ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4661–4680 of 6,188 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Same, Same But Different? Cognitive Behavioural Treatment Approaches for Paediatric CFS/ME and Depression.

Loades, M E, Chalder, T·Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy·2017

Many young people with ME/CFS also experience depression, and both conditions can be treated with a talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This paper compares how CBT is used for these two conditions in children and teenagers, explaining that while the approaches share some similarities, they focus on different problems and use different strategies to help each condition.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Post-polio syndrome. Cases report and review of literature.

Pastuszak, Żanna, Stępień, Adam, Tomczykiewicz, Kazimierz et al.·Neurologia i neurochirurgia polska·2017

Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects some people who survived polio infection, typically appearing 15 or more years after the initial infection. Common symptoms include progressive muscle weakness, muscle wasting, joint pain, fatigue that interferes with daily activities, and abnormal sensations. This study examined three patients who developed PPS and used electrical testing of muscles (electromyography) to track how their condition changed over time.

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 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 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 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclear

A woman in her 50s with chronic fatigue syndrome, sepsis and hyponatraemia.

Tazmini, Kiarash, Meling, Torstein R, Skattør, Thor Håkon et al.·Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke·2017

This case report describes a woman in her 50s with ME/CFS who developed a serious blood infection (sepsis) and low sodium levels in her blood. The doctors documented her medical history and response to treatment. This single case highlights how ME/CFS patients can develop additional serious medical complications that require careful monitoring and treatment.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

[Effect of Acupuncture on the Expression of Transcription Factor T-bet/GATA-3 in Plasma of Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

Wang, Xiang-Yi, Liu, Chang-Zheng, Lei, Bo·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2017

Researchers tested whether acupuncture could help rats with chronic fatigue syndrome by measuring changes in immune system markers. Acupuncture was applied to three specific points for two weeks, and the treated rats showed improved tiredness and swimming performance compared to untreated rats. The study suggests acupuncture may work by rebalancing immune system signals that become disrupted in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

'Betwixt and between'; liminality in recovery stories from people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Brown, Brian, Huszar, Kate, Chapman, Rosemary·Sociology of health & illness·2017

This study interviewed 16 people who felt they had recovered from ME/CFS to understand what recovery actually feels like. The researchers found that recovery isn't simply returning to normal—instead, people experience a unique state where they're caught between being sick and being well. Even as they improved, participants continued using coping strategies like rest and pacing, and many felt they couldn't fully explain their experience to others or reconnect with the ME/CFS community they'd been part of.

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 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

A robust, single-injection method for targeted, broad-spectrum plasma metabolomics.

Li, Kefeng, Naviaux, Jane C, Bright, A Taylor et al.·Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society·2017

Researchers developed a new, efficient blood test that can measure over 600 different molecules (metabolites) in a single sample to help diagnose ME/CFS. The test was validated by showing it could correctly identify ME/CFS patients with 95% accuracy compared to healthy controls, even when tested again more than a year later by different researchers.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Detection of Urine Metabolites in a Rat Model of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome before and after Exercise.

Shao, Changzhuan, Ren, Yiming, Wang, Zinan et al.·BioMed research international·2017

Researchers used rats exposed to stress and exercise to model ME/CFS and then measured chemicals in their urine before and after exercise. They found abnormalities in how the rats' bodies produce energy and process hormones, particularly in molecules called sphingosine and a hormone precursor called 21-hydroxypregnenolone. These findings suggest that ME/CFS may involve disrupted energy metabolism and problems with the body's stress-response system.

Energy MetabolismImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

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

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Cardiac sympathetic innervation associates with autonomic dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome - a pilot study.

Petrides, George, Zalewski, Pawel, McCulloch, David et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2017

This study looked at how the nervous system controls the heart in people with ME/CFS, focusing on a specific part called the sympathetic nervous system. Researchers used specialized imaging to examine nerve connections in the heart and compared them to problems with autonomic function (the automatic nervous system that controls heart rate and blood pressure). The findings suggest that differences in heart nerve connections may be related to why some ME/CFS patients experience autonomic symptoms like dizziness and heart rate changes.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Exercise - induced changes in cerebrospinal fluid miRNAs in Gulf War Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and sedentary control subjects.

