ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3121–3140 of 6,161 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comparing symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in a community-based versus tertiary care sample.

Jason, Leonard A, Plioplys, Audrius V, Torres-Harding, Susan et al.·Journal of health psychology·2003

This study compared ME/CFS symptoms between two groups of patients: those who sought care at major medical centers and those found in the general community. Researchers found that people being treated at tertiary care hospitals reported experiencing more symptoms than community members with ME/CFS. This suggests that the people typically studied in research may not represent all people living with ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Childhood experiences of illness and parenting in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fisher, Linda, Chalder, Trudie·Journal of psychosomatic research·2003

This study looked at whether childhood experiences—particularly how parents cared for them and how they handled illness—might influence whether someone develops ME/CFS as an adult. Researchers compared 30 people with ME/CFS to 30 people with broken bones (as a comparison group) by asking them about their childhood. They found that having an overprotective mother or a mother with depression was more common in the ME/CFS group, suggesting these factors might increase the risk of developing the condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleep and chronic pain: challenges to the alpha-EEG sleep pattern as a pain specific sleep anomaly.

Rains, Jeanetta C, Penzien, Donald B·Journal of psychosomatic research·2003

Researchers looked at a brain wave pattern during sleep called alpha-EEG, which has been thought to be linked to chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and ME/CFS. They found that this sleep pattern was uncommon (only 5% of patients) and occurred in people with chronic pain, psychiatric conditions, and other medical problems. Surprisingly, less than 40% of people with this sleep pattern actually had chronic pain, suggesting the pattern alone does not cause pain.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Non-vascular claudication: a clinical conundrum.

Fasih, T, Pickin, M, Cuschieri, R J·International journal of clinical practice·2003

Doctors sometimes see patients complaining of leg pain that resembles poor circulation (claudication), but the pain isn't actually caused by blood vessel problems. This study looked at over 1,000 patients with suspected circulation problems and found that 33 had other causes for their symptoms, including spine problems, nerve damage, or other conditions. One patient was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The study highlights that doctors need to correctly identify the real cause of symptoms before recommending treatments.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Predictive immunophenotypes: disease-related profile in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Stewart, Carleton C, Cookfair, Diane L, Hovey, Kathleen M et al.·Cytometry. Part B, Clinical cytometry·2003

This study compared immune system cells called natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells between people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had different patterns of these immune cells compared to healthy people, but interestingly, healthy people living in the same town as ME/CFS cases had immune cell patterns that looked more similar to ME/CFS patients. This suggests that living in an area where ME/CFS is common might affect how people's immune systems work.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome in children: a cross sectional survey.

Patel, M X, Smith, D G, Chalder, T et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2003

This study looked at 36 children with ME/CFS who were seen at a specialist clinic in England. Most children improved significantly or returned to normal health, and those who received treatment attended school more often. However, about one-third of children left school without any qualifications, showing that ME/CFS can seriously disrupt education even when health improves.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome versus neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome:differential attributions.

Jason, Leonard A, Holbert, Cordelia, Torres-Harding, Susan et al.·Journal of health & social policy·2003

This study looked at how doctors and nurses react differently to the name of this illness. Researchers presented the same patient case to healthcare providers but used different diagnostic labels—some were told it was "chronic fatigue syndrome," while others were told it was "chronic neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome." The results showed that the more medical-sounding name led providers to view the illness as more serious and disabling, even though it was the same patient story.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Perceived exertion in fatiguing illness: civilians with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cook, Dane B, Nagelkirk, Paul R, Peckerman, Arnold et al.·Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2003

This study looked at how hard exercise feels to people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers had both groups exercise on a treadmill and rate their effort. While people with ME/CFS said exercise felt harder at moderate intensities, when researchers compared effort levels to each person's maximum oxygen capacity, there was no real difference—suggesting the difference in how hard it felt might be explained by their lower fitness level rather than a problem with how their body perceives effort.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Self-management training for people with chronic disease: an exploratory study.

Wright, C C, Barlow, J H, Turner, A P et al.·British journal of health psychology·2003

This study tested whether a self-management training course designed for people with various chronic diseases—including ME/CFS—could help them feel better. The course, taught by community volunteers, focused on practical skills like managing symptoms using mental strategies and talking with doctors. After four months, participants reported less fatigue, better mood, and more confidence in managing their illness.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Experimental evidence for interpretive but not attention biases towards somatic information in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Moss-Morris, Rona, Petrie, Keith J·British journal of health psychology·2003

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS interpret ambiguous words and sounds. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients were more likely to interpret unclear words in a physical/health-related way compared to healthy people, and this tendency was linked to how many symptoms they reported. However, the study did not find that ME/CFS patients were more distracted by illness-related words on a color-naming task.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and blood markers of oxidative stress in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vecchiet, Jacopo, Cipollone, Francesco, Falasca, Katia et al.·Neuroscience letters·2003

This study compared 21 people with ME/CFS to 20 healthy people and found that those with ME/CFS had signs of increased cellular damage (oxidative stress) and lower levels of protective molecules in their blood. People with ME/CFS also had more fatigue and their muscles were more sensitive to pain. The researchers found that the amount of cellular damage correlated with how fatigued people felt and how sensitive their muscles were.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Rupture of silicone gel breast implants and symptoms of pain and fatigue.

Vermeulen, Ruud C W, Scholte, Hans R·The Journal of rheumatology·2003

This study looked at women with silicone breast implants to see if their symptoms matched those of ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that women whose implants had ruptured reported more severe fatigue, pain, and memory problems than those with intact implants. While the symptom patterns differed somewhat from typical ME/CFS, rupture of the implant was associated with worsening of fatigue and pain symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Comorbid illness in women with chronic fatigue syndrome: a test of the single syndrome hypothesis.

