fatigue syndromes to two control groups and found that infections—especially viral infections—appeared before ME/CFS developed, while stomach infections were more common before IBS. The findings suggest that while both conditions may have similar predisposing factors, the specific triggers that cause them to develop are different.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Psychiatric comorbidity in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome identified from the Georgia population.

Nater, Urs M, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Maloney, Elizabeth M et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2009

This study looked at how often people with ME/CFS also have psychiatric conditions like depression or anxiety. Researchers called random people in Georgia and invited those who were unwell to participate. They found that 57% of people with ME/CFS had at least one current psychiatric diagnosis, compared to 45% of people with similar but milder symptoms. Importantly, most people with ME/CFS who had these psychiatric conditions hadn't seen a mental health specialist in the past 6 months.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Mental morbidities and chronic fatigue in severe acute respiratory syndrome survivors: long-term follow-up.

Lam, Marco Ho-Bun, Wing, Yun-Kwok, Yu, Mandy Wai-Man et al.·Archives of internal medicine·2009

This study followed SARS survivors for over 3 years and found that many experienced long-lasting mental health problems and severe tiredness. About 40% had psychiatric illnesses, 40% reported chronic fatigue, and 27% met criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. Healthcare workers, unemployed survivors, and those who felt socially stigmatized were at higher risk for these problems.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents: do parental expectations of their child's intellectual ability match the child's ability?

Godfrey, Emma, Cleare, Anthony, Coddington, Alice et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2009

This study looked at whether parents of teenagers with ME/CFS have unrealistic expectations about their child's intellectual abilities compared to parents of healthy teenagers. Researchers tested the actual IQ of 28 teenagers with ME/CFS and 29 healthy teenagers, and also asked them and their parents what they thought their abilities were. They found that parents of teenagers with ME/CFS believed their children were more intelligent than they actually tested, more so than parents of healthy teenagers did.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Ventricular cerebrospinal fluid lactate is increased in chronic fatigue syndrome compared with generalized anxiety disorder: an in vivo 3.0 T (1)H MRS imaging study.

Mathew, Sanjay J, Mao, Xiangling, Keegan, Kathryn A et al.·NMR in biomedicine·2009

Researchers used a specialized brain scan to measure a substance called lactate in the fluid surrounding the brain in people with ME/CFS, people with anxiety disorder, and healthy people. They found that people with ME/CFS had about three times more lactate in their brain fluid than the other groups, suggesting their brain cells may not be using energy efficiently.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Chronic fatigue syndrome: illness severity, sedentary lifestyle, blood volume and evidence of diminished cardiac function.

Hurwitz, Barry E, Coryell, Virginia T, Parker, Meela et al.·Clinical science (London, England : 1979)·2009

This study found that people with severe ME/CFS have smaller hearts and significantly less blood volume compared to healthy controls. The reduced heart size appears to be caused by having less blood circulating in their bodies, not by weak heart muscle. The researchers suggest this blood volume deficit—a condition where the body has less circulating blood than normal—may be an important factor in ME/CFS symptoms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Allodynia in migraine: association with comorbid pain conditions.

Tietjen, Gretchen E, Brandes, Jan L, Peterlin, B Lee et al.·Headache·2009

This study looked at how often migraine patients experience allodynia—pain or discomfort from things that normally wouldn't hurt, like light touch on the skin. The researchers found that 60% of migraine patients had at least one allodynic symptom, and those with allodynia were much more likely to also have other chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as depression and anxiety.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Clinical assessment of the physical activity pattern of chronic fatigue syndrome patients: a validation of three methods.

Scheeres, Korine, Knoop, Hans, Meer, van der Jos et al.·Health and quality of life outcomes·2009

This study tested three different ways to measure physical activity patterns in ME/CFS patients to see which method works best. Researchers compared a clinical interview, two questionnaires, and an objective activity monitor (actometer) in 226 patients. All three methods were reasonably accurate but had significant errors, and the questionnaire called IPAQ was best at identifying patients with low activity levels, which is important for treatment planning.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Antecedent nonbladder syndromes in case-control study of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Warren, John W, Howard, Fred M, Cross, Raymond K et al.·Urology·2009

This study compared women with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) to women without the condition to see which other illnesses appeared more often before IC/PBS developed. The researchers found that people with IC/PBS were much more likely to have had multiple other chronic conditions beforehand, particularly fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, dry mouth/eyes syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome. These conditions often clustered together, suggesting that IC/PBS might be part of a broader whole-body syndrome rather than just a bladder problem.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Neuropsychological functioning, illness perception, mood and quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune thyroid disease and healthy participants.

Dickson, A, Toft, A, O'Carroll, R E·Psychological medicine·2009

This study compared thinking and memory skills, mood, and quality of life in people with ME/CFS, people with thyroid disease, and healthy people. People with ME/CFS showed more problems with memory, attention, and concentration, plus higher levels of anxiety and depression. Importantly, the attention problems stayed even after researchers accounted for mood issues, suggesting cognitive problems are a core feature of ME/CFS rather than just a result of feeling depressed or anxious.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Barriers to healthcare utilization in fatiguing illness: a population-based study in Georgia.

Lin, Jin-Mann S, Brimmer, Dana J, Boneva, Roumiana S et al.·BMC health services research·2009

This study looked at why people with ME/CFS and other fatiguing illnesses skip or delay needed medical care. Researchers surveyed 780 people, including 112 with CFS, and found that 55% of those with CFS faced barriers to getting healthcare. The main barriers fell into three categories: trouble accessing care (like travel or scheduling), healthcare providers' attitudes and knowledge gaps, and problems with how the healthcare system itself works.

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Use of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) for assessment of personality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Anticardiolipin antibodies in the sera of patients with diagnosed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Autoantibodies, polymorphisms in the serotonin pathway, and human leukocyte antigen class II alleles in chronic fatigue syndrome: are they associated with age at onset and specific symptoms?

Sleep apnea and psychological functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome.

An investigation into the cognitive deficits associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Are chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome valid clinical entities across countries and health-care settings?

Replication of an empirical approach to delineate the heterogeneity of chronic unexplained fatigue.

[Relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome and type A behaviour].

Demographic and clinical aspects of an Italian patient population with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Risk markers for both chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndromes: a prospective case-control study in primary care.

Psychiatric comorbidity in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome identified from the Georgia population.

Mental morbidities and chronic fatigue in severe acute respiratory syndrome survivors: long-term follow-up.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents: do parental expectations of their child's intellectual ability match the child's ability?

Ventricular cerebrospinal fluid lactate is increased in chronic fatigue syndrome compared with generalized anxiety disorder: an in vivo 3.0 T (1)H MRS imaging study.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: illness severity, sedentary lifestyle, blood volume and evidence of diminished cardiac function.

Allodynia in migraine: association with comorbid pain conditions.

Clinical assessment of the physical activity pattern of chronic fatigue syndrome patients: a validation of three methods.

Antecedent nonbladder syndromes in case-control study of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Neuropsychological functioning, illness perception, mood and quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune thyroid disease and healthy participants.

Barriers to healthcare utilization in fatiguing illness: a population-based study in Georgia.

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