ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

301–320 of 6,122 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhang, Qing, Gong, Jing, Dong, Haoxu et al.·Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·2019

This review examined 16 studies testing whether acupuncture helps people with ME/CFS. The researchers found that acupuncture appeared to reduce fatigue more than fake acupuncture or herbal medicine treatments. However, most studies had quality problems, so the results may not be reliable, and the authors say we need better-designed studies before drawing firm conclusions.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Evidence of altered cardiac autonomic regulation in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nelson, Maximillian J, Bahl, Jasvir S, Buckley, Jonathan D et al.·Medicine·2019

This study looked at how the hearts of people with ME/CFS respond differently compared to healthy people, focusing on heart rate and its patterns. Researchers reviewed 64 previous studies and found that ME/CFS patients tend to have higher resting heart rates, unusual heart rate responses to position changes, and different patterns in heart rate variability (the natural variation in time between heartbeats). These findings suggest that the nervous system that controls heart function may work differently in people with ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Identification of mental health and quality of life outcomes in primary care databases in the UK: a systematic review.

Carreira, Helena, Williams, Rachael, Strongman, Helen et al.·BMJ open·2019

Researchers reviewed 120 studies that used UK patient medical records to track mental health and quality of life problems like depression, anxiety, fatigue, and cognitive issues. They found that different studies used different definitions and coding systems to identify these conditions, making it hard to compare results across studies. The authors recommend that researchers agree on standard definitions and validated code lists so findings are more consistent and reliable.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleepPain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Psychological impact of fibromyalgia: current perspectives.

Galvez-Sánchez, Carmen M, Duschek, Stefan, Reyes Del Paso, Gustavo A·Psychology research and behavior management·2019

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that often comes with fatigue, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating. This review found that people with fibromyalgia frequently experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, and these psychological symptoms can make the physical illness worse. The study suggests that combining talk therapy or other psychological support with medication may help patients feel better and improve their quality of life.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Epigenetic Components of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Uncover Potential Transposable Element Activation.

Almenar-Pérez, Eloy, Ovejero, Tamara, Sánchez-Fito, Teresa et al.·Clinical therapeutics·2019

This study reviewed research on how ME/CFS may involve changes in how genes are regulated, not the genes themselves. The researchers discovered that dormant DNA sequences called transposable elements—which make up almost half of our genome and were previously thought to be 'junk DNA'—might become activated in ME/CFS patients. This activation could trigger the immune system to attack without an actual infection present.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Pathophysiology of interstitial cystitis.

Birder, Lori A·International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association·2019

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic bladder pain condition with no clear cause and no universally accepted treatment. This review examines how bladder pain occurs without obvious damage to bladder tissue or nerves, and notes that patients with this condition often have overlapping symptoms with other chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers use animal models and look for biomarkers in urine to better understand the condition and develop new treatments.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

How have selection bias and disease misclassification undermined the validity of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome studies?

Nacul, Luis, Lacerda, Eliana M, Kingdon, Caroline C et al.·Journal of health psychology·2019

This study examines why ME/CFS research has been inconsistent and controversial. The main problem is that doctors and researchers use different definitions to diagnose ME/CFS, which means different groups of patients are studied in different research projects. The authors explain how using clearer, more consistent diagnostic criteria could help researchers better understand the disease and make progress in finding treatments.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Fatigue, Sleep, and Autoimmune and Related Disorders.

Zielinski, Mark R, Systrom, David M, Rose, Noel R·Frontiers in immunology·2019

Severe fatigue is one of the most disabling symptoms reported by people with autoimmune diseases, including ME/CFS. This review examines how inflammation and the brain contribute to fatigue in these conditions. The authors explain that fatigue involves multiple body systems—including energy supply, metabolism, mood, and sleep—all of which can be disrupted by inflammation.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Peak Oxygen Uptake in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Meta-Analysis.

Franklin, John Derek, Atkinson, Greg, Atkinson, Janet M et al.·International journal of sports medicine·2019

This research review analyzed 32 studies comparing how much oxygen people with ME/CFS can use during maximum exercise compared to healthy people. On average, people with ME/CFS used about 5 milliliters less oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute than healthy controls—a meaningful difference that likely affects real-world functioning. This reduced oxygen capacity is one of the measurable physical differences between ME/CFS patients and healthy individuals.

ME/CFS (general)

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Invisible Burden of Chronic Fatigue in the Community: a Narrative Review.

Fatt, Scott J, Cvejic, Erin, Lloyd, Andrew R et al.·Current rheumatology reports·2019

This review looked at research comparing three levels of tiredness: prolonged fatigue (lasting 1-6 months), chronic fatigue (lasting over 6 months), and ME/CFS (a more severe condition). The authors found that people with chronic fatigue and ME/CFS report very similar struggles with physical symptoms, emotional challenges, and difficulty with daily activities. However, researchers still don't understand why some people's fatigue gets worse and develops into ME/CFS while others' doesn't.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the biopsychosocial model: a review of patient harm and distress in the medical encounter.

