ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4661–4680 of 6,209 studies

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Emotional conflict processing in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Wortinger, Laura Anne, Endestad, Tor, Melinder, Annika Maria D et al.·Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology·2017

This study looked at how the brains of teenagers with ME/CFS process emotions and handle conflicting information. Researchers used brain imaging to watch what happened when young people with ME/CFS and healthy teenagers tried to identify emotions in faces while being distracted by conflicting words. Teenagers with ME/CFS showed weaker brain responses in areas that handle emotions and decision-making, and their brain activity was linked to how severe their fatigue was.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

Myalgic encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria.

Journal of internal medicine·2017

This guideline establishes internationally agreed-upon criteria for diagnosing ME/CFS, helping doctors around the world recognize the condition consistently. It brings together expert knowledge to create clear standards for who has ME/CFS based on symptoms like post-exertional malaise (worsening after activity), sleep problems, cognitive difficulties, and pain. Having a shared definition makes it easier for patients to get accurate diagnoses and for researchers to study the same condition across different countries.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Non-linear dose-response of aluminium hydroxide adjuvant particles: Selective low dose neurotoxicity.

Crépeaux, Guillemette, Eidi, Housam, David, Marie-Odile et al.·Toxicology·2017

This study gave mice different amounts of aluminum hydroxide (a substance used in vaccines) injected into muscle and then checked their brains 6 months later. Surprisingly, the mice that received the lowest dose showed cognitive and movement changes, increased immune cell activity in the brain, and accumulated more aluminum in their brains—while the mice given higher doses did not. This unusual pattern suggests that aluminum's harmful effects may not simply follow the traditional "more dose = more harm" rule.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Two hundreds cases of ASIA syndrome following silicone implants: a comparative study of 30 years and a review of current literature.

Colaris, Maartje J L, de Boer, Mintsje, van der Hulst, Rene R et al.·Immunologic research·2017

This study compared 200 patients with silicone breast implants who developed autoimmune and inflammatory symptoms (a condition called ASIA) across two time periods—100 patients in 2014 and 100 historical patients from the 1980s–1990s. The researchers found that the symptoms remained similar over 30 years, including fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, and fever. About half of the patients who had their implants removed experienced symptom improvement.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

[Environmental medical syndromes].

Wiesmüller, Gerhard A, Hornberg, Claudia·Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz·2017

This editorial discusses several conditions that seem related to environmental exposures and stress, including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivities. The authors explain that we don't yet fully understand what causes these conditions or how to diagnose and treat them properly. They emphasize that doctors should take patients seriously and help them even while research continues to find answers.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryPEM not required

Exploring the potential role of the advanced nurse practitioner within a care path for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ryckeghem, Hannah, Delesie, Liesbeth, Tobback, Els et al.·Journal of advanced nursing·2017

This study asked ME/CFS patients and their doctors in Belgium what they thought about their care. Both groups reported feeling isolated and unsupported—patients didn't know who to turn to for reliable information, and doctors weren't sure how to help. The researchers suggest that having a specialized nurse coordinator could improve communication, provide education, and help different healthcare providers work together better for ME/CFS patients.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

Group 6. Modalities and frequency of monitoring of patients with adrenal insufficiency. Patient education.

Guignat, Laurence, Proust-Lemoine, Emmanuelle, Reznik, Yves et al.·Annales d'endocrinologie·2017

This guideline explains how people with adrenal insufficiency (a condition where the body cannot make enough cortisol) should be monitored by their doctors and what they should learn to manage their condition safely. Patients need regular check-ups, should learn how to recognize warning signs of a crisis, know how to adjust their medication, and be able to give themselves emergency injections. The guideline emphasizes helping patients become independent in managing their illness and mentions that special care programs may help people with chronic fatigue avoid taking too much cortisol replacement.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Inducing Somatic Symptoms in Functional Syndrome Patients: Effects of Manipulating State Negative Affect.

