ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

601–620 of 6,157 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The neuroendocrinology of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Parker, A J, Wessely, S, Cleare, A J·Psychological medicine·2001

This review examined how hormones and brain chemicals differ in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that some patients have lower stress hormone (cortisol) levels, and their bodies show unusual patterns in serotonin and other brain chemical systems when tested. However, the findings were inconsistent across studies, and it's still unclear whether these changes cause ME/CFS symptoms or result from living with the illness.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: clinical assessment and treatment.

Friedberg, F, Jason, L A·Journal of clinical psychology·2001

This review examines how ME/CFS and fibromyalgia are similar conditions that doctors don't fully understand yet. The authors looked at research on what causes these illnesses, how to diagnose them (including checking for depression and anxiety), and what treatments work—including medications, alternative therapies, and talking with a therapist. The study suggests that mental health professionals can play an important role in helping patients manage their symptoms.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

A review of the evidence for overlap among unexplained clinical conditions.

Aaron, L A, Buchwald, D·Annals of internal medicine·2001

This review examined eight unexplained illnesses—including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome—and found they share many similarities in symptoms (like fatigue and pain), how they affect daily life, and how they respond to laboratory tests. The researchers discovered that many patients have more than one of these conditions at the same time, suggesting they may be related or overlap in important ways.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

[What happens to the fibromyalgia syndrome?].

Maquet, D, Croisier, J L, 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·2001

This review examined fibromyalgia, a condition causing widespread muscle and joint pain that lasts at least three months. The researchers found that fibromyalgia involves multiple problems working together: abnormal pain processing in the nervous system, poor sleep quality, muscle weakness, and hormonal imbalances. They concluded that treating fibromyalgia effectively requires a team approach addressing all these different issues, not just pain alone.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

The potential role of hypocortisolism in the pathophysiology of stress-related bodily disorders.

Heim, C, Ehlert, U, Hellhammer, D H·Psychoneuroendocrinology·2000

This review examines why some people under chronic stress or after trauma have abnormally low levels of the stress hormone cortisol—a condition called hypocortisolism. The authors found that low cortisol appears in several conditions including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis, not just in PTSD. They propose that persistently low cortisol may make people more vulnerable to developing stress-related illnesses.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Cognitive behaviour therapy for adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Price, J R, Couper, J·The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2000

This review examined whether cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy that helps people change unhelpful thinking patterns and gradually return to activities—helps adults with ME/CFS. Researchers looked at three high-quality studies and found that CBT did improve physical functioning compared to standard medical care or relaxation therapy. However, the evidence was limited to people who could attend clinic appointments; more research is needed in people with milder or more severe forms of the illness.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reid, S, Chalder, T, Cleare, A et al.·BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2000

This was a systematic review that brought together existing research about chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to understand what was known at the time. The researchers looked at multiple studies to summarize the current evidence about the condition. This type of overview helps doctors and patients understand the state of knowledge about ME/CFS.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: reviewing the research findings.

Johnson, S K, DeLuca, J, Natelson, B H·Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·1999

This review article examines what scientists have learned about ME/CFS by looking at many different studies. Researchers found that ME/CFS is complex—it likely involves multiple causes including viral infections, immune system problems, nervous system dysfunction, and possibly psychological factors. The article emphasizes that ME/CFS affects different people in different ways, suggesting that patients may benefit from being grouped by their symptoms and illness history rather than treated as one uniform condition.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Review of juvenile primary fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Breau, L M, McGrath, P J, Ju, L H·Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP·1999

This review examined research on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in children. The authors found that these conditions in young people may work differently than they do in adults, and that they might be more closely related to each other than previously thought. The review suggests that these illnesses are likely caused by biological and genetic factors rather than psychological problems.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Review of clinical and psychobiological dimensions of the chronic fatigue syndrome: differentiation from depression and contribution of sleep dysfunctions.

Fischler, B·Sleep medicine reviews·1999

This review examined how ME/CFS differs from depression and what role sleep problems play in the condition. The researchers found that ME/CFS is a distinct illness with its own biological features—not just depression wearing a different mask. While sleep problems are common in ME/CFS, they don't fully explain why patients feel so exhausted and unwell.

Sleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Functional somatic syndromes: one or many?

Wessely, S, Nimnuan, C, Sharpe, M·Lancet (London, England)·1999

This study looked at several long-term illnesses that cause many physical symptoms but don't show obvious damage on standard medical tests, including ME/CFS and irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers found that these conditions have much more in common with each other than previously thought—they affect similar types of patients, cause overlapping symptoms, and respond to treatment in similar ways. Rather than treating each condition as completely separate, the authors suggest doctors and researchers should think of them as related conditions on a spectrum.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredEditorial

Chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: shifting boundaries and attributions.

