ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3061–3080 of 6,161 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Physiological responses during a submaximal cycle test in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wallman, Karen E, Morton, Alan R, Goodman, Carmel et al.·Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2004

This study compared how people with ME/CFS and healthy people without the condition respond to exercise on a stationary bike. The main finding was that people with ME/CFS felt much more exhausted during the same amount of exercise, and they couldn't exercise as hard before becoming tired. Both groups were matched carefully so they had similar activity levels before the study, which makes the comparison more fair.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Subjective and objective sleepiness in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Watson, Nathaniel F, Jacobsen, Clemma, Goldberg, Jack et al.·Sleep·2004

This study compared sleepiness in identical twins where one had ME/CFS and one did not. People with ME/CFS reported feeling much more sleepy on questionnaires, but when researchers measured how quickly they fell asleep in a lab test, both groups fell asleep at similar speeds. The researchers suggest that people with ME/CFS may be confusing their chronic exhaustion with sleepiness.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cellular and humoral immune abnormalities in Gulf War veterans.

Vojdani, Aristo, Thrasher, Jack D·Environmental health perspectives·2004

Researchers compared immune system markers in 100 Gulf War veterans with symptoms to 100 healthy controls. They found that Gulf War veterans had lower natural killer cell activity, higher B cells, more immune complexes, and stronger antibody responses to multiple viruses—changes that persisted 2–8 years after the war. These findings suggest that Gulf War syndrome involves multiple immune system abnormalities similar to those seen in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Death of a lifestyle: the effects of social support and healthcare support on the quality of life of persons with fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Schoofs, Nancy, Bambini, Deborah, Ronning, Pamela et al.·Orthopedic nursing·2004

This study looked at how relationships with family, friends, and healthcare providers affect quality of life for people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers found that having strong social support from loved ones was linked to better quality of life, but surprisingly, support from healthcare providers was not strongly connected to this outcome. The study also showed that many people with these conditions don't feel they have enough social support.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Cognitive processing in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mahurin, Roderick K, Claypoole, Keith H, Goldberg, Jack H et al.·Neuropsychology·2004

This study tested thinking and processing speed in identical twins where one had ME/CFS and one didn't, compared to healthy people without the condition. Researchers found that both twin groups—even the healthy ones—were slower at tasks requiring quick thinking compared to unrelated healthy controls, but both groups performed equally well on untimed thinking tasks. This suggests that slower processing speed may run in families rather than being caused by ME/CFS itself.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Objective assessment of personality disorder in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Henderson, Max, Tannock, Charles·Journal of psychosomatic research·2004

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have personality traits that might be associated with mental health conditions. Researchers interviewed 61 ME/CFS patients, 40 people with depression, and 45 healthy students using a structured clinical assessment tool. They found that 39% of ME/CFS patients had identifiable personality patterns, which was higher than healthy people but lower than those with depression—and importantly, this wasn't simply explained by having depression alongside ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Alcohol use in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Woolley, James, Allen, Roz, Wessely, Simon·Journal of psychosomatic research·2004

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS relate to alcohol. Researchers surveyed 114 patients and found that about two-thirds reduced or stopped drinking alcohol after getting ME/CFS. The main reasons were that alcohol made their tiredness worse (67%), caused more nausea (33%), made hangovers worse (23%), and disturbed sleep (24%). Most people made this decision based on their own experience rather than medical advice.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Illness and disability in Danish Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients at diagnosis and 5-year follow-up.

Andersen, M M, Permin, H, Albrecht, F·Journal of psychosomatic research·2004

This study followed 33 people with ME/CFS for 5 years to see how their illness affected their daily lives. Researchers found that most people remained severely disabled, with very few experiencing meaningful recovery. While emotional well-being sometimes improved over time, problems like difficulty reading and allergies often got worse.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Electrodermal dissociation of chronic fatigue and depression: evidence for distinct physiological mechanisms.

Pazderka-Robinson, Hannah, Morrison, James W, Flor-Henry, Pierre·International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·2004

This study looked at how the bodies of people with ME/CFS and people with depression respond differently to their surroundings. Researchers measured skin conductance (how easily electricity travels across the skin) and skin temperature while participants performed a task. They found that people with ME/CFS had notably lower skin conductance levels and higher skin temperature compared to people with depression and healthy controls, suggesting these are two different conditions with different underlying biology.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Salivary cortisol response to awakening in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Roberts, Amanda D L, Wessely, Simon, Chalder, Trudie et al.·The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·2004

This study tested how well the body's stress response system (controlled by the brain and hormones) works in ME/CFS patients. Researchers measured cortisol, a stress hormone, in saliva when people first woke up and for an hour afterward. They found that people with ME/CFS had a weaker cortisol response compared to healthy people, suggesting their stress-response system may not be working properly.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Regional prevalence of fatiguing illnesses in the United States before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Heim, Christine, Bierl, Cynthia, Nisenbaum, Rosane et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2004

This study examined whether severe fatigue and ME/CFS-like illness were more or less common in different U.S. regions before and after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Researchers interviewed over 7,000 people about fatigue symptoms and found that reported cases of prolonged fatigue and chronic fatigue actually decreased after the attacks, which was unexpected. The authors suggest that the extreme stress of the attacks may have temporarily changed how people experienced or reported fatigue symptoms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and cortisol in both menstrual phases of women with chronic fatigue syndrome and effect of depressive mood on these hormones.

