ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3861–3880 of 6,162 studies

Unwilling or unable? Interpreting effort task performance in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kirvin-Quamme, Andrew, Kirke, Karen D, Junge, Oscar et al.·Frontiers in psychology·2025

This study examined how people with ME/CFS perform on effort-based tasks and what their performance reveals about the condition. Researchers investigated whether people with ME/CFS struggle with these tasks because they are unable to exert effort (due to physical limitations) or unwilling to do so (due to motivation or other psychological factors). Understanding this distinction is important for interpreting test results and designing appropriate treatments.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not required

Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Diagnostic and Communication Case Study for Health Care Providers in Training.

Brimmer, Dana J, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Selinger, Howard A et al.·MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources·2025

This study tested whether a short educational program could help future doctors, nurses, and physician assistants better understand pediatric ME/CFS. After a 40-minute lesson with videos and materials, students showed major improvements in recognizing ME/CFS as a real medical condition and felt more confident talking to patients about it. The results suggest that better training about ME/CFS in medical schools could help young patients get diagnosed and treated more effectively.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

The Need for Controllability and Predictability questionnaire (NCP-q): psychometric properties and preliminary findings in a clinical sample.

Ramakers, Indra, Fonteyne, Riet, Walentynowicz, Marta et al.·Health psychology report·2025

Researchers created and tested a short questionnaire (NCP-q) that measures how much people need to feel in control and be able to predict what will happen. When they compared patients with various illnesses—including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, panic disorder, and burnout—to healthy people, all patient groups scored higher on this questionnaire, suggesting that needing control and predictability might be a common feature across different conditions that cause physical symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

How a Clinician Makes a Diagnosis for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Vallings, Rosamund·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This guide explains how experienced doctors diagnose ME/CFS when standard blood tests or scans cannot detect the illness. Since there is no single definitive test for ME/CFS, doctors must carefully evaluate a patient's symptoms, medical history, and how the illness affects their daily functioning. This chapter walks through the practical steps clinicians use to identify ME/CFS and distinguish it from other conditions.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

The potential causes of myasthenia and fasciculations in severely ill ME/CFS patients: the role of disturbed electrophysiology.

Wirth, Klaus J, Steinacker, Jürgen M·Frontiers in physiology·2025

This study proposes that muscle weakness, fatigue, and twitching in severely ill ME/CFS patients may result from a problem with a specific pump in muscle cells called the Na+/K+-ATPase. When this pump doesn't work properly, it allows too much sodium and calcium to build up inside muscle cells, damaging the cell's energy-producing structures (mitochondria) and making muscles weaker and more prone to cramping and involuntary twitching. The researchers suggest this single mechanical problem could explain many of the muscle symptoms severely ill ME/CFS patients experience.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

'She thought the same way I that I thought:' a qualitative study of patient-provider concordance among Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness.

Lesnewich, Laura M, Hyde, Justeen K, McFarlin, Mikhaela L et al.·Psychology & health·2025

This study talked to 31 Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness to understand what makes them feel heard and supported by their doctors. The researchers found that patients feel better about their care when doctors believe their symptoms are real, show they understand the condition, and build trust with them. When doctors dismissed patients' experiences or didn't know much about Gulf War Illness, it damaged the relationship and made treatment harder.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Improvement in Upper Limb and Systemic Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Symptoms After Surgical Treatment of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Christoforou, Maritsa E, Lum, Ying Wei, Sroge, Sally C et al.·Cureus·2025

This case study describes a 19-year-old woman with ME/CFS who also had a condition called thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), where nerves in the upper chest become compressed. After surgery to relieve this compression on both sides of her body, she experienced not only relief from arm numbness and tingling, but also surprising improvements in migraines, brain fog, dizziness, and vision problems. This suggests that some ME/CFS patients might benefit from being evaluated for TOS, as treating it could potentially help with multiple symptoms.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Measurement of Genetic Variations in ME/CFS Patients in the IDO2 Gene Encoding an Enzyme Metabolizing Tryptophan.

