ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

401–420 of 6,187 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Neuroimaging of Central Sensitivity Syndromes: Key Insights from the Scientific Literature.

Walitt, Brian, Ceko, Marta, Gracely, John L et al.·Current rheumatology reviews·2016

This review examined brain imaging studies of ME/CFS and similar conditions to understand what happens in the nervous system. Researchers found that people with these conditions show increased sensitivity to pain and other sensations, suggesting these are real physical conditions—not imaginary or feigned. However, brain imaging hasn't yet revealed a single clear pattern or 'fingerprint' that all these conditions share, and we still don't know if this sensory sensitivity causes the disease or is a result of it.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Yoga intervention and functional pain syndromes: a selective review.

Sutar, Roshan, Yadav, Suresh, Desai, Geetha·International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)·2016

This review looked at studies examining whether yoga might help people with chronic pain conditions that are hard to diagnose, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that several studies suggested yoga may provide modest benefits for these types of pain conditions. However, more large-scale research is needed to confirm how helpful yoga really is.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Chronic fatigue syndrome - an update.

Rimbaut, Steven, Van Gutte, Céline, Van Brabander, Lina et al.·Acta clinica Belgica·2016

This review examined research on ME/CFS published over 25 years and found that despite extensive scientific study, no single cause of the condition has been definitively proven. Currently, the best-supported treatments are cognitive behavioral therapy (a talk therapy) and graded exercise therapy (gradually increasing activity), though these show only moderate benefits. The study highlights how common ME/CFS is and how significantly it affects people's ability to work and participate in daily life.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

A Role for the Intestinal Microbiota and Virome in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)?

Navaneetharaja, Navena, Griffiths, Verity, Wileman, Tom et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2016

This review examines whether infections—particularly viruses in the gut—might trigger ME/CFS. The authors suggest that an imbalance in the gut's microbial and viral communities could be a key factor in developing the disease. They propose that understanding these gut infections could help identify better treatments and ways to prevent ME/CFS.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Distress in significant others of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review of the literature.

Harris, Kamelia, Band, Rebecca J, Cooper, Hazel et al.·British journal of health psychology·2016

This review looked at six studies examining how ME/CFS affects the emotional health of family members and partners of patients. Most studies found that loved ones experience significant stress and worry. The review discovered that supporters feel more distressed when they blame the patient for their symptoms, when they are female, or when the patient is struggling with mental health issues. However, one study suggested that accepting the illness could help reduce this stress.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredMeta-Analysis

Effect of Acute Exercise on Fatigue in People with ME/CFS/SEID: A Meta-analysis.

Loy, Bryan D, O'Connor, Patrick J, Dishman, Rodney K·Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2016

This review of seven studies looked at how a single exercise session affects fatigue in people with ME/CFS. The combined results showed that exercise increased fatigue more in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Importantly, fatigue got worse over time—it was most noticeable 4 or more hours after exercise ended, rather than immediately during or right after the activity stopped.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The association between borderline personality disorder, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: systematic review.

Penfold, Sarah, St Denis, Emily, Mazhar, Mir Nadeem·BJPsych open·2016

This review examined whether borderline personality disorder (BPD)—a mental health condition affecting emotions and relationships—occurs more often in people with ME/CFS or fibromyalgia than in the general population. The researchers found that BPD appeared in roughly 2-17% of ME/CFS patients and 1-17% of fibromyalgia patients across different studies, but the numbers varied widely. The authors concluded that more research is needed to understand whether these conditions are truly connected.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Treatment for paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and comorbid depression: a systematic review.

Loades, Maria E, Sheils, Elizabeth A, Crawley, Esther·BMJ open·2016

This review looked at studies treating depression in children and teens with ME/CFS, since about one-third of young people with ME/CFS also experience depression. The researchers found that while some treatments like cognitive-behavioural therapy and specialized hospital programmes showed some promise in helping with depression symptoms, there are no studies specifically designed to test what works best for depression in young people with ME/CFS. This means we still don't have clear answers about the best way to help these young people.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

A systematic review of the comorbidity between Temporomandibular Disorders and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Robinson, L J, Durham, J, Newton, J L·Journal of oral rehabilitation·2016

This review looked at studies examining how often jaw and facial pain disorders (TMD) occur together with ME/CFS. Researchers found that between 21-32% of people with ME/CFS also reported jaw pain problems, and when ME/CFS was combined with fibromyalgia, this number rose to 50%. However, the quality of existing research on this topic is limited, and better studies with consistent diagnostic methods are needed to understand this connection.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

An abridged version of the Cochrane review of exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Larun, Lillebeth, Odgaard-Jensen, Jan, Price, Jonathan R et al.·European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine·2016

This review looked at 8 studies involving over 1,500 people with ME/CFS to see if exercise therapy helps. The findings suggest that graded exercise (like walking, swimming, or cycling done gradually) may reduce fatigue and improve daily functioning and sleep better than doing nothing or standard care. The therapy did not appear to make symptoms worse, though researchers need more information about its effects on pain and mood.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review.

