Evidence browser

Fibromyalgia and other unexplained clinical conditions.

Aaron, L A, Buchwald, D·Current rheumatology reports·2001

This review examined research comparing fibromyalgia with ME/CFS and other related conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and migraines. The researchers looked at studies that measured how bodies of people with these conditions worked differently, trying to understand what might cause them. The goal was to see whether these conditions share common underlying problems.

Controlled exposures to volatile organic compounds in sensitive groups.

Fiedler, N, Kipen, H M·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2001

This review looked at studies where people with chemical sensitivities were exposed to different odors and chemical mixtures in controlled lab settings. Researchers found that people with chemical sensitivities did have real symptoms when exposed to certain chemicals, even at low levels, but these symptoms weren't always linked to measurable changes in heart rate, breathing, or other body functions that usually indicate stress.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Autonomic nervous system derangement in fibromyalgia syndrome and related disorders.

Cohen, H, Neumann, L, Kotler, M et al.·The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ·2001

This review examines how the autonomic nervous system—the part of your nervous system that controls heart rate, breathing, and digestion automatically—may not work properly in fibromyalgia and related conditions like ME/CFS and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers found evidence that this system dysfunction could have important health consequences, including increased risk of heart problems. However, studies on this topic have produced mixed and sometimes contradictory results.

Autonomic Nervous System

Interventions for the treatment and management of chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Whiting, P, Bagnall, A M, Sowden, A J et al.·JAMA·2001

This review looked at 44 studies testing different treatments for ME/CFS to see which ones actually work. The researchers found that cognitive behavioral therapy (talk-based therapy) and graded exercise therapy (gradually increasing activity) showed the most promise, while other treatments like supplements and immunological therapies had unclear or limited benefits. However, the studies used different measurements and methods, making it hard to draw firm conclusions.

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.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Defining and managing chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mulrow, C D, Ramirez, G, Cornell, J E et al.·Evidence report/technology assessment (Summary)·2001

This 2001 review examined the medical literature on chronic fatigue syndrome to summarize what was known about how to define and manage the condition. The authors looked at existing research to identify consistent diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches. The goal was to create a clear picture of CFS based on the best available evidence at that time.

Coping and illness cognitions: chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ax, S, Gregg, V H, Jones, D·Clinical psychology review·2001

This study reviews what we know about how people with ME/CFS cope with their illness and how their beliefs about the condition affect their health. The researchers found that how patients think about and manage their illness may play an important role in their physical and mental well-being. The study suggests that understanding these coping strategies could help doctors develop better treatments for ME/CFS.

Neuropsychological functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome: a review.

Michiels, V, Cluydts, R·Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2001

This review looked at studies examining thinking and memory problems in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS commonly experience slower thinking speed, difficulty holding information in working memory, and trouble learning new information. The study noted that brain scans haven't shown a consistent pattern that uniquely identifies ME/CFS patients, and that fatigue severity doesn't fully explain the cognitive problems.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

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

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.

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.

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.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.