ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2841–2860 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The associations between basal salivary cortisol and illness symptomatology in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Torres-Harding, Susan, Sorenson, Matthew, Jason, Leonard et al.·Journal of applied biobehavioral research·2008

This study looked at cortisol, a stress hormone, in 108 people with ME/CFS to see if abnormal cortisol levels were connected to symptoms like fatigue and pain. The researchers found that people with unusual cortisol patterns—especially those who didn't show the normal daily rise and fall—reported higher levels of fatigue. While abnormal cortisol appears linked to some ME/CFS symptoms, scientists still aren't sure whether this hormonal change causes the illness or results from it.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Dynamics of sleep stage transitions in healthy humans and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kishi, Akifumi, Struzik, Zbigniew R, Natelson, Benjamin H et al.·American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology·2008

This study examined sleep patterns in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people by recording brain activity during sleep. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have disrupted transitions between different types of sleep, particularly trouble maintaining lighter sleep and REM sleep, and instead wake up more frequently. This suggests that the brain's sleep regulation mechanisms work differently in ME/CFS.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Enhanced vagal withdrawal during mild orthostatic stress in adolescents with chronic fatigue.

Wyller, Vegard Bruun, Barbieri, Riccardo, Thaulow, Erik et al.·Annals of noninvasive electrocardiology : the official journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc·2008

This study looked at how the nervous system controls heart rate in adolescents with ME/CFS, particularly during mild physical stress (tilting on a table). Researchers found that teenagers with ME/CFS showed an unusual heart rate pattern—their bodies shifted too quickly toward stress-mode responses compared to healthy teens. This suggests their autonomic nervous system, which normally helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure, may not be working properly.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

'Physical or psychological?'- a comparative study of causal attribution for chronic fatigue in Brazilian and British primary care patients.

Cho, H J, Bhugra, D, Wessely, S·Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2008

This study compared how patients with long-term unexplained fatigue in Brazil and Britain understand what caused their illness. British patients were more likely to believe their fatigue had a physical cause, while both groups experienced similar levels of disability despite their different beliefs about its origin. The findings suggest that culture and society influence how people understand and talk about their chronic fatigue.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Symptoms, impairment and illness intrusiveness--their relationship with depression in women with CFS/ME.

Dancey, Christine P, Friend, Julie·Psychology & health·2008

This study looked at how ME/CFS symptoms and daily limitations affect depression in women with the illness. The researchers found that ME/CFS is particularly intrusive—it disrupts many areas of life more than other chronic illnesses do. How much the illness disrupts daily life turned out to be the strongest predictor of whether someone develops depression, more so than the symptoms or impairments alone.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The relationship between prior psychiatric disorder and chronic fatigue: evidence from a national birth cohort study.

Harvey, S B, Wadsworth, M, Wessely, S et al.·Psychological medicine·2008

This study followed over 5,000 people from birth into their 50s to understand whether psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety occur before ME/CFS develops. Researchers found that people who experienced depression or anxiety between ages 15-36 were about 2.5 times more likely to develop ME/CFS later in life. The more severe the psychiatric symptoms were, the higher the risk of developing ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Factors associated with depression among individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome: findings from a nationally representative survey.

Fuller-Thomson, Esme, Nimigon, Jodie·Family practice·2008

This study looked at how often depression occurs in people with ME/CFS and what factors make depression more likely. Researchers surveyed over 1,000 Canadians with ME/CFS and found that about 1 in 3 people with the condition also had depression. Depression was more common in women, younger people, those with lower incomes, and those who experienced significant pain.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Negotiating the diagnostic uncertainty of contested illnesses: physician practices and paradigms.

Swoboda, Debra A·Health (London, England : 1997)·2008

This study surveyed 800 U.S. doctors to understand how they diagnose ME/CFS and similar illnesses that lack clear lab tests or agreed-upon causes. Researchers found that many doctors do diagnose these conditions, even without complete scientific consensus, by using practical strategies like consulting expert resources, ordering specific tests, and considering how the body might be affected. The study shows that doctors can rationally diagnose ME/CFS by using thoughtful decision-making processes, and that patients may benefit from seeing doctors who use these careful diagnostic approaches.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Small heart syndrome in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Miwa, Kunihisa, Fujita, Masatoshi·Clinical cardiology·2008

This study found that people with ME/CFS are more likely to have a smaller heart than healthy people. Researchers used chest X-rays and heart ultrasounds to measure heart size in 56 ME/CFS patients under age 50 and compared them to 38 healthy controls. Patients with both ME/CFS and a small heart also experienced more symptoms like dizziness when standing, cold feet, and heart rhythm irregularities.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is an under-recognized condition in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hoad, A, Spickett, G, Elliott, J et al.·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·2008

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have a condition called POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which causes the heart to beat much faster when standing up. Researchers tested 59 ME/CFS patients and compared them to 52 healthy people, measuring heart rate changes when they stood up. They found that 27% of ME/CFS patients had POTS, compared to only 9% of healthy controls, suggesting this condition is common but often missed in ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Diffuse noxious inhibitory control is delayed in chronic fatigue syndrome: an experimental study.

Meeus, Mira, Nijs, Jo, Van de Wauwer, Naomi et al.·Pain·2008

This study tested how quickly the body's natural pain-blocking system kicks in when ME/CFS patients experience heat pain compared to healthy people. Researchers immersed participants' arms in warm water and tracked pain levels over time. They found that people with ME/CFS have stronger pain sensations overall, and their bodies take longer to activate the natural pain-suppression mechanism that normally reduces pain during ongoing stimulation.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The prevalence of generalized soft tissue rheumatic conditions in Turkish medical students.