Geraghty, Keith J, Blease, Charlotte·Disability and rehabilitation·2019

This review examines why many ME/CFS patients feel harmed or upset after seeing doctors. The researchers found seven main problems: difficulty getting diagnosed, being misdiagnosed with other conditions, trouble accessing medical support, poor quality of care, negative experiences with treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise programs, doctors not believing patients' descriptions of their illness, and emotional distress. The authors suggest that doctors should listen more carefully to patients and adopt approaches centered on what patients actually experience.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Pathological Mechanisms Underlying Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Missailidis, Daniel, Annesley, Sarah J, Fisher, Paul R·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2019

ME/CFS is a complex condition affecting multiple body systems, and researchers are working to understand what causes it. This review shows that evidence points to problems in the immune system, nervous system, muscle function, metabolism, and gut health in ME/CFS patients. Because patients experience different symptoms and may develop the condition in different ways, finding reliable diagnostic tests remains a key challenge that researchers are actively pursuing.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

A systematic review of natural killer cells profile and cytotoxic function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, du Preez, Stanley, Cabanas, Hélène et al.·Systematic reviews·2019

This review examined research on natural killer cells, which are immune cells that help fight infections and abnormal cells in the body. Scientists found that people with ME/CFS consistently have natural killer cells that don't work as well as they should. This discovery was the most reliable and consistent finding across all the studies reviewed, suggesting it could be an important marker for understanding ME/CFS.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Child and adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: where are we now?

Gregorowski, Anna, Simpson, Jane, Segal, Terry Y·Current opinion in pediatrics·2019

This review looked at what we currently know about ME/CFS in children and teenagers, including what might cause it, how it affects their lives, and what treatments might help. The researchers found that ME/CFS is a serious condition that varies greatly from person to person, and that we still don't fully understand what causes it or have proven treatments that work for everyone. They highlight that more research is urgently needed, especially to help the most severely affected young people.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

A systematic review of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis/systemic exertion intolerance disease (CFS/ME/SEID).

Corbitt, Matthew, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Staines, Donald et al.·BMC neurology·2019

Researchers reviewed 15 studies that measured immune signaling molecules called cytokines in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Although many studies have looked at cytokines in ME/CFS, the results were too mixed and inconsistent to show that cytokines could be used as a reliable test for the condition or to confirm a clear role in causing the disease.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Post-bacterial infection chronic fatigue syndrome is not a latent infection.

Melenotte, Cléa, Drancourt, Michel, Gorvel, Jean Pierre et al.·Medecine et maladies infectieuses·2019

This review examined whether bacteria that stay dormant (inactive) in the body after an infection could cause chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. The researchers looked at scientific evidence and found no proof that dormant bacteria cause the ongoing fatigue and other symptoms people experience after bacterial infections. The study suggests that psychological trauma and unknown causes may play a role in post-infection fatigue, rather than persistent bacterial infection.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The clinical value of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Yang, Tiansong, Yang, Yan, Wang, Delong et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2019

This review examined whether immune system signaling molecules called cytokines could help doctors diagnose or treat ME/CFS. While researchers found that cytokines are abnormal in ME/CFS patients' blood and fluid around the brain, the current evidence shows these markers are not reliable enough to use alone for diagnosis. The review suggests that measuring multiple cytokines together might help doctors better understand what's happening in individual patients, but cytokines are not yet proven as effective treatment targets.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Larun, Lillebeth, Brurberg, Kjetil G, Odgaard-Jensen, Jan et al.·The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2019

This review looked at whether exercise therapy helps people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that exercise probably reduces tiredness compared to usual care, and may slightly improve physical function and sleep. However, the long-term benefits are unclear, and the evidence comparing exercise to other treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy is limited.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Anti-Inflammatory Diets and Fatigue.

Haß, Ulrike, Herpich, Catrin, Norman, Kristina·Nutrients·2019

This review looked at whether eating anti-inflammatory foods—like whole grains, vegetables rich in plant compounds, and omega-3 fatty acids—might help reduce fatigue in people with chronic illnesses. The researchers examined 21 human studies and found that while single nutrients alone showed mixed results, eating a balanced diet with these whole foods showed promise for improving fatigue. However, more research is still needed to confirm these findings.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review.

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Alexandra·Health psychology open·2019

This study reviewed research on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for ME/CFS and found that it helps only a small number of patients with mild symptoms experience temporary subjective fatigue improvement. The improvement didn't translate into better physical fitness, job status, or disability benefits. Safety concerns were largely unreported in the original studies, but patient reports suggest about 1 in 5 people experienced negative outcomes.

Interventions

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Evidence of altered cardiac autonomic regulation in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Identification of mental health and quality of life outcomes in primary care databases in the UK: a systematic review.

Psychological impact of fibromyalgia: current perspectives.

Epigenetic Components of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Uncover Potential Transposable Element Activation.

Pathophysiology of interstitial cystitis.

How have selection bias and disease misclassification undermined the validity of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome studies?

Fatigue, Sleep, and Autoimmune and Related Disorders.

Peak Oxygen Uptake in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Meta-Analysis.

The Invisible Burden of Chronic Fatigue in the Community: a Narrative Review.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the biopsychosocial model: a review of patient harm and distress in the medical encounter.

Pathological Mechanisms Underlying Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

A systematic review of natural killer cells profile and cytotoxic function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Child and adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: where are we now?

A systematic review of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis/systemic exertion intolerance disease (CFS/ME/SEID).

Post-bacterial infection chronic fatigue syndrome is not a latent infection.

The clinical value of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Anti-Inflammatory Diets and Fatigue.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research