ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

601–620 of 6,122 studies

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

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 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

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

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 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.

Immune SystemAutonomic Nervous System

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

Neurocognitive functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome.

DiPino, R K, Kane, R L·Neuropsychology review·1996

This review examined research on thinking and memory problems reported by people with ME/CFS. While patients consistently describe difficulties concentrating and remembering things, scientific tests of these abilities have shown mixed and unclear results. The authors suggest that researchers need to improve how they design studies and what tests they use to better understand these cognitive challenges.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The management of treatment-resistant depression in disorders on the interface of psychiatry and medicine. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, atypical facial pain, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Gruber, A J, Hudson, J I, Pope, H G·The Psychiatric clinics of North America·1996

This review examined whether antidepressant medications help treat several chronic conditions—including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome—that often occur alongside depression. The researchers found that many different types of antidepressants appeared to benefit these disorders, suggesting they might share a common underlying biological problem. However, the studies reviewed varied widely in quality and design, so stronger research is needed to confirm these findings.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

War syndromes and their evaluation: from the U.S. Civil War to the Persian Gulf War.

Hyams, K C, Wignall, F S, Roswell, R·Annals of internal medicine·1996

Researchers reviewed historical records of illnesses that appeared in soldiers after wars, dating back to the U.S. Civil War through the Persian Gulf War. They found that across different wars and time periods, veterans reported similar symptoms like exhaustion, breathing problems, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. However, the researchers concluded that these symptoms don't appear to be one single disease, and that lack of proper comparison groups and research methods made it hard to determine what actually caused these illnesses.

Cognitive Impairment

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.

DiagnosticsSleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The epidemiology of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wessely, S·Epidemiologic reviews·1995

This review examined what we know about how common ME/CFS is, who develops it, and how it varies across different populations and regions. The researchers looked at existing research to understand the overall patterns of this illness in society. This helps doctors and patients understand whether ME/CFS is rare or relatively common, and whether certain groups are more likely to be affected.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome. 1: Etiology and pathogenesis.

Farrar, D J, Locke, S E, Kantrowitz, F G·Behavioral medicine (Washington, D.C.)·1995

ME/CFS is a serious illness that causes extreme tiredness and many other symptoms, but doctors don't yet fully understand what causes it or how to treat it best. This review looks at research about what might be happening in the body—including problems with the immune system and stress hormone regulation—but notes that no single explanation has been proven. Right now, treatment approaches are based on guesses rather than solid evidence, and we need better ways to identify which patients have which type of ME/CFS.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Pathogenic tracks in fatigue syndromes.

Moutschen, M, Triffaux, J M, Demonty, J et al.·Acta clinica Belgica·1994

This review examined research on ME/CFS and related fatigue conditions that develop after viral infections, looking at five main areas: infectious triggers, immune system problems, muscle function, hormonal imbalances, and psychiatric factors. The authors suggest that abnormalities in the body's stress-hormone system (HPA axis) may be a primary cause, leading to chronic immune activation and reactivation of dormant viruses like those in the herpes family, which then cause muscle weakness and fatigue symptoms.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Clinical correlates of infection with human herpesvirus-6.

Krueger, G R, Klueppelberg, U, Hoffmann, A et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·1994

This review examines connections between human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), a common virus most people catch as infants, and various illnesses including ME/CFS. The virus usually stays dormant in the body after infection, but in some people it may reactivate and be linked to several health conditions. The authors reviewed existing knowledge about which diseases show signs of active HHV-6 infection.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredEditorial

The treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: science and speculation.

Wilson, A, Hickie, I, Lloyd, A et al.·The American journal of medicine·1994

This review examined different treatments for ME/CFS and found that the condition is complex, affecting people in various ways. No single treatment has been proven to work well for most patients over the long term. The authors suggest that the best approach combines medical care, psychological support, and symptom management tailored to each person's needs.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The neuropsychiatry of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wessely, S·Ciba Foundation symposium·1993

This review examines how ME/CFS relates to psychiatric conditions and brain function. Rather than viewing ME/CFS as purely physical or purely psychological, the authors found evidence that brain system problems—particularly in the hypothalamus, a key control center—play an important role in the condition. The paper argues that understanding ME/CFS requires looking at both brain biology and mental health factors together.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Psychotropic treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and related disorders.

Goodnick, P J, Sandoval, R·The Journal of clinical psychiatry·1993

This review examined whether antidepressant medications can help people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, since depression often occurs alongside these conditions. Researchers looked at 23 studies and found that certain antidepressants—particularly at lower doses than used for depression alone—may help reduce both fatigue and pain symptoms. Different types of antidepressants appeared to work better for different symptoms: some were better for pain relief, while others were better for mood.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Studies of herpesvirus infection in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Straus, S E·Ciba Foundation symposium·1993

This review examined whether common viruses in the herpesvirus family (like Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus 6) cause ME/CFS. Researchers found that while some ME/CFS patients have higher levels of antibodies to these viruses and some cases may start after herpesvirus infection, these viruses are likely not the main cause of the illness for most people.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredEditorial

Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and myofascial pain syndromes.

Goldenberg, D L·Current opinion in rheumatology·1992

This review examined research published on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, looking at what treatments work best and how these conditions are diagnosed. Researchers found that while many studies have been done, no single treatment has proven highly effective for either condition, and the way doctors diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome needs to be improved and made more consistent.

Diagnostics

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Evidence browser

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

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

Chronic fatigue syndrome in children and adolescents: a review.

Epidemiologic advances in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Neuropsychology of chronic fatigue syndrome: a critical review.

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

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

Neurocognitive functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome.

The management of treatment-resistant depression in disorders on the interface of psychiatry and medicine. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, atypical facial pain, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

War syndromes and their evaluation: from the U.S. Civil War to the Persian Gulf War.

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: similarities and differences.

The epidemiology of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome. 1: Etiology and pathogenesis.

Pathogenic tracks in fatigue syndromes.

Clinical correlates of infection with human herpesvirus-6.

The treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: science and speculation.

The neuropsychiatry of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Psychotropic treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and related disorders.

Studies of herpesvirus infection in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and myofascial pain syndromes.

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