Edgar, Christina D, Blair, Anna, Tate, Warren P·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study looked at variations in a specific gene called IDO2 that controls an enzyme involved in breaking down tryptophan, an amino acid in our bodies. The researchers compared how often these genetic variations appear in ME/CFS patients versus healthy people, to see if certain variations might make someone more vulnerable to developing ME/CFS after a triggering event like a viral infection. They developed a straightforward laboratory technique to identify five common mutations in this gene.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

MyGuide long COVID: An online self-management tool for people with long COVID.

Naik, Hiten, Pongratz, Kyla, Malbeuf, Michelle et al.·Internet interventions·2025

Researchers created MyGuide Long COVID, a free website where people with long COVID answer questions about their symptoms and receive personalized information and self-management tips. The website launched in August 2023 and attracted nearly 8,600 users in its first year, with the most popular topics being post-exertional malaise (worsening symptoms after activity) and general information about long COVID. This shows that a patient-centered online tool developed together with both doctors and people living with long COVID can successfully help patients manage their condition.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclear

Letter: Time to correct the record on the global burden of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Vardaman, Maya, Gilmour, Stuart·Journal of translational medicine·2025

This editorial letter addresses the need to correct how the global health burden of ME/CFS is measured and reported. The authors argue that current statistics may not fully capture how severely this illness affects patients worldwide. They emphasize that getting accurate numbers is important for raising awareness and securing resources for research and patient care.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

A network medicine approach to investigating ME/CFS pathogenesis in severely ill patients: a pilot study.

Hung, Li-Yuan, Wu, Chan-Shuo, Chang, Chia-Jung et al.·Frontiers in human neuroscience·2025

Researchers used advanced computer analysis to examine genetic information from people with severe ME/CFS, looking for patterns in how genes work together. They found that ME/CFS involves multiple body systems working incorrectly, particularly the immune and nervous systems, and discovered connections to viral infections like EBV and COVID-19. The study also found clues about why more women than men develop ME/CFS, relating to how estrogen affects the body.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

The Psychological Benefits of Forest Bathing in Individuals with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Pilot Study.

Serrat, Mayte, Royuela-Colomer, Estíbaliz, Alonso-Marsol, Sandra et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

This study looked at whether spending time walking quietly in a forest could help people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia feel better. Forty-four participants took a 3-hour guided walk through a Mediterranean forest, and researchers measured their pain, fatigue, anxiety, and mood before and after. Most symptoms improved after the walk, especially anxiety and negative feelings, though pain levels didn't change significantly.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Gut-Brain-Immune Axis in Environmental Sensitivity Illnesses: Microbiome-Centered Narrative Review of Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

Watai, Kentaro, Taniguchi, Masami, Azuma, Kenichi·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

This review examines how changes in gut bacteria may contribute to ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity—three conditions that share similar symptoms like fatigue, pain, and sensitivity to environmental triggers. The researchers found that people with these conditions tend to have fewer helpful bacteria and more harmful bacteria in their gut, which may affect how their immune system and brain work. The review suggests that treatments targeting the microbiome—such as probiotics or other interventions—might help, though more research is needed to confirm this.

NeuroinflammationEnergy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Deep Immunophenotyping in ME/CFS Using Spectral Flow Cytometry.

Gibson, Anton, Chometon, Thaize Q, Damani, Tanvi et al.·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

Researchers developed a new laboratory technique to examine immune cells in the blood of ME/CFS patients in much greater detail than previously possible. Using advanced flow cytometry, they simultaneously measured over 40 different markers on individual immune cells, allowing them to create a detailed map of immune system abnormalities in ME/CFS. This technique is like upgrading from a simple photograph to a high-resolution image, revealing much more about how immune cells are behaving.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

Cognitive behavioural therapy for severe fatigue following COVID-19 in adolescents: a serial single-case observational study of five consecutively referred patients.

Kuut, Tanja A, Müller, Fabiola, Braamse, Annemarie M J et al.·Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy·2025

This study tested whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy that helps people change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors—could help teenagers with severe fatigue after COVID-19. Five teenagers received CBT over 12 weeks. By the end, all five were no longer severely fatigued, most felt less physically limited, and all were able to return to school without absences.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Pulling Back the Curtains.

