ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

41–60 of 6,187 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Metabolic neuroimaging of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and Long-COVID.

Zhu, Yijuan, Quan, Patrick, Yamazaki, Tadahiro et al.·Immunometabolism (Cobham, Surrey)·2025

This review examines brain imaging studies that look at how the brains of people with ME/CFS and Long-COVID process energy and nutrients differently. Researchers used advanced scanning techniques to measure glucose and oxygen use in the brain, finding that both conditions show similar patterns of disrupted brain energy metabolism and inflammation. The findings suggest these brain changes might explain why patients experience persistent fatigue, thinking problems, and worsening after physical activity.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Applicability and adaptation of cognitive behavior therapy for long COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms: a review with insights from ME/CFS.

Takamatsu, Naoki, Kuga, Hironori·BMC infectious diseases·2025

This review examined whether cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)—a talking therapy that helps address thought patterns and behaviors—might help patients with long COVID who experience brain fog, fatigue, and mood problems. The authors compared long COVID to ME/CFS, noting they share many features, and found that while CBT may help some patients feel less tired and think more clearly, it works best when tailored to each person's energy limits and combined with other treatments. Importantly, the authors stress that suggesting CBT does not mean these illnesses are 'all in your head'—they have real physical causes.

NeuroinflammationImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Endometriosis and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Compton, Sabrina, Alkabalan, Rodolf, Cadet, Judd et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

This research found that women with endometriosis (a painful condition affecting the uterus) are nearly three times more likely to develop ME/CFS than women without endometriosis. Both conditions involve similar patterns of immune system problems and ongoing inflammation. The study combined results from multiple research papers to show this connection is real and consistent across different groups of patients.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The potential therapeutic approaches targeting gut health in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a narrative review.

Hsu, Chou-Yi, Ahmad, Irfan, Maya, Rana Warid et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

This review looked at how gut health might be connected to ME/CFS and found that people with ME/CFS often have different bacteria in their gut compared to healthy people. The researchers reviewed studies about various gut-focused treatments like probiotics, dietary changes, and other interventions that might help reduce ME/CFS symptoms by improving the gut-brain connection.

Gut Microbiome

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Adrenergic dysfunction in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hendrix, Jolien, Fanning, Lara, Wyns, Arne et al.·European journal of clinical investigation·2025

Researchers analyzed 37 studies comparing how the bodies of ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients handle stress hormones compared to healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients have higher levels of adrenaline at rest and unusual responses to exercise and position changes—suggesting their nervous system doesn't regulate stress hormones normally. These findings point to a specific biological problem in ME/CFS that might be treatable.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM unclearGuideline

[Interdisciplinary consensus statement about the diagnosis and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelopathy].

Simonyi, Gábor, Bedros, J Róbert, Réthelyi, János et al.·Orvosi hetilap·2025

This paper is a consensus statement from multiple medical experts that reviews what is currently known about ME/CFS, including its varied symptoms affecting the body, thinking, mood, and daily functioning. The authors recognize that ME/CFS is increasingly common but still not well understood or acknowledged in Hungarian medicine, so they compiled international guidelines and treatment suggestions to help healthcare providers better care for patients with this condition.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEvidence-Map

Recent research in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an evidence map.

Todhunter-Brown, Alex, Campbell, Pauline, Broderick, Cathryn et al.·Health technology assessment (Winchester, England)·2025

This study looked at all ME/CFS research published between 2018 and 2023 to see what scientists have been studying and how much research exists on different topics. Researchers found 639 studies involving over 600,000 people with ME/CFS. More than half of the research focused on trying to understand what causes ME/CFS, while fewer studies looked at treatments or how to diagnose the condition. The researchers created an interactive map so patients and doctors can explore what research has been done.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredEditorial

The pivotal role of central sensitization in long COVID, fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Goldenberg, Don L·Expert review of neurotherapeutics·2025

