ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3381–3400 of 6,188 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Changes in immune parameters seen in Gulf War veterans but not in civilians with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Zhang, Q, Zhou, X D, Denny, T et al.·Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology·1999

This study compared immune system markers in people with ME/CFS, looking separately at Gulf War veterans and non-veterans. Researchers found that Gulf War veterans with ME/CFS had different immune patterns (more of certain types of T cells, fewer NK cells, and higher levels of inflammation markers) compared to healthy veterans. However, non-veterans with ME/CFS showed no such immune differences from healthy controls, suggesting Gulf War service may have affected the immune system differently than sporadic ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Self-reported depression and suicide attempts among U.S. women physicians.

Frank, E, Dingle, A D·The American journal of psychiatry·1999

This study surveyed over 4,500 U.S. women doctors to understand how often they experience depression and attempt suicide. The researchers found that about 1 in 5 women physicians have experienced depression at some point in their lives, and about 1.5% have attempted suicide. Several factors increased the risk, including a history of abuse, substance use, chronic fatigue syndrome, and work-related stress.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Psychiatric adjustment in adolescents with a history of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Garralda, E, Rangel, L, Levin, M et al.·Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·1999

This study looked at mental health in teenagers who had ME/CFS, comparing them to healthy peers. Researchers found that teenagers with a history of ME/CFS were more likely to experience anxiety and depression, had more emotional symptoms, and felt worse about themselves—especially regarding how they fit in socially. Interestingly, those who had recovered from ME/CFS actually showed more anxiety disorders than those still experiencing active illness.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome as recognized by GPs.

Bazelmans, E, Vercoulen, J H, Swanink, C M et al.·Family practice·1999

This Dutch study surveyed general practitioners (GPs) to understand how often they see patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in their practices. About 60% of GPs responded, and most reported seeing patients with these conditions. The study estimated that roughly 112 out of every 100,000 people have CFS and 157 have FMS, though these numbers are likely underestimates since some cases may go unrecognized.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A community-based study of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jason, L A, Richman, J A, Rademaker, A W et al.·Archives of internal medicine·1999

Researchers in Chicago called nearly 29,000 adults to find out how many people have ME/CFS. They found that about 0.42% of the general population has the condition—roughly 1 in 240 people. The study showed that ME/CFS affects women, minority groups, and people with lower education levels more often than previously thought, challenging the old idea that it mainly affected white middle-class people.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prediction of peak oxygen uptake in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mullis, R, Campbell, I T, Wearden, A J et al.·British journal of sports medicine·1999

Researchers tested 130 ME/CFS patients on exercise bikes to measure their peak oxygen uptake (fitness capacity). They found a simple formula could accurately predict oxygen uptake from how hard patients could work during the test, with only a 10.7% average error. Importantly, almost all patients (97%) reported no worsening of symptoms after this maximal exercise test.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Patterns of orthostatic intolerance: the orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and adolescent chronic fatigue.

Stewart, J M, Gewitz, M H, Weldon, A et al.·The Journal of pediatrics·1999

This study looked at how the hearts and blood pressure of adolescents with ME/CFS and a related condition called orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (OTS) respond when they stand up or are tilted upright. Researchers found that adolescents with ME/CFS had more severe problems with standing (like dizziness and fainting) than those with OTS, but the underlying patterns were quite similar. The study suggests that OTS may be a milder version of the same blood pressure and heart rate problems seen in ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Natural history of severe chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hill, N F, Tiersky, L A, Scavalla, V R et al.·Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation·1999

This study followed 23 people with severe ME/CFS over approximately 4 years to see how their illness changed over time. The researchers found that most patients stayed severely ill or showed only modest improvement, with just one person (4%) fully recovering. The study suggests that severe ME/CFS has a very poor outlook for recovery in most patients.

Severe ME

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Human herpesviruses in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wallace, H L, Natelson, B, Gause, W et al.·Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology·1999

Researchers tested whether common viruses (HHV6, HHV7, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus) are more active or present in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. They examined blood samples from ME/CFS patients and matched healthy controls, looking for both the viruses themselves and antibodies (immune markers) against these viruses. They found no significant differences between the two groups, suggesting these particular viruses may not be a primary driver of ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Prognostic factors for persons with idiopathic chronic fatigue.

Hartz, A J, Kuhn, E M, Bentler, S E et al.·Archives of family medicine·1999

This study followed 199 people with chronic fatigue for 2 years to understand which factors predicted who would improve. Researchers found that people who had clearer thinking, fewer additional symptoms, better sleep patterns, and were married tended to show the most improvement in fatigue. Interestingly, when patients improved in other symptoms like depression, muscle pain, or sleep problems, their fatigue also tended to improve together.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Acute fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Smith, A P, Borysiewicz, L, Pollock, J et al.·Psychological medicine·1999

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS get tired more quickly during mental tasks than healthy people. Researchers compared 67 ME/CFS patients with 126 healthy controls while they performed attention tests over a long session. ME/CFS patients performed worse than healthy people, and the gap widened as fatigue set in, suggesting they struggle more with mental tiredness.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Approaches to coping with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Stark, F M, Sobetzko, H M·Zentralblatt fur Hygiene und Umweltmedizin = International journal of hygiene and environmental medicine·1999

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS can better manage their condition by following long-term care and support. The researchers observed a support group over time to understand what helps patients cope with this serious illness that causes extreme fatigue and reduces ability to work, study, and maintain social activities. They found that a personalized approach combining medical care from a regular doctor and participation in a support group was helpful for disease management.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Adaptive tasks, coping and quality of life of chronically ill patients: the cases of Parkinson's disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.

