ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

401–420 of 6,122 studies

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 unclearEvidence-Map

National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Advancing the Research on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Green, Carmen R, Cowan, Penney, Elk, Ronit et al.·Annals of internal medicine·2015

In 2015, the National Institutes of Health organized a major workshop bringing together experts to review what scientists know about ME/CFS and identify the most important questions that still need answers. The experts reviewed existing research evidence, listened to presentations, and considered feedback from patients and the public to create a roadmap for future research studies. This effort helped the U.S. medical and research community agree on which ME/CFS research areas should receive priority and funding.

Diagnostics

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

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

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

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

This study reviewed 35 clinical trials testing different treatments for ME/CFS to see what actually works. The researchers found that a few treatments showed promise—particularly a drug called rintatolimod for exercise performance, and talking therapies plus graded exercise programs for improving fatigue and daily functioning—but most other treatments tested didn't have enough evidence to prove they help. Overall, doctors still need better studies to know for sure which treatments work best for different patients.

Interventions

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 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.

ME/CFS (general)

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 not requiredSystematic-Review

Effectiveness of body awareness interventions in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Courtois, Imke, Cools, Filip, Calsius, Joeri·Journal of bodywork and movement therapies·2015

This review looked at 29 studies testing whether body awareness exercises—activities that help you tune into and understand your body's signals—might help people with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS. The researchers found that these interventions did show modest improvements in pain, fatigue impact, mood, anxiety, and overall quality of life. However, the results varied quite a bit between studies, so it's not yet clear which approaches work best or for whom.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Patient Outcomes in Association With Significant Other Responses to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Band, Rebecca, Wearden, Alison, Barrowclough, Christine·Clinical psychology : a publication of the Division of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association·2015

This review looked at 14 studies examining how the people close to ME/CFS patients respond to their illness and how these responses affect patient outcomes. The researchers found that when loved ones blame patients for causing or worsening their illness, patients experience more emotional distress. Interestingly, both overly caring responses and negative responses from significant others were linked to worse symptoms and disability.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cleare, Anthony J, Reid, Steven, Chalder, Trudie et al.·BMJ clinical evidence·2015

This research review looked at treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and found that the condition affects between 0.006% and 3% of people depending on how it's diagnosed, with women more commonly affected than men. The researchers searched multiple medical databases for studies on four main treatments: antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy (a type of talk therapy), corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory drugs), and graded exercise therapy. They carefully reviewed 15 high-quality studies to evaluate how well these treatments work and whether they're safe.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness

Institute of Medicine Committee on the Diagnostic Criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome·National Academies Press·2015

The US Institute of Medicine reviewed over 9,000 scientific articles to establish new diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. The report introduced SEID (Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease) as a proposed name and established that ME/CFS is a serious, chronic, complex systemic disease. New criteria require PEM, unrefreshing sleep, plus cognitive impairment or orthostatic intolerance.

Diagnostics

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 unclearSystematic-Review

Overcoming the barriers to the diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME in primary care: a meta synthesis of qualitative studies.

Bayliss, Kerin, Goodall, Mark, Chisholm, Anna et al.·BMC family practice·2014

This study looked at 21 previous research articles about why many doctors struggle to diagnose and treat ME/CFS in general practice. The main problem found was that many doctors don't fully understand the condition and rely too much on traditional medical thinking that looks for single physical causes. Doctors who successfully diagnosed and managed ME/CFS patients tended to take a wider view of the illness and worked together with patients to find management strategies that worked for them.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Neurological aspects of human parvovirus B19 infection: a systematic review.

Barah, Faraj, Whiteside, Sigrid, Batista, Sonia et al.·Reviews in medical virology·2014

This review examined published cases where parvovirus B19 (a common virus) was linked to neurological problems like brain inflammation and nerve damage. Researchers found 129 documented cases in medical literature, with the majority involving brain-related symptoms. The study suggests doctors should consider B19 testing when patients have unexplained brain inflammation, and that certain treatments (immunoglobulins and steroids) may help in severe cases.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Diagnosis and Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Smith, M E Beth, Nelson, Heidi D, Haney, Elizabeth et al.·Evidence report/technology assessment·2014

This review examined research on how doctors diagnose ME/CFS and which treatments help patients. Researchers looked at 71 studies and found that there is no single agreed-upon way to diagnose ME/CFS, and different diagnostic criteria identify somewhat different groups of patients. Some treatments like counseling and graded exercise showed benefits for fatigue and quality of life, though graded exercise was associated with more reported side effects.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Irritable bowel syndrome: relations with functional, mental, and somatoform disorders.

Hausteiner-Wiehle, Constanze, Henningsen, Peter·World journal of gastroenterology·2014

This review looked at how irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) relates to other conditions like ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, as well as depression and anxiety. The authors found that IBS often occurs alongside these other conditions and that about half of IBS patients have no mental health symptoms, while the other half do. They suggest that doctors should treat IBS as a complex condition that affects multiple body systems and the mind, rather than separating physical symptoms from mental ones.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

A review of the predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in children and adolescents.

Lievesley, Kate, Rimes, Katharine A, Chalder, Trudie·Clinical psychology review·2014

This review looked at 79 studies to understand what factors might contribute to ME/CFS in children and teenagers. The researchers found that young people with ME/CFS are more likely to also experience anxiety or depression than healthy peers. Many patients reported their illness started after an infection, and some families seemed to have multiple members with ME/CFS, though the research on these patterns is still developing.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Gynecological disorders in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients.

Cervigni, Mauro, Natale, Franca·International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association·2014

This review examined how often bladder pain syndrome (chronic bladder inflammation and pain) occurs together with gynecological conditions like endometriosis and vulvodynia in women. The researchers found that these conditions frequently overlap—for example, about 48% of women with endometriosis also have bladder pain syndrome. They also found that pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is very common in bladder pain patients, affecting up to 87% of them.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Traditional Chinese medicine for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

Wang, Yu-Yi, Li, Xin-Xue, Liu, Jian-Ping et al.·Complementary therapies in medicine·2014

This review examined 23 studies testing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome, involving 1,776 patients. The treatments included herbal medicines, acupuncture, qigong, and other TCM approaches. Most studies found that TCM helped reduce fatigue symptoms, though the quality of these studies was often poor, and it's unclear if TCM improves overall quality of life for patients.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Psychological trauma and functional somatic syndromes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Afari, Niloofar, Ahumada, Sandra M, Wright, Lisa Johnson et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2014

This meta-analysis reviewed 71 studies to examine whether people who experienced psychological trauma are more likely to develop conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers found that people reporting trauma exposure were approximately 2.7 times more likely to have one of these conditions, though the strength of this association varied depending on the type of trauma and condition studied. However, the authors note that most studies in the review had methodological limitations, and they emphasize that further research is needed to clarify whether trauma directly causes these conditions or is simply associated with them.

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Symptoms and Biomarkers.

National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Advancing the Research on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Fecal microbiota transplantation broadening its application beyond intestinal disorders.

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

Chronic fatigue syndrome and circulating cytokines: A systematic review.

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

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.

Effectiveness of body awareness interventions in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patient Outcomes in Association With Significant Other Responses to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness

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

Overcoming the barriers to the diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME in primary care: a meta synthesis of qualitative studies.

Neurological aspects of human parvovirus B19 infection: a systematic review.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome: relations with functional, mental, and somatoform disorders.

A review of the predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in children and adolescents.

Gynecological disorders in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients.

Traditional Chinese medicine for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

Psychological trauma and functional somatic syndromes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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