Ciccone, Donald S, Natelson, Benjamin H·Psychosomatic medicine·2003

This study looked at 163 women with ME/CFS to see whether having other conditions like fibromyalgia or chemical sensitivities alongside ME/CFS made their illness different. About a third of the women had fibromyalgia, and another third had chemical sensitivities. The main finding was that women with multiple conditions were more likely to have depression than those with ME/CFS alone, but otherwise their symptoms and disability levels were fairly similar.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Diagnostic evaluation of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activities and antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus and Coxiella burnetii in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in Japan.

Ikuta, Kazufumi, Yamada, Takeshi, Shimomura, Tokio et al.·Microbes and infection·2003

This study tested whether certain viral infections and immune system markers are linked to ME/CFS. Researchers measured a protein called 2-5AS in blood cells from ME/CFS patients in Japan and compared it to healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients had higher levels of this immune marker than healthy controls, and some patients showed signs of past infections with Epstein-Barr virus or another bacteria.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Effects of posttraumatic stress disorder on cardiovascular stress responses in Gulf War veterans with fatiguing illness.

Peckerman, Arnold, Dahl, Kristina, Chemitiganti, Rahul et al.·Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical·2003

This study looked at how the bodies of Gulf War veterans with chronic fatigue respond to stress, particularly focusing on heart rate and blood pressure changes. The researchers found that veterans who had both chronic fatigue and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) showed unusual cardiovascular responses to mental tasks and changes in position, such as lower blood pressure increases and slower recovery. These abnormal responses were much less pronounced in fatigued veterans without PTSD, suggesting that PTSD may be an important factor in how the body reacts to stress in this population.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Chronic fatigue and organophosphate pesticides in sheep farming: a retrospective study amongst people reporting to a UK pharmacovigilance scheme.

Tahmaz, N, Soutar, A, Cherrie, J W·The Annals of occupational hygiene·2003

This study looked at sheep farmers in the UK who reported health problems they believed were caused by pesticides used in sheep dipping. Researchers wanted to know if repeated exposure to these pesticides was linked to chronic fatigue. They found that fatigue was very common among farmers who thought pesticides affected their health, and there was some association between higher pesticide exposure and higher fatigue scores, though the evidence was limited.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Functional status of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome in the Wichita, Kansas, population.

Solomon, Laura, Nisenbaum, Rosane, Reyes, Michele et al.·Health and quality of life outcomes·2003

This study surveyed people in Wichita, Kansas to understand how ME/CFS affects daily life and work. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS were just as impaired in their ability to work and do activities as people whose fatigue came from other medical or psychiatric conditions, and all of them had much less energy than people without fatigue.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Functional status, neuropsychological functioning, and mood in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): relationship to psychiatric disorder.

Tiersky, Lana A, Matheis, Robert J, Deluca, John et al.·The Journal of nervous and mental disease·2003

This study looked at how depression and anxiety affect people with ME/CFS. Researchers compared four groups: people with ME/CFS alone, people with ME/CFS plus mental health symptoms that started after CFS, people with ME/CFS plus mental health symptoms that started before CFS, and healthy controls. The main finding was that while mental health problems don't make the physical fatigue and weakness worse, they do make people feel more emotionally distressed—especially if those mental health issues came before the CFS diagnosis.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

A population-based study of the clinical course of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nisenbaum, Rosane, Jones, James F, Unger, Elizabeth R et al.·Health and quality of life outcomes·2003

This study followed 65 people with ME/CFS for up to 3 years to understand how the illness changes over time. Most people experienced periods where symptoms improved (called remission), though only 10% had complete and lasting improvement. The study found that people who had been sick for 2 years or less were more likely to recover, and that sleep problems remained a major issue even when other symptoms improved.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Abnormal impedance cardiography predicts symptom severity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Peckerman, Arnold, LaManca, John J, Dahl, Kristina A et al.·The American journal of the medical sciences·2003

Researchers used a special test called impedance cardiography to measure how much blood the heart pumps in patients with ME/CFS. They found that people with severe ME/CFS had weaker heart output compared to healthy controls and those with milder ME/CFS. Importantly, symptoms like post-exertion fatigue and flu-like feelings were strongly linked to this reduced circulation, suggesting a physical problem with blood flow may be connected to symptom severity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Comparing symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in a community-based versus tertiary care sample.

Childhood experiences of illness and parenting in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sleep and chronic pain: challenges to the alpha-EEG sleep pattern as a pain specific sleep anomaly.

Non-vascular claudication: a clinical conundrum.

Predictive immunophenotypes: disease-related profile in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in children: a cross sectional survey.

Chronic fatigue syndrome versus neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome:differential attributions.

Perceived exertion in fatiguing illness: civilians with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Self-management training for people with chronic disease: an exploratory study.

Experimental evidence for interpretive but not attention biases towards somatic information in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and blood markers of oxidative stress in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rupture of silicone gel breast implants and symptoms of pain and fatigue.

Comorbid illness in women with chronic fatigue syndrome: a test of the single syndrome hypothesis.

Diagnostic evaluation of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activities and antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus and Coxiella burnetii in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in Japan.

Effects of posttraumatic stress disorder on cardiovascular stress responses in Gulf War veterans with fatiguing illness.

Chronic fatigue and organophosphate pesticides in sheep farming: a retrospective study amongst people reporting to a UK pharmacovigilance scheme.

Functional status of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome in the Wichita, Kansas, population.

Functional status, neuropsychological functioning, and mood in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): relationship to psychiatric disorder.

A population-based study of the clinical course of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Abnormal impedance cardiography predicts symptom severity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research