Eyigor, Sibel, Ozdedeli, Selcen, Durmaz, Berrin·Journal of clinical rheumatology : practical reports on rheumatic & musculoskeletal diseases·2008

This study looked at how common soft tissue pain conditions—including fibromyalgia, muscle pain, and joint hypermobility—are among medical students in Turkey. Researchers found that about 1 in 5 students had one of these conditions, with women affected much more often than men. Students with these conditions reported lower quality of life, especially in physical functioning and energy levels.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleep structure and sleepiness in chronic fatigue syndrome with or without coexisting fibromyalgia.

Togo, Fumiharu, Natelson, Benjamin H, Cherniack, Neil S et al.·Arthritis research & therapy·2008

This study looked at sleep patterns in people with ME/CFS, comparing those with and without fibromyalgia to healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had worse sleep quality and felt more tired and sleepy after sleeping than healthy controls. The key finding was that some ME/CFS patients experienced frequent sleep interruptions—their sleep kept getting broken up—which made their sleep feel unrefreshing even though they didn't have diagnosable sleep disorders like sleep apnea.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Prevalence of chronic widespread pain and chronic fatigue syndrome in Korean livestock raisers.

Kim, Seong-Ho, Lee, Kwan, Lim, Hyun-Sul·Journal of occupational health·2008

This study looked at how common chronic widespread pain and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are among Korean livestock farmers. Researchers surveyed farmers to understand whether their work environments and conditions might be connected to these conditions. The study helps show that ME/CFS affects not just office workers, but also people in physically demanding jobs like farming.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Increase in prefrontal cortical volume following cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

de Lange, Floris P, Koers, Anda, Kalkman, Joke S et al.·Brain : a journal of neurology·2008

This study found that ME/CFS patients have less brain tissue volume in certain areas compared to healthy people, but this loss can partially reverse with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Patients who received CBT showed improvement in their symptoms, physical activity, and thinking speed, and their brain scans revealed increased grey matter volume in the prefrontal cortex (the front part of the brain involved in decision-making). This suggests that some of the brain changes seen in ME/CFS may not be permanent and could improve with effective treatment.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Low-grade inflammation and arterial wave reflection in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Spence, Vance A, Kennedy, Gwen, Belch, Jill J F et al.·Clinical science (London, England : 1979)·2008

This study found that people with ME/CFS have stiffer arteries and higher levels of inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage) compared to healthy people. These cardiovascular changes are associated with each other and may increase the risk of future heart problems in people with ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Gait characteristics of subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome and controls at self-selected and matched velocities.

Paul, Lorna, Rafferty, Danny, Wood, Leslie et al.·Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation·2008

People with ME/CFS often walk differently than healthy people. Researchers tracked how 12 people with ME/CFS and 12 healthy controls walked, measuring their leg and ankle movements. People with ME/CFS walked slower and had different ankle movements, especially when walking at their own comfortable pace.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: testing popular hypotheses using a national birth cohort study.

Harvey, Samuel B, Wadsworth, Michael, Wessely, Simon et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2008

This study followed nearly 5,000 people from birth into their 50s to understand what causes ME/CFS. Researchers found that people who exercised more throughout their life—and continued exercising even as they felt increasingly tired—were more likely to develop ME/CFS later on. The study suggests that continuing to push yourself physically while experiencing growing fatigue may play a role in developing this condition.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic pain and fatigue: Associations with religion and spirituality.

Baetz, M, Bowen, R·Pain research & management·2008

This study looked at whether religion and spiritual beliefs affect how people experience chronic pain and fatigue, including ME/CFS. Using data from over 37,000 Canadians, researchers found that people who actively practice religion had fewer chronic pain and fatigue symptoms, while those who were spiritual but didn't attend religious services were more likely to have these conditions. People with chronic pain and fatigue often used prayer and spiritual support to cope, and those combining both religion and spirituality reported better emotional well-being.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Evidence for T-helper 2 shift and association with illness parameters in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Torres-Harding, Susan, Sorenson, Matthew, Jason, Leonard A et al.·Bulletin of the IACFS/ME·2008

This study looked at immune system differences in people with ME/CFS by measuring two types of immune cells called Th1 and Th2. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS who had a stronger shift toward Th2 immune responses also reported worse sleep quality and had higher stress hormone levels in their saliva. This suggests that immune system imbalances might be connected to some of the troubling symptoms people with ME/CFS experience.

Immune System

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The associations between basal salivary cortisol and illness symptomatology in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Dynamics of sleep stage transitions in healthy humans and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Enhanced vagal withdrawal during mild orthostatic stress in adolescents with chronic fatigue.

'Physical or psychological?'- a comparative study of causal attribution for chronic fatigue in Brazilian and British primary care patients.

Symptoms, impairment and illness intrusiveness--their relationship with depression in women with CFS/ME.

The relationship between prior psychiatric disorder and chronic fatigue: evidence from a national birth cohort study.

Factors associated with depression among individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome: findings from a nationally representative survey.

Negotiating the diagnostic uncertainty of contested illnesses: physician practices and paradigms.

Small heart syndrome in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is an under-recognized condition in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Diffuse noxious inhibitory control is delayed in chronic fatigue syndrome: an experimental study.

The prevalence of generalized soft tissue rheumatic conditions in Turkish medical students.

Sleep structure and sleepiness in chronic fatigue syndrome with or without coexisting fibromyalgia.

Prevalence of chronic widespread pain and chronic fatigue syndrome in Korean livestock raisers.

Increase in prefrontal cortical volume following cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Low-grade inflammation and arterial wave reflection in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gait characteristics of subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome and controls at self-selected and matched velocities.

Etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: testing popular hypotheses using a national birth cohort study.

Chronic pain and fatigue: Associations with religion and spirituality.

Evidence for T-helper 2 shift and association with illness parameters in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

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