ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2961–2980 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Urinary cortisol and cortisol metabolite excretion in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jerjes, Walid K, Taylor, Norman F, Peters, Timothy J et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2006

This study measured stress hormone levels in urine from people with ME/CFS and healthy controls to see if ME/CFS patients produce less cortisol (a hormone made during stress). The researchers found no major difference in total cortisol output between the two groups when measuring both cortisol and its breakdown products, though free cortisol levels were slightly lower in patients and related to fatigue severity.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Coping styles in people with chronic fatigue syndrome identified from the general population of Wichita, KS.

Nater, Urs M, Wagner, Dieter, Solomon, Laura et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2006

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS cope with their illness compared to people without ME/CFS. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS tend to use more escape-avoiding coping strategies (like avoidance or wishful thinking) than healthy controls. Interestingly, people with unexplained fatigue that didn't meet full ME/CFS criteria used similar coping styles to those with ME/CFS, suggesting this pattern may be common across fatiguing illnesses.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Post-infective and chronic fatigue syndromes precipitated by viral and non-viral pathogens: prospective cohort study.

Hickie, Ian, Davenport, Tracey, Wakefield, Denis et al.·BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2006

This study followed 253 people in Australia who had three different infections (glandular fever, Q fever, and a virus causing joint pain) to see how many developed long-lasting fatigue and related symptoms. About 11% of people met the diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome six months after infection, experiencing disabling fatigue, pain, thinking difficulties, and mood changes. The researchers found that the severity of the initial infection—not personality type, prior health, or the specific germ involved—was the main predictor of who would develop prolonged illness.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Lower serum zinc in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): relationships to immune dysfunctions and relevance for the oxidative stress status in CFS.

Maes, Michael, Mihaylova, Ivana, De Ruyter, Marcel·Journal of affective disorders·2006

This study found that people with ME/CFS have lower levels of zinc in their blood compared to healthy people. The lower the zinc level, the worse some symptoms were, especially feelings of infection. Zinc helps protect the body from harmful molecules called free radicals, so low zinc may be one reason why ME/CFS involves increased stress and damage in the body.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Influence of melatonin on fatigue severity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and late melatonin secretion.

van Heukelom, R O, Prins, J B, Smits, M G et al.·European journal of neurology·2006

This study tested whether melatonin could help reduce fatigue in ME/CFS patients who have a delayed internal body clock. Twenty-nine patients took 5 mg of melatonin for 3 months timed to their natural sleep-wake rhythm, and researchers measured changes in their fatigue using a validated questionnaire. The treatment improved fatigue, concentration, motivation, and activity levels, with the biggest improvements seen in patients whose body clocks were most delayed.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Generalized joint hypermobility is more common in chronic fatigue syndrome than in healthy control subjects.

Nijs, Jo, Aerts, Annemie, De Meirleir, Kenny·Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics·2006

This study found that people with ME/CFS are about 5 times more likely than healthy people to have loose, overly flexible joints (joint hypermobility). Researchers tested 68 ME/CFS patients and 69 healthy volunteers using physical exams and knee movement tests. Most ME/CFS patients in the study had joint hypermobility, but surprisingly, this looseness did not seem to be connected to how much pain they experienced.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

To "lump" or to "split" the functional somatic syndromes: can infectious and emotional risk factors differentiate between the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome?

Moss-Morris, Rona, Spence, Meagan·Psychosomatic medicine·2006

This study followed nearly 600 people who had food poisoning and 240 people who had infectious mononucleosis to see which infections were more likely to lead to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). They found that food poisoning was more likely to trigger IBS, while mononucleosis was more likely to trigger CFS. Anxiety and depression before infection were stronger predictors of developing CFS, while the type of infection itself was the strongest predictor of IBS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Azithromycin in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), an analysis of clinical data.