De Ridder, D T, Schreurs, K M, Bensing, J M·Journal of health psychology·1998

This study compared how people with Parkinson's disease and ME/CFS cope with the challenges their illnesses create and how this affects their quality of life. Researchers found that while both groups face similar types of challenges (like managing symptoms and adjusting daily life), the way these challenges affect quality of life differs between the two diseases. For people with ME/CFS, how patients think about and evaluate their illness challenges was more important in predicting their quality of life than the actual severity of their symptoms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Diurnal variation of adrenocortical activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

MacHale, S M, Cavanagh, J T, Bennie, J et al.·Neuropsychobiology·1998

This study measured stress hormone (cortisol) levels in 30 ME/CFS patients and 15 healthy controls at different times of day. The researchers found that while individual cortisol measurements were similar between groups, ME/CFS patients showed a flattened pattern—their cortisol levels didn't drop as much in the evening as they should. Higher evening cortisol levels were connected to worse overall health and physical functioning in ME/CFS patients.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Naloxone-mediated activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Scott, L V, Burnett, F, Medbak, S et al.·Psychological medicine·1998

This study looked at whether an opioid-blocking drug called naloxone could trigger the body's stress hormone system in ME/CFS patients versus healthy people. The researchers found that when given naloxone, ME/CFS patients had a blunted response in one stress hormone (ACTH) compared to healthy controls, suggesting that excess opioids are not the primary cause of the stress hormone problems seen in ME/CFS.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Evaluating neuropsychological impairment in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vercoulen, J H, Bazelmans, E, Swanink, C M et al.·Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology·1998

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have problems with thinking, memory, and concentration. Researchers tested patients using standard cognitive tests and also asked them to report their own memory and concentration difficulties. Surprisingly, most patients performed normally on the tests, and there was no clear connection between test results and what patients reported experiencing in daily life.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Phosphate diabetes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

De Lorenzo, F, Hargreaves, J, Kakkar, V V·Postgraduate medical journal·1998

This study explored whether some ME/CFS patients might actually have a rare kidney condition called phosphate diabetes, which prevents the kidneys from properly reabsorbing phosphate. Phosphate is important for muscle and nerve function, and low levels can cause fatigue, muscle pain, and depression—symptoms that overlap with ME/CFS. The researchers tested 87 ME/CFS patients and found that 9 of them also had phosphate diabetes.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Physical activity before and after exercise in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sisto, S A, Tapp, W N, LaManca, J J et al.·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·1998

This study tracked the physical activity of 20 women with ME/CFS and 20 healthy volunteers for two weeks using a movement monitor worn at the waist. After all participants did a strenuous treadmill exercise test, researchers measured how their activity changed. Women with ME/CFS showed a noticeable drop in activity levels after the exercise, with the biggest decrease happening around days 12-14, and they took more rest breaks during the day.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in a community population in Japan.

Kawakami, N, Iwata, N, Fujihara, S et al.·The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine·1998

This Japanese study looked at how common ME/CFS is in everyday communities by interviewing 137 people. Researchers found that about 1 in 67 people had severe, persistent fatigue that met ME/CFS criteria and significantly disrupted their daily life. The findings suggested ME/CFS might be more common in Japan than in Western countries studied previously.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Alteration of spatial-temporal parameters of gait in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.

Saggini, R, Pizzigallo, E, Vecchiet, J et al.·Journal of the neurological sciences·1998

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS walk compared to healthy people. Researchers used specialized movement analysis tools to measure walking patterns in 12 patients and found clear differences in how smoothly and symmetrically they walked. Interestingly, these walking problems appeared right from the start of walking, not after fatigue set in, suggesting the issue may be related to how the brain controls movement rather than muscle tiredness.

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Changes in immune parameters seen in Gulf War veterans but not in civilians with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Self-reported depression and suicide attempts among U.S. women physicians.

Psychiatric adjustment in adolescents with a history of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome as recognized by GPs.

A community-based study of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prediction of peak oxygen uptake in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Patterns of orthostatic intolerance: the orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and adolescent chronic fatigue.

Natural history of severe chronic fatigue syndrome.

Human herpesviruses in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prognostic factors for persons with idiopathic chronic fatigue.

Acute fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Approaches to coping with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Adaptive tasks, coping and quality of life of chronically ill patients: the cases of Parkinson's disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Diurnal variation of adrenocortical activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Naloxone-mediated activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Evaluating neuropsychological impairment in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Phosphate diabetes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Physical activity before and after exercise in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in a community population in Japan.

Alteration of spatial-temporal parameters of gait in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research