Baraniuk, James N, Shivapurkar, Narayan·Scientific reports·2017

Researchers studied brain fluid from people with Gulf War Illness and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) before and after exercise to understand why exercise makes symptoms worse. They found that exercise changes certain molecules called microRNAs in the brain fluid, and these changes were different in people with CFS compared to Gulf War Illness patients. This suggests that the biological reasons these conditions cause post-exertional exhaustion may be different, even though the symptoms look similar.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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 not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-Hypermobile type.

Hakim, Alan, De Wandele, Inge, O'Callaghan, Chris et al.·American journal of medical genetics. Part C, Seminars in medical genetics·2017

Chronic fatigue is common in people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder, and can significantly reduce quality of life. This review explains that EDS and ME/CFS share similar symptoms, and some people diagnosed with ME/CFS may actually have undiagnosed EDS. Treatment requires ruling out common causes of fatigue like anemia and thyroid problems, then addressing EDS-specific issues like sleep problems, pain, heart rhythm problems, and physical deconditioning through a combination of symptom management, physical therapy, and supportive care.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Frontline Temporomandibular Joint/Orofacial Pain Therapy for Every Dental Practice.

Germain, Lisa, Malcmacher, Louis·Compendium of continuing education in dentistry (Jamesburg, N.J. : 1995)·2017

This article explains how dentists can help patients with temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) and orofacial pain using straightforward, conservative treatment approaches. The authors note that jaw pain often occurs alongside other pain conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and suggest that dentists with proper training can be a first line of care for these patients.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Neuromuscular Strain Increases Symptom Intensity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Rowe, Peter C, Fontaine, Kevin R, Lauver, Megan et al.·PloS one·2016

Researchers tested whether stretching nerves and soft tissues in the legs—by doing a simple straight leg raise test—could trigger or worsen ME/CFS symptoms. Patients with ME/CFS who received the real stretch experienced more pain, concentration problems, and lightheadedness during and 24 hours after the test, compared to those who received a fake stretch and compared to healthy people. This suggests that physical strain on nerves and tissues may be one reason why ME/CFS symptoms get worse with activity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

[Fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis: The oxygen clue].

Beretta, Pablo·Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina)·2016

This study suggests that people with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS may have problems with how their muscles use oxygen. The authors found that patients' symptoms worsened in low-oxygen environments (like high altitudes or low air pressure) and improved with treatments that increase oxygen availability, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy and coenzyme Q10 supplements. Based on three patient cases that improved with medical oxygen treatment, the authors propose that oxygen therapy might help people experiencing severe symptom flare-ups.

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Same, Same But Different? Cognitive Behavioural Treatment Approaches for Paediatric CFS/ME and Depression.

Post-polio syndrome. Cases report and review of literature.

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

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.

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

A woman in her 50s with chronic fatigue syndrome, sepsis and hyponatraemia.

[Effect of Acupuncture on the Expression of Transcription Factor T-bet/GATA-3 in Plasma of Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

'Betwixt and between'; liminality in recovery stories from people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

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

A robust, single-injection method for targeted, broad-spectrum plasma metabolomics.

Detection of Urine Metabolites in a Rat Model of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome before and after Exercise.

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

Cardiac sympathetic innervation associates with autonomic dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome - a pilot study.

Exercise - induced changes in cerebrospinal fluid miRNAs in Gulf War Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and sedentary control subjects.

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

Chronic fatigue in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-Hypermobile type.

Frontline Temporomandibular Joint/Orofacial Pain Therapy for Every Dental Practice.

Neuromuscular Strain Increases Symptom Intensity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

[Fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis: The oxygen clue].

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Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research