Vermeulen, Ruud C W, Scholte, Hans R·Journal of translational medicine·2006

This study looked at whether azithromycin, an antibiotic with immune-modulating properties, could help ME/CFS patients. Researchers reviewed medical records from 99 patients who tried azithromycin after other treatments weren't sufficient. About 58 patients (roughly 59%) reported feeling better, and these responders had lower levels of a substance called acetylcarnitine in their blood.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Sub-typing CFS patients on the basis of 'minor' symptoms.

Janal, Malvin N, Ciccone, Donald S, Natelson, Benjamin H·Biological psychology·2006

This study looked at 161 women with ME/CFS to see if different symptom patterns might point to different types of the illness. Researchers found three possible subtypes: one involving muscle and joint pain, one resembling infectious illness, and one affecting the brain and thinking. People with the brain-related subtype had more trouble with memory and attention, while those with the muscle/joint subtype were more likely to also have fibromyalgia.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Evaluation of maximal exercise performance, fatigue, and depression in athletes with acquired chronic training intolerance.

St Clair Gibson, A, Grobler, L A, Collins, M et al.·Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine·2006

This study looked at athletes who reported unusual tiredness and couldn't train like they normally could, even though their bodies seemed to work normally during fitness tests. Researchers found that these athletes' muscles and heart/lung capacity were just as strong as athletes without fatigue problems, but they had higher scores for depression and mood problems. The study suggests that the excessive tiredness these athletes felt might be connected to depression rather than a physical problem with their muscles or fitness.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

[Favourable results of a rehabilitation programme with cognitive behavioural therapy and graded physical activity in patients with the chronic-fatigue syndrome].

Torenbeek, M, Mes, C A J, van Liere, M J et al.·Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde·2006

Researchers tested whether a rehabilitation program combining cognitive behavioral therapy (talking-based therapy to change thought patterns) and gradually increased physical activity could help ME/CFS patients feel less fatigued and function better. After completing the program, 70% of patients reported less fatigue, 68% experienced less disability, and 55% had improved physical function, though some patients did not improve.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome and high allostatic load.

Maloney, Elizabeth M, Gurbaxani, Brian M, Jones, James F et al.·Pharmacogenomics·2006

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have higher "allostatic load"—a measure of how much physical stress the body is under based on things like blood pressure, cortisol levels, and waist-to-hip ratio. Researchers compared 43 ME/CFS patients to 60 healthy people and found that ME/CFS patients were about twice as likely to have high allostatic load. This suggests that ME/CFS may involve ongoing physical stress on the body's systems.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Diurnal excretion of urinary cortisol, cortisone, and cortisol metabolites in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jerjes, Walid K, Peters, Timothy J, Taylor, Norman F et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2006

This study measured stress hormone levels in urine samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people throughout the day. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had lower levels of certain stress hormones (cortisol and cortisone) compared to healthy controls, though the daily pattern of these hormones was normal. Interestingly, when they looked at other related hormone measurements, they didn't see the same difference, which suggests the stress response system may not be working as hard in ME/CFS.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Long-term outcomes of an integrative rehabilitation program on quality of life: a follow-up study.

Taylor, Renee R, Thanawala, Sachi G, Shiraishi, Yukiko et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2006

This study tested whether a counseling program could improve quality of life for people with ME/CFS. Twenty-three participants attended 8 group sessions about managing their illness, followed by 7 months of one-on-one counseling. When researchers checked in at multiple points over a year, they found that people reported better quality of life for up to 12 months after completing the program.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Activation of human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chapenko, S, Krumina, A, Kozireva, S et al.·Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology·2006

This study looked at whether two common viruses (HHV-6 and HHV-7) that usually stay dormant in the body might be reactivating in people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS were more likely to have both viruses active at the same time, and when both were active, their immune cells showed signs of stress. This suggests these viruses might play a role in ME/CFS, though the study cannot prove they cause the disease.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Probing the working memory system in chronic fatigue syndrome: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study using the n-back task.