Cevik, Remzi, Gur, Ali, Acar, Suat et al.·BMC musculoskeletal disorders·2004

This study examined hormone levels in women with ME/CFS, focusing on hormones that control the menstrual cycle and stress response. Researchers found that women with ME/CFS had lower stress hormone (cortisol) levels than healthy women, while menstrual cycle hormones were normal. Depression symptoms did not change these hormone patterns.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Neuropsychological deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Busichio, Kim, Tiersky, Lana A, Deluca, John et al.·Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·2004

This study tested how thinking and memory work in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers gave 141 ME/CFS patients and 76 healthy volunteers a series of brain function tests. They found that ME/CFS patients performed noticeably worse on tests measuring attention, processing speed, and motor skills, with some showing significant difficulties across multiple areas.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Factor analysis of symptoms among subjects with unexplained chronic fatigue: what can we learn about chronic fatigue syndrome?

Nisenbaum, Rosane, Reyes, Michele, Unger, Elizabeth R et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2004

This study looked at 1,391 people with unexplained chronic fatigue to understand which symptoms tend to occur together. Researchers found that ME/CFS symptoms cluster into three main groups: muscle and joint pain, infection-like symptoms, and problems with thinking, mood, and sleep. Interestingly, people with and without an ME/CFS diagnosis had significant overlap in these symptoms, suggesting that ME/CFS exists on a spectrum rather than as a completely distinct condition.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Factors influencing the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Solomon, Laura, Reeves, William C·Archives of internal medicine·2004

Researchers in Wichita, Kansas identified people with ME/CFS symptoms from the general population and found that only 16% had ever been diagnosed with the condition by a doctor. People were more likely to have received a diagnosis if they had moderate income, developed fatigue suddenly, or had tender lymph nodes and sore throat. This suggests that most people with ME/CFS in the community are never formally diagnosed.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Perceived stigma in functional somatic syndromes and comparable medical conditions.

Looper, Karl J, Kirmayer, Laurence J·Journal of psychosomatic research·2004

This study compared how stigmatized patients felt when living with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, or IBS compared to patients with similar-sounding conditions that have clearer medical tests (like MS, rheumatoid arthritis, or inflammatory bowel disease). ME/CFS patients reported feeling more stigma than MS patients, but fibromyalgia and IBS patients did not feel significantly more stigmatized than their comparison groups. The researchers suggest that ME/CFS may feel more stigmatizing because its medical status is less clearly understood by the public and medical community.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Health effects of dental amalgam exposure: a retrospective cohort study.

Bates, Michael N, Fawcett, Jackie, Garrett, Nick et al.·International journal of epidemiology·2004

This study looked at whether mercury in dental fillings causes health problems like chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, or Alzheimer's disease. Researchers tracked 20,000 New Zealand Defence Force members for about 20 years and compared how many dental fillings they received to whether they developed these illnesses. The study found no link between dental fillings and chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting that amalgam fillings are unlikely to cause ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Determination of fatty acid levels in erythrocyte membranes of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Liu, Zhandong, Wang, Dexin, Xue, Qiming et al.·Nutritional neuroscience·2003

This study looked at the levels of different types of fatty acids in the red blood cells of people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had lower levels of two important fatty acids (arachidonic acid and docosahexanoic acid) but higher levels of two others (palmitic acid and oleic acid). The researchers suggested this imbalance might be caused by oxidative stress damaging these fatty acids in the body.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Unexplained fatigue syndromes in a multinational primary care sample: specificity of definition and prevalence and distinctiveness from depression and generalized anxiety.

Skapinakis, Petros, Lewis, Glyn, Mavreas, Venetsanos·The American journal of psychiatry·2003

This study looked at how different definitions of unexplained fatigue affect how many people are diagnosed and whether they also have depression or anxiety. Researchers interviewed over 5,400 primary care patients from 14 countries and found that when they required more physical symptoms in addition to fatigue, fewer people were diagnosed, but those diagnosed were more likely to also have depression or anxiety.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Psychiatric adjustment in chronic fatigue syndrome of childhood and in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Rangel, L, Garralda, M E, Hall, A et al.·Psychological medicine·2003

This study compared psychiatric and emotional problems in children with ME/CFS versus children with juvenile arthritis, another serious chronic illness. Children with ME/CFS had significantly more depression, anxiety, and personality difficulties than the arthritis group, even though both groups faced similar challenges from living with chronic illness. This suggests that ME/CFS may involve specific factors that increase psychiatric risk beyond what chronic illness alone would explain.

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Physiological responses during a submaximal cycle test in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Subjective and objective sleepiness in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cellular and humoral immune abnormalities in Gulf War veterans.

Death of a lifestyle: the effects of social support and healthcare support on the quality of life of persons with fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cognitive processing in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Objective assessment of personality disorder in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Alcohol use in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Illness and disability in Danish Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients at diagnosis and 5-year follow-up.

Electrodermal dissociation of chronic fatigue and depression: evidence for distinct physiological mechanisms.

Salivary cortisol response to awakening in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Regional prevalence of fatiguing illnesses in the United States before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and cortisol in both menstrual phases of women with chronic fatigue syndrome and effect of depressive mood on these hormones.

Neuropsychological deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Factor analysis of symptoms among subjects with unexplained chronic fatigue: what can we learn about chronic fatigue syndrome?

Factors influencing the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Perceived stigma in functional somatic syndromes and comparable medical conditions.

Health effects of dental amalgam exposure: a retrospective cohort study.

Determination of fatty acid levels in erythrocyte membranes of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Unexplained fatigue syndromes in a multinational primary care sample: specificity of definition and prevalence and distinctiveness from depression and generalized anxiety.

Psychiatric adjustment in chronic fatigue syndrome of childhood and in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

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