ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

501–520 of 6,157 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The genetics and epigenetics of fatigue.

Landmark-Høyvik, Hege, Reinertsen, Kristin V, Loge, Jon H et al.·PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation·2010

This study reviewed scientific literature to understand whether genetics (inherited traits) and epigenetics (chemical changes that affect how genes work) influence fatigue in people with ME/CFS and other conditions. The researchers found that while some biological systems appear to malfunction in people with persistent fatigue, no clear genetic or epigenetic markers have been reliably identified yet. The authors argue that future research needs to be larger, better-designed, and consider how genes, environment, and body systems work together.

Endocrine DisruptionBiomarkers

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Clinical uses of melatonin: evaluation of human trials.

Sánchez-Barceló, E J, Mediavilla, M D, Tan, D X et al.·Current medicinal chemistry·2010

This review looked at 20 years of clinical trials testing whether melatonin (a natural hormone that regulates sleep) could help treat various diseases. The researchers found that melatonin appears to be safe and helpful for sleep problems and certain conditions, but more research is needed to confirm whether it helps with chronic fatigue syndrome and other illnesses.

Sleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Psychiatric aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Van Houdenhove, Boudewijn, Kempke, Stefan, Luyten, Patrick·Current psychiatry reports·2010

This review examines how ME/CFS and fibromyalgia are connected to psychiatric symptoms like depression and stress. The authors explain that these conditions involve overlapping physical symptoms—extreme tiredness, difficulty with activity, brain fog, and widespread pain—that often start after infections or injuries. They suggest that the best approach for patients is personalized lifestyle management and self-care tailored to individual needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment.

Sleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Cognitive functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Cockshell, S J, Mathias, J L·Psychological medicine·2010

This study combined results from 50 research papers to understand how ME/CFS affects thinking and memory. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have real, measurable problems with attention, memory, and processing speed—essentially, the brain takes longer to handle and organize information. However, other thinking skills like vocabulary, reasoning, and basic motor skills were not affected.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: is there a role for non-antidepressant pharmacotherapy?

Van Houdenhove, Boudewijn, Pae, Chi-Un, Luyten, Patrick·Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy·2010

This review examined whether medications can help ME/CFS patients. Researchers looked at studies from 1988 to 2009 and found that while some drugs (like antivirals and antibiotics) might temporarily help symptoms, they can also cause more harm than good. A few stimulant medications helped some patients, but the long-term safety is unclear. The authors concluded that medications alone are not the best first-line treatment and work best alongside self-management and rehabilitation.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Possible detrimental effects of cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Heins, Marianne J, Knoop, Hans, Prins, Judith B et al.·Psychotherapy and psychosomatics·2010

This study looked at whether cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) makes ME/CFS worse for some patients. Researchers combined data from three separate trials and found that patients getting CBT were no more likely to experience symptom worsening than patients not receiving treatment. The researchers concluded that CBT appears to be a safe treatment for ME/CFS.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Alternative medical interventions used in the treatment and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Porter, Nicole S, Jason, Leonard A, Boulton, Aaron et al.·Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2010

This review looked at 70 research studies testing complementary and alternative treatments for ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. The researchers found that most studies (86%) reported at least some positive effect from the treatments tested, with acupuncture, meditation practices, and supplements like magnesium and L-carnitine showing the most promise. However, the quality of these studies varied widely, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about which treatments actually work.

Interventions

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 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 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 requiredReview-Narrative

Evidence-based efficacy of adaptogens in fatigue, and molecular mechanisms related to their stress-protective activity.

Panossian, Alexander, Wikman, Georg·Current clinical pharmacology·2009

This review examined whether herbal supplements called adaptogens can help with fatigue and ME/CFS. Researchers found that some adaptogens—particularly Rhodiola rosea—showed promise in clinical studies for improving attention, thinking, and mental energy in people with fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome. The review suggests these herbs may work by helping the body manage stress through changes in specific stress-response proteins and hormones.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

The expressed needs of people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic review.

Drachler, Maria de Lourdes, Leite, Jose Carlos de Carvalho, Hooper, Lee et al.·BMC public health·2009

This review looked at 32 studies involving over 2,500 people with ME/CFS to understand what kind of support they need most. The research found that people with ME/CFS want help understanding their illness and getting a diagnosis, respect from doctors and healthcare workers, support from family and friends, reliable information about the condition, and practical strategies to manage their symptoms and stay connected with others. The most important finding was that healthcare providers and those around patients need to truly understand ME/CFS and respond with compassion to help people rebuild their lives.

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 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

CFS: A Review of Epidemiology and Natural History Studies.

Jason, Leonard A, Porter, Nicole, Brown, Molly et al.·Bulletin of the IACFS/ME·2009

Most ME/CFS research has only studied patients who went to doctors or hospitals, which misses people from minority communities and lower-income backgrounds who may not have access to medical care. This review looks at what we know about how common ME/CFS is, how it develops, and what factors increase the risk of getting it. The authors highlight one study that looked at ME/CFS in a diverse urban community rather than just in clinic patients, which gives a more accurate picture of the illness.

Diagnostics

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

This review looked at nine published studies about far-infrared saunas and their health benefits. The researchers found weak evidence from just one study suggesting that far-infrared saunas might help with chronic fatigue syndrome, though the evidence is too limited to make firm recommendations. While manufacturers claim many health benefits for these saunas, most claims are not well supported by scientific research.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

[A meta analysis on randomized controlled trials of acupuncture treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Wang, Jing-jing, Song, Yu-jing, Wu, Zhong-chao et al.·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2009

This review analyzed 28 studies testing whether acupuncture helps people with ME/CFS. Researchers combined results from randomized controlled trials (the gold standard for testing treatments) and found that patients receiving acupuncture reported better outcomes than those in control groups. However, the authors note that more high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Interventions

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

Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for the treatment of idiopathic chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Adams, Denise, Wu, Taixiang, Yang, Xunzhe et al.·The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2009

This study looked at whether herbal medicines used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could help treat chronic fatigue and ME/CFS. Researchers searched through thousands of medical studies to find high-quality tests comparing TCM herbs to placebo or standard treatments, but they found that none of the available studies were rigorous enough to draw reliable conclusions about whether these treatments actually work.

Interventions

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

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Evidence browser

The genetics and epigenetics of fatigue.

Clinical uses of melatonin: evaluation of human trials.

Psychiatric aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Cognitive functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: is there a role for non-antidepressant pharmacotherapy?

Possible detrimental effects of cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Alternative medical interventions used in the treatment and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

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

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

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

Evidence-based efficacy of adaptogens in fatigue, and molecular mechanisms related to their stress-protective activity.

The expressed needs of people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic review.

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

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

CFS: A Review of Epidemiology and Natural History Studies.

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

[A meta analysis on randomized controlled trials of acupuncture treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome].

[Etiology of functional somatic syndromes].

Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for the treatment of idiopathic chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.

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.

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