ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

541–560 of 6,157 studies

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 requiredSystematic-Review

Identity and coping experiences in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a synthesis of qualitative studies.

Larun, Lillebeth, Malterud, Kirsti·Patient education and counseling·2007

This study looked at 20 earlier research projects to understand how ME/CFS affects patients' sense of self and how they cope. Patients often feel very sick but are not believed by others, including doctors, which makes their experience even harder. Patients want answers and a diagnosis to help them recover, while doctors often doubt the illness is real. When patients feel dismissed, they may withdraw and stop trying to engage with others.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Benefits of physical training in fibromyalgia and related syndromes.

Maquet, D, Demoulin, C, Croisier, J-L et al.·Annales de readaptation et de medecine physique : revue scientifique de la Societe francaise de reeducation fonctionnelle de readaptation et de medecine physique·2007

This review looked at studies on whether physical exercise and training help people with fibromyalgia and related conditions like ME/CFS. Most studies found that gradual, carefully planned exercise programs did help reduce pain and fatigue, though some reviews were less certain. The authors recommend that exercise should be part of a broader treatment approach that includes other therapies.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The cognitive behavioural model of medically unexplained symptoms: a theoretical and empirical review.

Deary, V, Chalder, T, Sharpe, M·Clinical psychology review·2007

This review examines the theory that ME/CFS and similar conditions involve interactions between thinking patterns, stress responses, and behavior that keep symptoms going. Researchers looked at decades of research to see if cognitive behavioral therapy (a type of talking therapy focused on thoughts and behaviors) works for these conditions. The review suggests that multiple factors—including genetics, immune function, personality traits, and how people interpret their symptoms—likely work together in ways that current treatments may not fully address.

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM unclearGuideline

NICE guidance on managing chronic fatigue syndrome/ME.

Hairon, Nerys, NICE·Nursing times·2007

This document provides official guidance from NICE (the UK's health authority) on how doctors should manage ME/CFS. It offers recommendations for diagnosing the condition, treating symptoms, and supporting patients in their daily lives. The guidance is based on the best evidence available and aims to help healthcare providers give consistent, appropriate care to people with ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

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.

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 ConsensusGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

Chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis: the 2007 guidelines from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

Nye, Fred·The Journal of infection·2007

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) published official guidelines in 2007 for diagnosing and managing ME/CFS. These guidelines were developed to help doctors recognize the condition and provide consistent care to patients across the UK. The guidelines cover how to identify ME/CFS, what tests to use, and what treatments are recommended.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Mercury amalgam dental fillings: an epidemiologic assessment.

Bates, Michael N·International journal of hygiene and environmental health·2006

This review examined whether mercury from dental fillings causes chronic health problems, including chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers looked at many studies on this topic and found little scientific evidence that amalgam fillings cause general chronic diseases, fatigue, or other common illnesses in the general population.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Maquet, D, Demoulin, C, Crielaard, J M·Annales de readaptation et de medecine physique : revue scientifique de la Societe francaise de reeducation fonctionnelle de readaptation et de medecine physique·2006

This review examined all available research about ME/CFS to understand what we know about the condition. Researchers found that ME/CFS affects between 0.2% and 0.7% of people and that despite decades of research into possible causes like infections, immune problems, and hormonal imbalances, we still don't fully understand what causes the illness. Treatment should combine physical rehabilitation with psychological support to address the whole person.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Systematic review of multi-symptom conditions in Gulf War veterans.

Thomas, Hollie V, Stimpson, Nicola J, Weightman, Alison L et al.·Psychological medicine·2006

This review examined 23 studies comparing health problems in Gulf War veterans to people who were not deployed. Veterans who served in the Gulf War were nearly 4 times more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome and about 3.5 times more likely to report multiple chemical sensitivities or other multi-symptom illnesses. The review suggests that deployment to the Gulf War is connected with higher rates of these conditions.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Antidepressants and cognitive-behavioral therapy for symptom syndromes.

Jackson, Jeffrey L, O'Malley, Patrick G, Kroenke, Kurt·CNS spectrums·2006

This review looked at research on whether antidepressant medications and talking therapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT) help with long-lasting physical symptoms like pain and fatigue. The researchers examined studies on 11 different conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome. They found that CBT was the most consistently helpful treatment, while antidepressants showed mixed results depending on the specific condition.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in chronic disease.