Lloyd, A R·The American journal of medicine·1998

This review examines how fatigue is defined and diagnosed, and how different definitions lead to very different estimates of how many people have chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors look at how doctors and researchers measure fatigue using patient reports, and explore whether fatigue that follows infections is a real medical condition. The study highlights that without clear, consistent definitions, it's difficult to understand the true scope of the problem.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an immunological perspective.

Vollmer-Conna, U, Lloyd, A, Hickie, I et al.·The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry·1998

This review examines whether immune system problems might cause ME/CFS symptoms, particularly in the brain. The researchers found that while immune chemicals called cytokines are likely involved in ME/CFS, the results from studies measuring these chemicals in the blood have been mixed and unclear. They suggest that abnormal cytokine activity happening directly inside the brain—rather than in the bloodstream—may be more important for explaining the neurological symptoms patients experience.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome in children and adolescents: a review.

Jordan, K M, Landis, D A, Downey, M C et al.·The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·1998

This review examined what was known about ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) specifically in children and teenagers. The authors looked at existing research to understand how the illness affects young people, how doctors recognize it, and what happens to patients over time. This study helps explain what ME/CFS looks like in younger patients, which is often different from how it appears in adults.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Cognitive behavior therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: efficacy and implications.

Sharpe, M·The American journal of medicine·1998

This review examines cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), a talk-based treatment that helps people change thought patterns and behaviors that may be making their fatigue worse. Research from two rigorous clinical trials shows that CBT can significantly help people with ME/CFS feel better and become more active. While most people improve, complete recovery is rare.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic pain and fatigue syndromes: overlapping clinical and neuroendocrine features and potential pathogenic mechanisms.

Clauw, D J, Chrousos, G P·Neuroimmunomodulation·1997

This review examines fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, two conditions with overlapping symptoms of pain and exhaustion that have been described throughout medical history under different names. The authors propose that both conditions stem from problems in the central nervous system—the brain and spinal cord—particularly in areas that control hormone levels, pain sensing, and automatic body functions. They suggest that immune system changes seen in these conditions are side effects rather than root causes.

Autonomic Nervous SystemImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Neuropsychology of chronic fatigue syndrome: a critical review.

Tiersky, L A, Johnson, S K, Lange, G et al.·Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology·1997

This review examined research on thinking and memory problems in ME/CFS patients. The clearest finding was that people with ME/CFS struggle with processing information quickly and efficiently, similar to when your brain feels sluggish. However, overall intelligence and complex thinking skills remain normal. Emotional factors like anxiety or depression can make cognitive problems feel worse, though it's unclear if they directly affect actual thinking performance.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The prognosis of chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Joyce, J, Hotopf, M, Wessely, S·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·1997

This review looked at many studies of ME/CFS to see how many people get better over time. The results showed that children recover more often (54-94%) than adults, and adults with a strict ME/CFS diagnosis rarely return to their previous level of functioning. People who are older, have other illnesses, have depression or anxiety, or believe their illness is physical in origin tend to have worse outcomes.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Epidemiologic advances in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Levine, P H·Journal of psychiatric research·1997

This review summarized what researchers knew about ME/CFS in 1997, including how common it is, who gets it, and what affects recovery. The study found that about 200 out of every 100,000 people have ME/CFS, and that women are more likely to develop it than men. The review also noted that people with sudden-onset ME/CFS tend to recover better than those whose symptoms start gradually.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: similarities and differences.

Buchwald, D·Rheumatic diseases clinics of North America·1996

This review compared ME/CFS and fibromyalgia (FM), two conditions that cause fatigue, muscle pain, and sleep problems. The researchers found that these two illnesses are very similar in their symptoms and how they affect people's lives, even though doctors use different criteria to diagnose them. Some patients have both conditions at the same time, which makes their suffering worse.

SleepDiagnostics

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Evidence browser

The neuroendocrinology of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: clinical assessment and treatment.

A review of the evidence for overlap among unexplained clinical conditions.

[What happens to the fibromyalgia syndrome?].

The potential role of hypocortisolism in the pathophysiology of stress-related bodily disorders.

Cognitive behaviour therapy for adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: reviewing the research findings.

Review of juvenile primary fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Review of clinical and psychobiological dimensions of the chronic fatigue syndrome: differentiation from depression and contribution of sleep dysfunctions.

Functional somatic syndromes: one or many?

Chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: shifting boundaries and attributions.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an immunological perspective.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in children and adolescents: a review.

Cognitive behavior therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: efficacy and implications.

Chronic pain and fatigue syndromes: overlapping clinical and neuroendocrine features and potential pathogenic mechanisms.

Neuropsychology of chronic fatigue syndrome: a critical review.

The prognosis of chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Epidemiologic advances in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: similarities and differences.

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