The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry·2025

This is an editorial piece that reviews what we currently know about ME/CFS and calls for better understanding of the condition. The authors argue that ME/CFS is a real biological illness that deserves serious scientific attention. The piece highlights the need to move past outdated thinking and focus on the actual physical mechanisms causing the disease.

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Wearable Devices Enable Long COVID Patients to Decrease Symptom Severity: A Case Series From Pilot User Testing.

Goosen, Andrea, Foster-Bonds, Romina, Vogel, Julia Moore·Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journal·2025

This small study looked at whether fitness trackers (Garmin watches) could help Long COVID patients manage their symptoms through pacing—carefully controlling activity levels to avoid overexertion. Eleven patients received a tracker, educational materials about pacing, and were asked about their experience. Most participants found the information helpful for managing their symptoms, and none had difficulty using the device, even those who had never used a wearable before.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

"I would love to say it's the fatigue but honestly it's not": Into Adulthood with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Tenhave, A, Bognar, R, Sidis, A·Psychology, health & medicine·2025

This study interviewed 13 young people (ages 16-25) with ME/CFS about what it's like growing up with this illness. The researchers found that participants struggled with three main challenges: gaining independence in ways different from their healthy peers, figuring out who they are when illness changes their plans, and feeling isolated even when around other people. The study suggests that mental health support could help young people with ME/CFS build confidence, explore their identity, and stay psychologically healthy during these critical years.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Relationship between major depressive disorder and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a two-sample mendelian randomization study analysis.

Song, Wenjing, Hou, Xinlei, Wu, Minmin et al.·Scientific reports·2025

This study used genetic data from large databases to investigate whether depression causes ME/CFS, or vice versa. Researchers compared genetic information from thousands of people with depression and thousands with ME/CFS. They found no evidence that one condition genetically causes the other, even though depression and ME/CFS often happen together in the same person.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Metabolomics-Based Machine Learning Diagnostics of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Cai, Ethan, Kouznetsova, Valentina L, Tsigelny, Igor F·Metabolites·2025

Researchers developed a computer program that can identify Long COVID (PASC) by analyzing chemical markers in the blood called metabolites. The program successfully distinguished Long COVID from several similar conditions like Lyme disease and POTS, but had difficulty telling Long COVID apart from fibromyalgia, suggesting these two conditions may share similar chemical patterns in the body.

Biomarkers

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Evidence browser

Unwilling or unable? Interpreting effort task performance in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Diagnostic and Communication Case Study for Health Care Providers in Training.

The Need for Controllability and Predictability questionnaire (NCP-q): psychometric properties and preliminary findings in a clinical sample.

How a Clinician Makes a Diagnosis for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

The potential causes of myasthenia and fasciculations in severely ill ME/CFS patients: the role of disturbed electrophysiology.

'She thought the same way I that I thought:' a qualitative study of patient-provider concordance among Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness.

Improvement in Upper Limb and Systemic Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Symptoms After Surgical Treatment of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Measurement of Genetic Variations in ME/CFS Patients in the IDO2 Gene Encoding an Enzyme Metabolizing Tryptophan.

MyGuide long COVID: An online self-management tool for people with long COVID.

Letter: Time to correct the record on the global burden of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

A network medicine approach to investigating ME/CFS pathogenesis in severely ill patients: a pilot study.

The Psychological Benefits of Forest Bathing in Individuals with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Pilot Study.

The Gut-Brain-Immune Axis in Environmental Sensitivity Illnesses: Microbiome-Centered Narrative Review of Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

Deep Immunophenotyping in ME/CFS Using Spectral Flow Cytometry.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for severe fatigue following COVID-19 in adolescents: a serial single-case observational study of five consecutively referred patients.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Pulling Back the Curtains.

Wearable Devices Enable Long COVID Patients to Decrease Symptom Severity: A Case Series From Pilot User Testing.

"I would love to say it's the fatigue but honestly it's not": Into Adulthood with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Relationship between major depressive disorder and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a two-sample mendelian randomization study analysis.

Metabolomics-Based Machine Learning Diagnostics of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

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Biomarkers

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