ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

461–480 of 6,209 studies

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 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

The neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological features of chronic fatigue syndrome: revisiting the enigma.

Christley, Yvonne, Duffy, Tim, Everall, Ian Paul et al.·Current psychiatry reports·2013

This review examined how mental health symptoms like depression and cognitive problems (such as memory and concentration difficulties) commonly occur in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that depression and ME/CFS often happen together but may involve different biological mechanisms in the body, particularly involving inflammation, immune system dysfunction, and stress hormone imbalances. Understanding these connections helps explain why ME/CFS patients struggle with both physical fatigue and mental health challenges.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

A review of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Tomas, Cara, Newton, Julia, Watson, Stuart·ISRN neuroscience·2013

This review examined how ME/CFS affects the HPA axis, a system in the brain that controls stress hormones like cortisol. Researchers found that many ME/CFS patients have problems with this system, including lower cortisol levels and changes in how their bodies respond to stress. The review suggests that genetics, past trauma, and oxidative stress may play a role, and notes that women are more commonly affected than men.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Interventions in pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic review.

Knight, Sarah J, Scheinberg, Adam, Harvey, Adrienne R·The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·2013

This review looked at 21 different studies testing various treatments for ME/CFS in children and teenagers. The researchers found that talking therapies based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) showed the most promise, while rehabilitation programs showed weaker results. However, the studies were quite different from each other, making it hard to draw strong conclusions about what works best.

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 study compares ME/CFS with sickness behavior—the tired, achy feeling you get when you have the flu. While ME/CFS and sickness behavior share some symptoms like fatigue and body pain, they are fundamentally different conditions. Sickness behavior is your body's helpful, temporary response to infection that goes away once you recover, whereas ME/CFS is a chronic disease that persists long-term and involves ongoing immune system problems.

Immune System

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

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 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

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 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 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 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 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 requiredReview-Narrative

Natural killer cells in patients with severe chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brenu, E W, Hardcastle, S L, Atkinson, G M et al.·Auto- immunity highlights·2013

This review examined how natural killer (NK) cells—a type of white blood cell that fights infections and abnormal cells—work differently in ME/CFS patients. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS often have unusual numbers of NK cells or reduced ability to fight infections, which may help explain why patients suffer from persistent symptoms and recurrent infections. Understanding these immune cell problems could eventually lead to better treatments.

Immune 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

[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 requiredReview-Narrative

Pesticides and human chronic diseases: evidences, mechanisms, and perspectives.

Mostafalou, Sara, Abdollahi, Mohammad·Toxicology and applied pharmacology·2013

This review examined whether pesticide exposure is connected to various chronic illnesses, including ME/CFS. Researchers looked at evidence showing that pesticides may damage cells and disrupt the body's normal functions through several pathways, such as causing oxidative stress, harming mitochondria (the cell's energy centers), and interfering with protein disposal systems. The review suggests pesticides could contribute to many diseases, but more specific research is needed to prove direct causation in individual conditions.

Energy Metabolism

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 not requiredSystematic-Review

Fear of movement and avoidance behaviour toward physical activity in chronic-fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: state of the art and implications for clinical practice.

Nijs, Jo, Roussel, Nathalie, Van Oosterwijck, Jessica et al.·Clinical rheumatology·2013

Many people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia avoid physical activity because they fear it will make their symptoms worse—a concern that is often justified by their experience. This review looked at how common this fear and avoidance are, how they affect people's lives, and what treatments work best. The research found that fear of movement is very prevalent in both conditions and is linked to worse symptoms and lower quality of life.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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

The neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological features of chronic fatigue syndrome: revisiting the enigma.

A review of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Interventions in pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic review.

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

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

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Sleep in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Fecal microbiota transplantation: past, present and future.

Chronic fatigue syndrome following infections in adolescents.

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

Natural killer cells in patients with severe chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Pesticides and human chronic diseases: evidences, mechanisms, and perspectives.

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

Fear of movement and avoidance behaviour toward physical activity in chronic-fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: state of the art and implications for clinical practice.

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