This study shows that long COVID, fibromyalgia, and ME/CFS may all share a common underlying problem called central sensitization—where the nervous system becomes overly sensitive to pain and other sensations. Rather than being caused by organ damage or infection, these conditions seem to involve how the brain and nervous system process signals. The research suggests that treating these conditions with a coordinated team approach tailored to each person may be more effective than treating them as completely separate diseases.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Effectiveness and safety of exercise therapy in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Wei, Zhenya, Wu, Heying, Cui, Chong et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2025

Researchers reviewed 13 studies involving 1,305 ME/CFS patients to see how exercise therapy affects fatigue. Exercise therapy did reduce fatigue overall, but the type of exercise mattered: traditional aerobic exercise was better for reducing overall tiredness, while a gentler practice called Qigong was better for mental fatigue. However, the researchers noted that more research is needed to fully understand whether these treatments are safe for ME/CFS patients.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Gulf War Illness, Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID Overlap in Common Symptoms and Underlying Biological Mechanisms: Implications for Future Therapeutic Strategies.

Mantle, David, Domingo, Joan Carles, Golomb, Beatrice Alexandra et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

This review examines four conditions—Gulf War Illness, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and long COVID—that share similar symptoms like fatigue, pain, and brain fog. Researchers found that these disorders may share common biological problems, particularly with how cells produce energy (mitochondria), manage stress, and control inflammation. The authors suggest that a supplement called CoQ10 might help because it supports cellular energy production and reduces harmful inflammation.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Unravelling the Connection Between Energy Metabolism and Immune Senescence/Exhaustion in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Van Campenhout, Jente, Buntinx, Yanthe, Xiong, Huan-Yu et al.·Biomolecules·2025

This review examines how ME/CFS might involve two connected problems: the body's cells not producing enough energy, and the immune system not working properly. The authors suggest that when cells can't make enough energy, this might directly weaken the immune system, which could explain why patients experience severe fatigue and feel worse after physical activity. The review proposes that treatments targeting both energy production and immune function together might help patients more effectively than treating either problem alone.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

COVID-19-associated neurological and psychological manifestations.

Wilson, Jo Ellen, Gurdasani, Deepti, Helbok, Raimund et al.·Nature reviews. Disease primers·2025

Long COVID is a condition that develops after COVID-19 infection and causes ongoing symptoms for at least 3 months. People with Long COVID commonly experience brain fog, memory problems, anxiety, depression, headaches, sleep issues, and severe exhaustion after physical activity. This review explains what we know about what causes these symptoms and why treatment needs to be personalized based on each person's unique symptoms.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Predictors of Treatment Success of Psychotherapy in Functional Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Rometsch, Caroline, Martin, Alexandra, Cosci, Fiammetta·Clinical psychology & psychotherapy·2025

This review looked at 24 studies involving over 3,300 people to understand which factors help predict whether talk therapy will work well for conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS. Researchers found that how severe your symptoms are, whether you have depression or anxiety alongside your main condition, and the intensity of pain you experience can all affect how much therapy helps. This information could help doctors choose the right type of therapy for each person.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes on community rates of HPV-related disease and harms from vaccination.

Henschke, Nicholas, Bergman, Hanna, Buckley, Brian S et al.·The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2025

This large review looked at whether HPV vaccines (which prevent certain cancers) are safe and effective by studying millions of people across many countries. The researchers found that HPV vaccination significantly reduces cervical cancer and related precancerous conditions, especially when given to young teens, and that the vaccine is not associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, ME, or other serious conditions that some people worry about.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Comparative efficacy of various exercise therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Liao, Zhongxin, Zhao, Suhong, Fang, Sitong et al.·iScience·2025

Researchers reviewed 25 studies testing different types of exercise for ME/CFS to see which worked best. Graded exercise therapy (GET)—where activity is slowly increased over time—showed the most short-term improvement in fatigue, mood, and anxiety compared to no treatment. Other exercises like yoga, qigong, and strength training showed smaller benefits that may not be meaningful for most patients.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Review of the Research Progress and Future Prospects of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Feng, Chuwen, Qu, Yuanyuan, Lu, Jing et al.·Holistic nursing practice·2025

This review examines whether acupuncture—a traditional Chinese medicine practice involving thin needles placed at specific body points—might help people with ME/CFS. The researchers looked at existing studies on acupuncture for fatigue, how well it worked, whether it improved quality of life, and how it compared to standard treatments. They also explored how acupuncture might work in the body to reduce fatigue symptoms.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Ignored, dismissed, and minimized: Understanding the harmful consequences of invalidation in health care-A systematic meta-synthesis of qualitative research.

