ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

441–460 of 6,122 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Unstimulated cortisol secretory activity in everyday life and its relationship with fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and subset meta-analysis.

Powell, Daniel J H, Liossi, Christina, Moss-Morris, Rona et al.·Psychoneuroendocrinology·2013

This review looked at whether cortisol levels (a stress hormone) measured in saliva throughout the day are different in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS showed a slightly smaller increase in cortisol when they first wake up, compared to healthy people. However, total cortisol levels during the day were not consistently related to how fatigued people felt.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Fecal microbiota transplantation: past, present and future.

Aroniadis, Olga C, Brandt, Lawrence J·Current opinion in gastroenterology·2013

This review examines fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a treatment that restores healthy gut bacteria by transferring stool from a healthy donor to a patient. While FMT works very well for a specific bacterial infection, researchers are exploring whether it might help with other conditions including gut disorders and diseases affecting other parts of the body, such as chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors emphasize that more research is needed before FMT can be widely used for conditions beyond its proven application.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Moss-Morris, Rona, Deary, Vincent, Castell, Bronwyn·Handbook of clinical neurology·2013

ME/CFS is a complex illness where extreme tiredness lasts at least 6 months and can severely limit daily activities. Rather than having one single cause, the condition likely develops from a combination of factors: some people may be triggered by viral infections or stressful life events, while others have genetic traits or personality patterns that increase risk. The condition is then maintained by a cycle involving sleep problems, reduced activity, worry about the illness, and uncertainty from doctors. Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise have shown promise in helping reduce fatigue and improve function.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Sleep in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mariman, An N, Vogelaers, Dirk P, Tobback, Els et al.·Sleep medicine reviews·2013

Many people with ME/CFS report that their sleep doesn't feel refreshing, even when they sleep a normal amount. This review looked at whether ME/CFS patients actually have measurable sleep problems. Surprisingly, when doctors measured sleep objectively using machines, ME/CFS patients' sleep looked similar to healthy people's sleep, even though patients reported feeling worse. This suggests that the problem may be more about how patients perceive their sleep quality rather than an actual biological sleep disorder.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Is chronic fatigue syndrome the same illness as fibromyalgia: evaluating the 'single syndrome' hypothesis.

Abbi, B, Natelson, B H·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·2013

This study looked at whether ME/CFS and fibromyalgia are actually the same illness or two different conditions. Researchers reviewed published studies comparing these two syndromes and found meaningful differences between them, suggesting they are distinct illnesses rather than just variations of one condition. This finding helps doctors understand that these are separate health problems that may need different approaches to treatment.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Heart rate variability in patients with fibromyalgia and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Meeus, Mira, Goubert, Dorien, De Backer, Fien et al.·Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism·2013

This review looked at 16 studies comparing heart rhythm patterns between people with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and healthy controls. Both conditions showed changes in how the heart responds to stress, but the patterns were different: fibromyalgia patients had heart rhythm problems throughout the day, while CFS patients mainly showed them during sleep. Exercise helped improve heart rhythm patterns in fibromyalgia patients.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalomyelitis: a meta-analysis.

Johnston, Samantha, Brenu, Ekua W, Staines, Donald et al.·Clinical epidemiology·2013

This study looked at 14 different research studies to understand how many people have ME/CFS. The researchers found that when people reported their own symptoms, about 3.3% said they had ME/CFS, but when doctors clinically assessed patients, only about 0.76% were diagnosed. This big difference suggests that how doctors test for and diagnose ME/CFS matters a lot.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

Generalised and regional soft tissue pain syndromes. The role of physical and rehabilitation medicine physicians. The European perspective based on the best evidence. A paper by the UEMS-PRM Section Professional Practice Committee.

Oral, A, Ilieva, E M, Küçükdeveci, A A et al.·European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine·2013

This paper describes how rehabilitation doctors in Europe can help patients with widespread and localized soft tissue pain conditions, including ME/CFS. The authors review the best available evidence for treatments like exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, physical therapies, and newer techniques like brain stimulation to reduce pain and improve quality of life.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome following infections in adolescents.

Katz, Ben Z, Jason, Leonard A·Current opinion in pediatrics·2013

This review examined teenagers who developed chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) after infections like mononucleosis. About 13% of teens had ME/CFS six months after infection, dropping to 7% at one year and 4% at two years. The good news is that teenagers generally recover better from post-infectious ME/CFS than adults do.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Mindfulness-based therapies in the treatment of somatization disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lakhan, Shaheen E, Schofield, Kerry L·PloS one·2013

This review looked at 13 studies testing whether mindfulness-based therapy (a technique that teaches people to focus on the present moment without judgment) helps people with conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers found that mindfulness therapy showed small to moderate benefits for reducing pain, symptom severity, depression, and anxiety, and for improving quality of life, though the overall evidence was limited.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

The adoption of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis case definitions to assess prevalence: a systematic review.

Johnston, Samantha, Brenu, Ekua W, Staines, Donald R et al.·Annals of epidemiology·2013

This study looked at 31 different research projects that tried to measure how many people have ME/CFS, and found that scientists were using 8 different sets of diagnostic criteria (rules for identifying the illness). The 1994 CDC criteria became the most commonly used worldwide, but the authors argue that newer, more precise diagnostic standards like the Canadian Consensus Criteria and International Consensus Criteria should be used instead to get more accurate prevalence numbers.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Is there effective behavioural treatment for children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis?

