ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

521–540 of 6,157 studies

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 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 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

Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in adults.

Price, Jonathan R, Mitchell, Edward, Tidy, Elizabeth et al.·The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2008

This review looked at 15 studies involving over 1,000 people with ME/CFS to see if cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy focused on thoughts and behaviors—could help reduce fatigue. Compared to usual care, CBT showed modest improvements in fatigue at the end of treatment, with 40% of people in CBT improving versus 26% in usual care. However, the benefits were less clear when researchers checked on people months later.

Interventions

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.

SleepCognitive Impairment

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 not requiredSystematic-Review

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reid, Steven F, Chalder, Trudie, Cleare, Anthony et al.·BMJ clinical evidence·2008

This review looked at all available research on treatments for ME/CFS up to September 2007, examining 45 studies to see which treatments work and which are safe. The researchers studied many different treatments including therapy, exercise programs, supplements, and medications. They found that the quality and strength of evidence varies considerably depending on which treatment is being examined.

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 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

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 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 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

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.

SleepAutonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

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 requiredSystematic-Review

Chronic musculoskeletal pain in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Meeus, Mira, Nijs, Jo, Meirleir, Kenny De·European journal of pain (London, England)·2007

This review looked at 25 scientific studies about chronic pain in ME/CFS patients. Most people with ME/CFS experience widespread pain along with fatigue, but there is no clear agreement on how to define or measure this pain. The review found that pain is common and disabling, but we still don't know exactly what causes it or how to treat it effectively.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredEditorial

[Chronic fatigue syndrome--a functional somatic syndrome].

Linde, Andreas·Therapeutische Umschau. Revue therapeutique·2007

This review suggests that ME/CFS is a condition involving multiple body systems rather than a single cause, and that it shares features with other similar illnesses affecting the mind and body. The authors found that treatments involving gradual increases in activity and cognitive behavioral therapy show the most promise, while antidepressants may help as an add-on treatment.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Van Den Eede, Filip, Moorkens, Greta, Van Houdenhove, Boudewijn et al.·Neuropsychobiology·2007

This review examined research on the stress-response system (called the HPA axis) in ME/CFS patients. Scientists found that many people with ME/CFS have lower-than-normal stress hormone levels and don't respond typically to stress. While it's unclear whether this hormone imbalance causes ME/CFS or develops because of it, the authors suggest it likely plays a role in how symptoms develop and persist.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Chronic fatigue syndrome: biochemical examination of blood].

Hakariya, Yukiko, Kuratsune, Hirohiko·Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine·2007

This review examined blood test abnormalities in ME/CFS patients. While standard blood tests often appear normal in CFS patients despite their many symptoms, specialized blood tests have found problems in the systems that control stress, hormones, and immune function. The authors suggest that ME/CFS may result from brain dysfunction caused by immune chemicals called cytokines or antibodies that attack the body's own cells.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Overlap between atypical depression, seasonal affective disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome].

Juruena, Mario Francisco, Cleare, Anthony James·Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999)·2007

This review article examines whether ME/CFS, atypical depression, and seasonal affective disorder share common biological roots. The researchers found that all three conditions may involve underactivity in the body's stress-response system (particularly a part of the brain called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis), rather than overactivity as seen in other types of depression. This suggests these conditions might be more closely related than previously thought, which could help explain why patients sometimes experience overlapping symptoms.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Personality and chronic fatigue syndrome: methodological and conceptual issues.

van Geelen, Stefan M, Sinnema, Gerben, Hermans, Hubert J M et al.·Clinical psychology review·2007

This review looked at studies examining whether ME/CFS patients have particular personality traits, such as being perfectionistic or hardworking. The researchers found that different studies gave very different answers—some found no personality differences between ME/CFS patients and healthy people, while others reported more serious psychological problems. The authors concluded that more careful research is needed, particularly looking at how patients understand and tell their own life stories.

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Evidence for overlap between urological and nonurological unexplained clinical conditions.

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

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

Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in adults.

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

Somatic comorbidities of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic analysis.

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Neuroaetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: an overview.

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

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

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

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

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

Chronic musculoskeletal pain in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome--a functional somatic syndrome].

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome: biochemical examination of blood].

[Overlap between atypical depression, seasonal affective disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome].

Personality and chronic fatigue syndrome: methodological and conceptual issues.

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