Van Den Houte, Maaike, Bogaerts, Katleen, Van Diest, Ilse et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2017

This study looked at whether negative emotions can trigger or worsen physical symptoms in people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Researchers showed patients and healthy people emotionally negative, neutral, and positive pictures, then asked them to report what physical symptoms they felt. Patients with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia reported more symptoms after viewing negative pictures, while healthy people did not. The effect was stronger in patients who had difficulty recognizing their own feelings or who became deeply absorbed in things.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

Causes, assessment and management of fatigue in critically ill patients.

Cajanding, Ruff Jm·British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)·2017

Fatigue is one of the most distressing symptoms experienced by patients in intensive care units (ICUs), and it often continues long after patients leave the hospital. This article discusses what causes fatigue in critically ill patients, how doctors and nurses can better recognize and assess it, and what treatments might help. The authors emphasize that nurses play an important role in identifying patients at risk and managing their fatigue.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

A Novel Approach to Treating CFS and Co-morbid Health Anxiety: A Case Study.

Daniels, Jo, Loades, Maria E·Clinical psychology & psychotherapy·2017

This study looked at treating ME/CFS in one patient who also had anxiety about their health. Instead of using standard treatments alone, doctors used a customized approach combining techniques for both the physical fatigue and the worry about health. After 8 sessions, the patient's symptoms improved significantly and stayed better a year later, suggesting this combined approach might help others with ME/CFS.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Adult patients' experiences of NHS specialist services for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME): a qualitative study in England.

Broughton, Jessica, Harris, Sarah, Beasant, Lucy et al.·BMC health services research·2017

This study asked 16 ME/CFS patients about their experiences receiving care at NHS specialist clinics in England. Patients reported that specialist services were valuable because doctors recognized their condition as real, provided practical advice, and offered emotional support—things many had not received before. Key helpful factors included supportive relationships with clinicians, flexibility in treatment, and the patient's own perseverance and optimism.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

"It´s incredible how much I´ve had to fight." Negotiating medical uncertainty in clinical encounters.

Lian, Olaug S, Robson, Catherine·International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being·2017

This study asked 256 people with long-term unexplained fatigue in Norway to describe their experiences with doctors. Most patients felt their doctors didn't believe them, gave unhelpful psychological explanations, didn't do proper physical exams, and didn't listen to what they knew about their own condition. Patients described these encounters using words like 'fighting' and 'war,' showing how stressful and adversarial these medical visits felt.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Patients' Participation in Health Research: A Classification of Cooperation Schemes.

Las Vergnas, Olivier·Journal of participatory medicine·2017

This paper examines different ways that patients and patient organizations can participate in health research. The authors created a framework to classify and compare these different types of involvement, from minimal participation to patients being equal partners in designing and running studies. They found that when patient organizations are actively involved, research tends to be more thoughtful and reflective—especially important for conditions like ME/CFS where traditional medical testing may not capture the full picture.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

The variation of the 5-hydroxytryptamine system between chronic unpredictable mild stress rats and chronic fatigue syndrome rats induced by forced treadmill running.

Cao, Yin, Li, Qinglin·Neuroreport·2017

This study compared how serotonin (a brain chemical linked to mood and energy) works differently in two types of animal models—one mimicking stress-related depression and another mimicking ME/CFS. Surprisingly, the two conditions showed opposite patterns: the stress model had low serotonin levels, while the fatigue model had high serotonin levels, suggesting these conditions may involve different biological mechanisms even though both cause low activity and mood problems.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Nitrosative Stress, Hypernitrosylation, and Autoimmune Responses to Nitrosylated Proteins: New Pathways in Neuroprogressive Disorders Including Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Morris, Gerwyn, Berk, Michael, Klein, Hans et al.·Molecular neurobiology·2017

This study proposes that ME/CFS may be caused by a harmful process called 'hypernitrosylation,' where a molecule called nitric oxide damages proteins in cells, particularly those responsible for producing energy and fighting infections. When this damage becomes chronic, it can disable the body's natural repair systems and trigger the immune system to attack the body's own proteins. The researchers suggest this process could explain many ME/CFS symptoms, including fatigue, cognitive problems, and how bacterial toxins may trigger or worsen the disease.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Epistemic injustice in healthcare encounters: evidence from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Blease, Charlotte, Carel, Havi, Geraghty, Keith·Journal of medical ethics·2017

Many doctors are uncertain whether ME/CFS is a real medical condition, and some patients report feeling disbelieved or suspected by healthcare providers. This study shows that patients with ME/CFS often experience unfair treatment in medical settings because doctors may not take their symptoms seriously. This type of dismissal—called epistemic injustice—can delay diagnosis and proper care for people with this serious illness.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Impaired calcium mobilization in natural killer cells from chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients is associated with transient receptor potential melastatin 3 ion channels.