Caseras, Xavier, Mataix-Cols, David, Giampietro, Vincent et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2006

Researchers used brain imaging to study how people with ME/CFS perform memory tasks. Although patients and healthy people did equally well on the tasks, their brains used different patterns of activity—patients showed unusual activation in certain brain regions during easier tasks and reduced activity in key memory areas during harder tasks. This suggests that people with ME/CFS may need to work harder mentally to achieve the same results.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The management of children with chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness in primary care: a cross-sectional study.

Saidi, Guitta, Haines, Linda·The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·2006

This study looked at how family doctors (GPs) in the UK identify and care for children and teenagers with ME/CFS-like illness in their regular clinics. Researchers reviewed medical records and patient experiences from 116 young people with severe fatigue lasting over 3 months. Most were girls around age 13, and their illness had lasted several years. The study found that GPs diagnosed about half of them with CFS/ME, often within 6 months, and referred most patients to specialists or suggested strategies like pacing and graded exercise.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Differential diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder.

Hawk, Caroline, Jason, Leonard A, Torres-Harding, Susan·International journal of behavioral medicine·2006

This study compared people with ME/CFS, people with depression, and healthy controls to find which symptoms best tell these conditions apart. Researchers found that post-exertional malaise (worsening after activity), unrefreshing sleep, and memory problems were the strongest differences. When they used a combination of symptoms including fatigue duration and severity of various symptoms, they could correctly identify which group each person belonged to nearly 100% of the time.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Premorbid predictors of chronic fatigue.

Kato, Kenji, Sullivan, Patrick F, Evengård, Birgitta et al.·Archives of general psychiatry·2006

This study looked at whether stress and personality traits before someone got sick could predict who would develop chronic fatigue later. Researchers followed nearly 20,000 Swedish twins for 25+ years, measuring their stress levels and personalities in the 1970s, then checking in the late 1990s to see who had developed chronic fatigue-like illness. They found that people who reported higher stress before getting sick were significantly more likely to develop chronic fatigue, though genetic factors played an important role in this relationship.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Linkages between goal attainment and quality of life for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Query, Michelle, Taylor, Renée R·Occupational therapy in health care·2006

This study looked at whether setting and achieving personal goals could improve quality of life for people with ME/CFS. Forty-seven participants attended eight group sessions where they set goals and tracked their progress. The researchers found that people who made progress toward their goals reported better quality of life, regardless of how severe their fatigue or other symptoms were.

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Urinary cortisol and cortisol metabolite excretion in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Coping styles in people with chronic fatigue syndrome identified from the general population of Wichita, KS.

Post-infective and chronic fatigue syndromes precipitated by viral and non-viral pathogens: prospective cohort study.

Lower serum zinc in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): relationships to immune dysfunctions and relevance for the oxidative stress status in CFS.

Influence of melatonin on fatigue severity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and late melatonin secretion.

Generalized joint hypermobility is more common in chronic fatigue syndrome than in healthy control subjects.

To "lump" or to "split" the functional somatic syndromes: can infectious and emotional risk factors differentiate between the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome?

Azithromycin in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), an analysis of clinical data.

Sub-typing CFS patients on the basis of 'minor' symptoms.

Evaluation of maximal exercise performance, fatigue, and depression in athletes with acquired chronic training intolerance.

[Favourable results of a rehabilitation programme with cognitive behavioural therapy and graded physical activity in patients with the chronic-fatigue syndrome].

Chronic fatigue syndrome and high allostatic load.

Diurnal excretion of urinary cortisol, cortisone, and cortisol metabolites in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Long-term outcomes of an integrative rehabilitation program on quality of life: a follow-up study.

Activation of human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Probing the working memory system in chronic fatigue syndrome: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study using the n-back task.

The management of children with chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness in primary care: a cross-sectional study.

Differential diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder.

Premorbid predictors of chronic fatigue.

Linkages between goal attainment and quality of life for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

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