Bontempo, Allyson C, Bontempo, John M, Duberstein, Paul R·Psychological bulletin·2025

This study looked at how doctors dismissing or minimizing patients' symptoms affects people with hard-to-diagnose illnesses like ME/CFS. Researchers reviewed over 150 studies involving more than 11,000 patients and found that when doctors don't believe or validate patients' experiences, it causes serious harm—including shame, anxiety about healthcare, avoidance of doctors, and delays in getting diagnosed. The study shows that invalidation by healthcare providers can actually make patients' health outcomes worse.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Anxiety in children and adolescents with chronic physical health conditions: an updated meta-analysis.

Pinquart, Martin, Thorwarth, Alexander·Journal of pediatric psychology·2025

This study looked at whether children and teenagers with chronic physical illnesses experience more anxiety than their healthy peers. By reviewing over 1,250 research papers, scientists found that young people with long-term health conditions do tend to have higher anxiety levels. Children with chronic fatigue syndrome showed notably elevated anxiety compared to other chronic conditions studied.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Effectiveness of Exercise-Based Rehabilitation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

De Vera Martín, Antonio, Salazar, Alberto Díaz, Pérez, Isidro Miguel Martín et al.·International journal of exercise science·2025

This review examined whether exercise-based treatments help people with ME/CFS feel less tired and function better. Researchers looked at 7 high-quality studies involving 2,276 patients and found that exercise did reduce fatigue in the short to medium term (up to several months). However, improvements in daily functioning were modest and did not last long-term, and some measures actually favored control groups over exercise interventions.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Evaluating pacing therapy (PT) versus graded exercise therapy (GET) for improving fatigue, pain, and quality of life in adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A systematic review.

Cooper, Charlotte, Papadopoulos, Konstantinos·Journal of bodywork and movement therapies·2025

This review compared two common treatment approaches for ME/CFS: pacing therapy (learning to manage activity carefully) and graded exercise therapy (gradually increasing exercise). Researchers looked at six studies involving 2,280 patients to see which approach helped most with fatigue, pain, and quality of life. The results suggest both therapies helped more than standard care alone, though they worked differently—pacing therapy showed more symptom improvement in most patients, while graded exercise therapy was better for reducing pain and improving physical function.

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Metabolic neuroimaging of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and Long-COVID.

Applicability and adaptation of cognitive behavior therapy for long COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms: a review with insights from ME/CFS.

Endometriosis and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The potential therapeutic approaches targeting gut health in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a narrative review.

Adrenergic dysfunction in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

[Interdisciplinary consensus statement about the diagnosis and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelopathy].

Recent research in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an evidence map.

The pivotal role of central sensitization in long COVID, fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Effectiveness and safety of exercise therapy in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Gulf War Illness, Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID Overlap in Common Symptoms and Underlying Biological Mechanisms: Implications for Future Therapeutic Strategies.

Unravelling the Connection Between Energy Metabolism and Immune Senescence/Exhaustion in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

COVID-19-associated neurological and psychological manifestations.

Predictors of Treatment Success of Psychotherapy in Functional Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes on community rates of HPV-related disease and harms from vaccination.

Comparative efficacy of various exercise therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Review of the Research Progress and Future Prospects of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Ignored, dismissed, and minimized: Understanding the harmful consequences of invalidation in health care-A systematic meta-synthesis of qualitative research.

Anxiety in children and adolescents with chronic physical health conditions: an updated meta-analysis.

Effectiveness of Exercise-Based Rehabilitation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Evaluating pacing therapy (PT) versus graded exercise therapy (GET) for improving fatigue, pain, and quality of life in adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A systematic review.

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