Smith, Simon N, Crawley, Esther·Archives of disease in childhood·2013

This review examined whether talking therapies and behavioral approaches can effectively treat ME/CFS in children. The researchers looked at existing studies to understand what treatments have been tested and how well they worked. This helps doctors and families understand what options might help children with ME/CFS manage their condition.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Henningsen, P, Martin, A·Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)·2013

ME/CFS is characterized by persistent, severe fatigue that cannot be traced to a known medical condition. This guideline emphasizes that ME/CFS should be understood as a functional somatic syndrome, meaning the body's systems aren't working optimally even though traditional tests may appear normal. Treatment recommendations include cognitive behavioral therapy and gradually increasing physical activity, which have shown evidence of benefit.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Self-esteem of children and adolescents with chronic illness: a meta-analysis.

Pinquart, M·Child: care, health and development·2013

This study combined results from 621 research studies to see whether children and teens with long-term illnesses have lower self-esteem (feeling good about themselves) compared to healthy peers. The findings show that children with chronic illnesses do tend to have somewhat lower self-esteem, with children who have chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and chronic headaches experiencing the most significant drops. The study suggests that helping these children experience success and maintain good friendships can boost their self-esteem.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

A narrative review on the similarities and dissimilarities between myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and sickness behavior.

Morris, Gerwyn, Anderson, George, Galecki, Piotr et al.·BMC medicine·2013

This narrative review compared ME/CFS to 'sickness behavior'—the temporary fatigue and malaise that normally follows infection or injury. While the two conditions share some symptoms like fatigue and body pain, the authors observed key differences: sickness behavior is short-term and helps the body recover, whereas ME/CFS is a prolonged, disabling illness. The review concludes these are distinct conditions, though definitive evidence about ME/CFS triggers remains incomplete.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Systematic reviews of TCM trials: how does inclusion of Chinese trials affect outcome?

Adams, Denise, Wu, Taixiang, Yasui, Yutaka et al.·Journal of evidence-based medicine·2012

This study looked at whether including research studies published in Chinese would change what we know about treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and infectious mononucleosis with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Researchers searched both English and Chinese databases for high-quality studies. While searching Chinese databases found many more studies than English databases, most of these studies had serious design problems and couldn't be used to draw reliable conclusions.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Pacing as a strategy to improve energy management in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a consensus document.

Goudsmit, Ellen M, Nijs, Jo, Jason, Leonard A et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2012

This review examined pacing, a strategy where people with ME/CFS carefully manage their energy use to avoid overexertion. The researchers found that pacing is one of the most helpful approaches patients report using, and evidence suggests it can help stabilize symptoms and reduce post-exertional malaise (the characteristic worsening that follows activity). Pacing can be adjusted to fit each person's individual abilities and is generally accepted well by patients.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and treatment.

Yancey, Joseph R, Thomas, Sarah M·American family physician·2012

ME/CFS is a serious illness causing extreme tiredness that doesn't improve with rest, often accompanied by muscle pain, sleep problems, and difficulty thinking clearly. Doctors diagnose it by checking for severe fatigue lasting over six months plus at least four other specific symptoms, while ruling out other diseases. Currently, talk therapy and structured exercise programs show modest benefits, though no medications or alternative treatments have proven effective.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Sleep abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a review.

Jackson, Melinda L, Bruck, Dorothy·Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine·2012

People with ME/CFS often complain of sleep that doesn't feel refreshing, even when they sleep for normal or long amounts of time. This review looked at research studies measuring sleep in ME/CFS patients and found that standard sleep tests usually don't show obvious differences between patients and healthy people. However, newer, more detailed measurement techniques are beginning to reveal subtle sleep problems that standard tests miss.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The prevalence of fibromyalgia in other chronic pain conditions.

Yunus, Muhammad B·Pain research and treatment·2012

This review examined how often fibromyalgia (a condition causing widespread pain and fatigue) occurs alongside other chronic pain conditions, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that fibromyalgia frequently co-occurs with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and osteoarthritis, and that it can be missed or misdiagnosed in people who have these other diseases. Recognizing fibromyalgia separately is important because it may change how doctors treat patients and what medications they use.

Pain and Sensitization

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Unstimulated cortisol secretory activity in everyday life and its relationship with fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and subset meta-analysis.

Fecal microbiota transplantation: past, present and future.

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sleep in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Is chronic fatigue syndrome the same illness as fibromyalgia: evaluating the 'single syndrome' hypothesis.

Heart rate variability in patients with fibromyalgia and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalomyelitis: a meta-analysis.

Generalised and regional soft tissue pain syndromes. The role of physical and rehabilitation medicine physicians. The European perspective based on the best evidence. A paper by the UEMS-PRM Section Professional Practice Committee.

Chronic fatigue syndrome following infections in adolescents.

Mindfulness-based therapies in the treatment of somatization disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The adoption of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis case definitions to assess prevalence: a systematic review.

Is there effective behavioural treatment for children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis?

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Self-esteem of children and adolescents with chronic illness: a meta-analysis.

A narrative review on the similarities and dissimilarities between myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and sickness behavior.

Systematic reviews of TCM trials: how does inclusion of Chinese trials affect outcome?

Pacing as a strategy to improve energy management in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a consensus document.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and treatment.

Sleep abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a review.

The prevalence of fibromyalgia in other chronic pain conditions.

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