Pedersen, B K, Saltin, B·Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2006

This review examined whether exercise therapy helps treat many different diseases, including chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The authors looked at evidence showing how exercise affects disease causes, symptoms, fitness, and quality of life across multiple conditions. They also discussed how much exercise is safe and effective for each disease.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Interventions for the treatment, management and rehabilitation of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an updated systematic review.

Chambers, Duncan, Bagnall, Anne-Marie, Hempel, Susanne et al.·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·2006

This review looked at 70 studies to find out which treatments help people with ME/CFS. The researchers found that two talking therapies—cognitive behaviour therapy and graded exercise therapy—showed the most promise for reducing symptoms and helping people function better. For most other treatments tested, there wasn't enough clear evidence that they worked, and some caused unwanted side effects.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prins, Judith B, van der Meer, Jos W M, Bleijenberg, Gijs·Lancet (London, England)·2006

This review examines the major debates and disagreements about ME/CFS that have occurred over the past 20 years among doctors, researchers, and patients. The authors discuss questions about how ME/CFS is defined, how it is diagnosed, what causes it, and what treatments work best. They suggest that future research should study ME/CFS alongside other similar conditions and use new tools from neuroscience and genetics to better understand the illness.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an update focusing on phenomenology and pathophysiology.

Cho, Hyong Jin, Skowera, Anna, Cleare, Anthony et al.·Current opinion in psychiatry·2006

This review examines what ME/CFS is and how it works in the body. The research shows that ME/CFS is a real condition separate from depression or anxiety, though the official way doctors diagnose it may need updating. Scientists have found signs that the nervous system, immune system, and genetics all play a role, but they still don't fully understand how these pieces fit together.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Chronic musculoskeletal pain in chronic fatigue syndrome: recent developments and therapeutic implications.

Nijs, Jo, Meeus, Mira, De Meirleir, Kenny·Manual therapy·2006

Many people with ME/CFS experience muscle and joint pain that can be even more bothersome than the fatigue itself. This review found that while some people with ME/CFS have naturally flexible joints, this doesn't seem to cause their pain. However, the way people think about their pain—such as catastrophizing or assuming the worst—plays a big role in how much pain they feel. The body's response to exercise appears to create extra stress on muscles in ME/CFS patients, which explains why exercise can make pain worse rather than better.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Autoantibodies associated with psychiatric disorders.

Margutti, Paola, Delunardo, Federica, Ortona, Elena·Current neurovascular research·2006

This review examines evidence that the immune system can sometimes produce antibodies that attack the brain and blood vessels, potentially causing psychiatric symptoms like depression, anxiety, and psychosis. The authors discuss how this autoimmune mechanism may occur in several conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, and review what we know about antibodies in psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and autism.

Neuroinflammation

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: the need for subtypes.

Jason, Leonard A, Corradi, Karina, Torres-Harding, Susan et al.·Neuropsychology review·2005

ME/CFS is a complex condition that affects people in different ways, and researchers found that treating it as one single disease may not be helpful. This review shows that patients with ME/CFS have different combinations of symptoms, different levels of disability, and different biological markers (measurable signs in the body), suggesting the condition should be divided into subtypes. Just like how different patients with diabetes or heart disease need different treatment approaches, ME/CFS patients might benefit from being grouped into categories so doctors can provide more targeted care.

Diagnostics

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Evidence browser

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

Identity and coping experiences in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a synthesis of qualitative studies.

Benefits of physical training in fibromyalgia and related syndromes.

The cognitive behavioural model of medically unexplained symptoms: a theoretical and empirical review.

NICE guidance on managing chronic fatigue syndrome/ME.

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

Personality and chronic fatigue syndrome: methodological and conceptual issues.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome: biochemical examination of blood].

Chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis: the 2007 guidelines from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

Mercury amalgam dental fillings: an epidemiologic assessment.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Systematic review of multi-symptom conditions in Gulf War veterans.

Antidepressants and cognitive-behavioral therapy for symptom syndromes.

Evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in chronic disease.

Interventions for the treatment, management and rehabilitation of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an updated systematic review.

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an update focusing on phenomenology and pathophysiology.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain in chronic fatigue syndrome: recent developments and therapeutic implications.

Autoantibodies associated with psychiatric disorders.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: the need for subtypes.

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