Stadje, Rebekka, Dornieden, Katharina, Baum, Erika et al.·BMC family practice·2016

This study reviewed 26 previous research studies about why people feel tired when they visit their doctor. The researchers found that serious physical diseases are actually quite rare in tired patients—only about 4% have a serious organic condition. Depression was much more common, affecting about 18% of people who complain of tiredness. The main message is that doctors should focus on checking for depression and emotional stress rather than ordering extensive tests for serious diseases in most cases.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Differential effects of behavioral interventions with a graded physical activity component in patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue (Syndrome): An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Marques, M M, De Gucht, V, Gouveia, M J et al.·Clinical psychology review·2015

This review looked at 16 studies testing whether combining talking therapy with gradually increased physical activity helps ME/CFS patients feel less tired and function better. The researchers found small to medium improvements in fatigue, daily functioning, and mood, especially when treatments involved less frequent face-to-face contact with providers or were delivered by psychologists in hospital settings.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Diagnostic Methods for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop.

Haney, Elizabeth, Smith, M E Beth, McDonagh, Marian et al.·Annals of internal medicine·2015

This study reviewed 44 existing research papers to understand how doctors diagnose ME/CFS. Researchers found that doctors currently use nine different sets of diagnostic guidelines, and a new one was recently proposed by the Institute of Medicine. However, none of these methods have been properly tested to reliably identify ME/CFS patients in real-world situations where doctors are uncertain about the diagnosis.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

Beyond myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an IOM report on redefining an illness.

Clayton, Ellen Wright·JAMA·2015

This influential 2015 report from the Institute of Medicine recommended that doctors use a new name and definition for ME/CFS to better reflect what the illness actually is. The report emphasized that ME/CFS is a serious medical condition with real biological causes, not a psychological problem. It called for improved recognition, diagnosis, and research to help the millions of people living with this debilitating illness.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Larun, Lillebeth, Brurberg, Kjetil G, Odgaard-Jensen, Jan et al.·The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2015

This review looked at eight studies involving 1,518 people with ME/CFS to see whether exercise therapy helps. The researchers found that people who did exercise therapy reported feeling less fatigued and experienced improvements in sleep, physical functioning, and overall health compared to those receiving no special treatment. Exercise therapy appeared safe, with no serious harmful effects reported, though the studies had some limitations.

Sleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Assessment of activity limitations and participation restrictions with persons with chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Vergauwen, Kuni, Huijnen, Ivan P J, Kos, Daphne et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2015

This study looked at different questionnaires and tests that doctors use to measure how much ME/CFS affects a person's daily activities and ability to participate in life. Researchers reviewed 68 studies and found that most of these tools haven't been properly tested to make sure they accurately measure ME/CFS limitations. They recommend using a disease-specific tool called the CFS-APQ if doctors need to measure these limitations, although even this tool needs more research to be fully validated.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The effect of relaxation therapy on autonomic functioning, symptoms and daily functioning, in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia: a systematic review.

Meeus, Mira, Nijs, Jo, Vanderheiden, Tanja et al.·Clinical rehabilitation·2015

This review looked at whether relaxation techniques like guided imagery and muscle relaxation help people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Researchers examined 13 high-quality studies involving 650 fibromyalgia patients and 88 ME/CFS patients. They found that guided imagery may help with pain relief in the short term, but there wasn't enough evidence to say relaxation techniques work better than other treatment approaches, especially for ME/CFS-related fatigue.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Chronic fatigue syndrome and circulating cytokines: A systematic review.

Blundell, S, Ray, K K, Buckland, M et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2015

Researchers reviewed 38 studies looking at whether immune proteins called cytokines are elevated in people with ME/CFS. They found that one specific cytokine, TGF-β, was consistently higher in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people in about 63% of studies. However, most other immune proteins measured were normal, and exercise did not change cytokine levels differently between people with ME/CFS and healthy controls.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Symptoms and Biomarkers.

Jason, Leonard A, Zinn, Marcie L, Zinn, Mark A·Current neuropharmacology·2015

This review article examines what we know about ME/CFS symptoms and biological markers that could help diagnose the disease. The authors point out that ME/CFS is often confused with other conditions like early multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease because they share similar symptoms. They call for better standardized ways to diagnose ME/CFS and more large-scale studies to understand what's happening in the body during this illness.

Biomarkers

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Fecal microbiota transplantation broadening its application beyond intestinal disorders.

Xu, Meng-Que, Cao, Hai-Long, Wang, Wei-Qiang et al.·World journal of gastroenterology·2015

This review explores how fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)—transferring healthy gut bacteria from donors to patients—might help treat conditions beyond intestinal diseases, including chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors found that FMT has shown promise in improving insulin sensitivity in metabolic disease and has produced favorable results in case reports of patients with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting that gut bacteria imbalance may contribute to these conditions.

Immune System

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Evidence browser

Neuroimaging of Central Sensitivity Syndromes: Key Insights from the Scientific Literature.

Yoga intervention and functional pain syndromes: a selective review.

Chronic fatigue syndrome - an update.

A Role for the Intestinal Microbiota and Virome in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)?

Distress in significant others of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review of the literature.

Effect of Acute Exercise on Fatigue in People with ME/CFS/SEID: A Meta-analysis.

The association between borderline personality disorder, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: systematic review.

Treatment for paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and comorbid depression: a systematic review.

A systematic review of the comorbidity between Temporomandibular Disorders and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

An abridged version of the Cochrane review of exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review.

Differential effects of behavioral interventions with a graded physical activity component in patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue (Syndrome): An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diagnostic Methods for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop.

Beyond myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an IOM report on redefining an illness.

Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Assessment of activity limitations and participation restrictions with persons with chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

The effect of relaxation therapy on autonomic functioning, symptoms and daily functioning, in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia: a systematic review.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and circulating cytokines: A systematic review.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Symptoms and Biomarkers.

Fecal microbiota transplantation broadening its application beyond intestinal disorders.

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