ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

501–520 of 6,122 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Etiology of functional somatic syndromes].

Nakao, Mutsuhiro·Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine·2009

This review explores why people develop functional somatic syndromes—a group of conditions including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome that cause real suffering but don't show clear structural damage on standard tests. The authors suggest that mood, stress sensitivity, genetics, and environment all play important roles in these conditions, and that how patients interact with their doctors matters too.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Evidence for overlap between urological and nonurological unexplained clinical conditions.

Rodríguez, María Angeles Bullones, Afari, Niloofar, Buchwald, Dedra S et al.·The Journal of urology·2009

This study examined whether several poorly understood chronic pain and fatigue conditions tend to occur together in the same patients. Researchers reviewed over 1,000 published studies and found strong evidence that conditions like chronic pelvic pain, bladder pain, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and irritable bowel syndrome frequently overlap—sometimes occurring together in up to 79% of patients. This suggests these conditions may share common underlying causes rather than being completely separate diseases.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence.

Beever, Richard·Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2009

A 2009 review examined published studies on far-infrared saunas, finding that the evidence supporting health claims is limited. Researchers observed weak evidence from single studies regarding sauna use in chronic fatigue syndrome, and fair to moderate evidence for some heart and blood pressure conditions, though the overall evidence base remains small.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

A review on cognitive behavorial therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): CBT/GET is not only ineffective and not evidence-based, but also potentially harmful for many patients with ME/CFS.

Twisk, Frank N M, Maes, Michael·Neuro endocrinology letters·2009

This review challenges the common medical recommendation to treat ME/CFS with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET). The authors argue that these treatments are not effective for ME/CFS and may actually harm many patients by worsening their symptoms, particularly through exercise-induced post-exertional malaise—a characteristic crash that occurs after physical activity. Instead, the review suggests that ME/CFS has biological causes that make intense exercise potentially dangerous rather than therapeutic.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

A systematic review of chronic fatigue, its syndromes and ethnicity: prevalence, severity, co-morbidity and coping.

Dinos, Sokratis, Khoshaba, Bernadette, Ashby, Deborah et al.·International journal of epidemiology·2009

This review looked at many studies to understand how ME/CFS (also called chronic fatigue syndrome) affects people from different ethnic backgrounds. The researchers found that African Americans and Native Americans may actually get ME/CFS more often than White Americans, which contradicts an older belief that it was mainly a condition affecting white, wealthy women. The study also found that people from minority ethnic groups with ME/CFS may experience more severe symptoms and may cope differently with their illness.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Pharmacological treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: focusing on the role of antidepressants.

Pae, Chi-Un, Marks, David M, Patkar, Ashwin A et al.·Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy·2009

This review article examines whether antidepressant medications help people with ME/CFS. The authors looked at existing research to understand how antidepressants work in ME/CFS and compared findings with related conditions like fibromyalgia and depression. While antidepressants work well for fibromyalgia, the evidence for ME/CFS is less clear and more mixed, making their use in ME/CFS treatment still debated among doctors.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Methylphenidate for the treatment of depressive symptoms, including fatigue and apathy, in medically ill older adults and terminally ill adults.

Hardy, Susan E·The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy·2009

This review looked at whether a stimulant medication called methylphenidate (Ritalin) can help treat fatigue, depression, and apathy in older adults and very ill patients. Researchers searched medical databases for studies testing this medication. While the medication appeared to be safe and tolerable, the studies weren't strong enough to prove it actually works well for these symptoms.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Biomedical and psychosocial treatment of fatigue in functional somatic syndrome].

Oka, Takakazu, Kanemitsu, Yoshio·Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine·2009

This review examined different ways to treat fatigue in people with functional somatic syndromes, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that both psychological treatments (like cognitive behavioral therapy) and physical rehabilitation (like graded exercise therapy) appear helpful for reducing fatigue, alongside medical treatments. The study suggests that a combination of approaches—addressing both the mind and body—may be important for managing fatigue in these conditions.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

As good as it gets? A meta-analysis and systematic review of methodological quality of heart rate variability studies in functional somatic disorders.

Tak, Lineke M, Riese, Harriëtte, de Bock, Geertruida H et al.·Biological psychology·2009

This research review looked at whether people with ME/CFS and similar conditions have problems with their nervous system's ability to regulate heart rate. Researchers combined results from 23 studies involving 533 patients and found weak evidence that patients may have lower parasympathetic nerve activity (the calming part of the nervous system) compared to healthy people. However, the evidence was not strong enough to draw firm conclusions, and the studies reviewed had many quality problems that made the results unreliable.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia syndrome.

Carville, S F, Arendt-Nielsen, L, Bliddal, H et al.·Annals of the rheumatic diseases·2008

European medical experts reviewed research on how to treat fibromyalgia, a condition causing widespread pain and fatigue. They looked at studies of different treatments—medicines and therapies like exercise and counseling—to see which ones worked best. Based on the strongest evidence available, they created 9 recommendations to help doctors manage fibromyalgia.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Risk factors for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic scoping review of multiple predictor studies.

Hempel, S, Chambers, D, Bagnall, A-M et al.·Psychological medicine·2008

This study looked at 11 different research projects to find out what factors might make someone more likely to develop ME/CFS. The researchers examined many potential risk factors including physical health history, emotional wellbeing, social circumstances, and environmental exposures. Unfortunately, the studies didn't consistently agree on which factors were actually important, and no single risk factor was strong enough or reliable enough to help doctors predict who would develop ME/CFS.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredEditorial

Central nervous system abnormalities in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: new concepts in treatment.