Nguyen, T, Johnston, S, Clarke, L et al.·Clinical and experimental immunology·2017

This study examined immune cells called natural killer cells in ME/CFS patients and healthy people to understand how calcium moves in and out of these cells. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients have lower levels of a specific channel (TRPM3) that helps control calcium movement in certain types of natural killer cells. The study suggests that problems with calcium signaling in these immune cells may contribute to how the immune system behaves differently in ME/CFS patients.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mechanisms Explaining Muscle Fatigue and Muscle Pain in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): a Review of Recent Findings.

Gerwyn, Morris, Maes, Michael·Current rheumatology reports·2017

This review examines why ME/CFS patients experience muscle fatigue and pain. Researchers found that several biological problems may contribute to these symptoms: damaged cellular energy factories (mitochondria), harmful stress molecules building up in the body, and reduced production of protective proteins. These problems together may explain why ME/CFS patients get tired quickly and struggle with exercise.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The interface between chronic fatigue syndrome and depression: A psychobiological and neurophysiological conundrum.

Larkin, Derek, Martin, Colin R·Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology·2017

Many people with ME/CFS experience depression alongside their physical symptoms, but it's unclear whether depression causes the fatigue, results from it, or whether they share common underlying biological causes. This paper reviews what we know about the connection between ME/CFS and depression, examining possible explanations from brain function, immune system activity, and psychological factors. Understanding this relationship better could help doctors develop more effective treatments that address both the fatigue and mood symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

CNS findings in chronic fatigue syndrome and a neuropathological case report.

Ferrero, Kimberly, Silver, Mitchell, Cocchetto, Alan et al.·Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research·2017

This study examines brain tissue from one person who had ME/CFS and died, looking for physical changes that might explain the illness. Researchers found several abnormalities in the brain including areas of damaged nerve fibers, tangles similar to those seen in Alzheimer's disease, and deposits of a protein called amyloid. These findings suggest that ME/CFS may involve damage to the brain's structure and deserve further investigation.

Neuroinflammation

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Emotional conflict processing in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria.

Non-linear dose-response of aluminium hydroxide adjuvant particles: Selective low dose neurotoxicity.

Two hundreds cases of ASIA syndrome following silicone implants: a comparative study of 30 years and a review of current literature.

[Environmental medical syndromes].

Exploring the potential role of the advanced nurse practitioner within a care path for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Group 6. Modalities and frequency of monitoring of patients with adrenal insufficiency. Patient education.

Inducing Somatic Symptoms in Functional Syndrome Patients: Effects of Manipulating State Negative Affect.

Causes, assessment and management of fatigue in critically ill patients.

A Novel Approach to Treating CFS and Co-morbid Health Anxiety: A Case Study.

Adult patients' experiences of NHS specialist services for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME): a qualitative study in England.

"It´s incredible how much I´ve had to fight." Negotiating medical uncertainty in clinical encounters.

Patients' Participation in Health Research: A Classification of Cooperation Schemes.

The variation of the 5-hydroxytryptamine system between chronic unpredictable mild stress rats and chronic fatigue syndrome rats induced by forced treadmill running.

Nitrosative Stress, Hypernitrosylation, and Autoimmune Responses to Nitrosylated Proteins: New Pathways in Neuroprogressive Disorders Including Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Epistemic injustice in healthcare encounters: evidence from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Impaired calcium mobilization in natural killer cells from chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients is associated with transient receptor potential melastatin 3 ion channels.

Mechanisms Explaining Muscle Fatigue and Muscle Pain in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): a Review of Recent Findings.

The interface between chronic fatigue syndrome and depression: A psychobiological and neurophysiological conundrum.

CNS findings in chronic fatigue syndrome and a neuropathological case report.

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