Gur, Ali, Oktayoglu, Pelin·Current pharmaceutical design·2008

This review examines how ME/CFS and fibromyalgia may both involve problems in the nervous system—specifically in how the brain processes pain, manages stress hormones, and controls automatic body functions. The authors discuss why current treatments are limited and explore new medication approaches that target brain chemicals involved in pain and fatigue.

SleepCognitive ImpairmentAutonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Approved and investigational uses of modafinil : an evidence-based review.

Kumar, Raminder·Drugs·2008

This review looked at studies testing modafinil, a medication that promotes wakefulness, in different conditions including sleep disorders and fatigue-related illnesses. The authors found that modafinil works well for approved conditions like narcolepsy and sleep apnea, but studies testing it for chronic fatigue syndrome were very small and gave unclear results. The medication can cause side effects like insomnia, headaches, and appetite loss, and may interact with other drugs.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

A systematic review of chronic fatigue syndrome: don't assume it's depression.

Griffith, James P, Zarrouf, Fahd A·Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry·2008

This review examined how ME/CFS is different from depression, since doctors often confuse the two conditions. The researchers looked at hundreds of medical articles to understand what causes ME/CFS, how to properly diagnose it, and how to treat it. They found that ME/CFS is missed in over 80% of people who have it, and is frequently wrongly labeled as depression instead.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEditorial

Customizing treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: the role of perpetuating factors.

Van Houdenhove, Boudewijn, Luyten, Patrick·Psychosomatics·2008

This review examined how ME/CFS and fibromyalgia affect people differently, and why treatments that work for some patients may not work for others. The authors found that while cognitive-behavioral therapy and graded exercise are evidence-based treatments, their success depends on identifying what specific factors are keeping each patient stuck—such as stress, sleep problems, or how they think about their illness. The key message is that personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's individual perpetuating factors are likely to be more effective than one-size-fits-all approaches.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

A systematic review of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome in China.

Wang, Tianfang, Zhang, Qunhao, Xue, Xiaolin et al.·The American journal of Chinese medicine·2008

This review looked at Chinese studies testing acupuncture and moxibustion (a heat-based treatment) for chronic fatigue syndrome. The studies reported high success rates between 79% and 100%, but the research quality was generally weak, and none used the most rigorous study design (randomized controlled trials). While these results sound promising, they need to be confirmed with better-designed studies.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Neuroaetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: an overview.

Sanders, Patricia, Korf, Jakob·The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry·2008

This review examines several competing theories about what causes ME/CFS. The authors found that while viral infections, brain hormone imbalances, immune problems, and psychological factors are all proposed as causes, none has been definitively proven. The authors suggest that ME/CFS may not be one single disease, but rather several different conditions that produce similar symptoms, which could explain why treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy work for some patients but not others.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Somatic comorbidities of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic analysis.

Riedl, Andrea, Schmidtmann, Marco, Stengel, Andreas et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2008

This study looked at other health conditions that commonly occur alongside irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Researchers found that people with IBS are twice as likely to have other physical health problems compared to people without IBS. Conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic pelvic pain appear in up to 65% of IBS patients, and digestive problems occur in about half of them.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: findings, principles and strategies.

Luyten, Patrick, Van Houdenhove, Boudewijn, Pae, Chi-Un et al.·Psychiatry investigation·2008

This review examines current treatments for ME/CFS and discusses what we know about what causes the condition. The authors suggest that effective treatment should be personalized to each patient's needs and focus on helping people make lasting changes to their lifestyle that restore both mental and physical balance. The review emphasizes that while treatments exist, many patients still have a poor prognosis even when receiving care.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Malouff, John M, Thorsteinsson, Einar B, Rooke, Sally E et al.·Clinical psychology review·2008

This study reviewed 15 previous research studies on whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy focused on thoughts and behaviors—helps people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Overall, people who received CBT showed moderate improvement in fatigue compared to those who didn't receive it. About half of the people who completed CBT no longer met the clinical criteria for severe fatigue, though some people dropped out of treatment.

Interventions

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Evidence browser

[Etiology of functional somatic syndromes].

Evidence for overlap between urological and nonurological unexplained clinical conditions.

Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence.

A review on cognitive behavorial therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): CBT/GET is not only ineffective and not evidence-based, but also potentially harmful for many patients with ME/CFS.

A systematic review of chronic fatigue, its syndromes and ethnicity: prevalence, severity, co-morbidity and coping.

Pharmacological treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: focusing on the role of antidepressants.

Methylphenidate for the treatment of depressive symptoms, including fatigue and apathy, in medically ill older adults and terminally ill adults.

[Biomedical and psychosocial treatment of fatigue in functional somatic syndrome].

As good as it gets? A meta-analysis and systematic review of methodological quality of heart rate variability studies in functional somatic disorders.

EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia syndrome.

Risk factors for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic scoping review of multiple predictor studies.

Central nervous system abnormalities in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: new concepts in treatment.

Approved and investigational uses of modafinil : an evidence-based review.

A systematic review of chronic fatigue syndrome: don't assume it's depression.

Customizing treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: the role of perpetuating factors.

A systematic review of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome in China.

Neuroaetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: an overview.

Somatic comorbidities of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic analysis.

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: findings, principles and strategies.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

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