ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

6101–6120 of 6,188 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Depression and chronic fatigue in the patient with chronic pain.

Covington, E C·Primary care·1991

This study explores how chronic pain, fatigue, and depression often occur together in patients. The authors suggest that these three conditions share common causes and may influence each other. Treatment works best when doctors address each problem separately using a combination of physical rehabilitation, education, medications, and counseling.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearCase-Control

Mania and recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sharpe, M C, Johnson, B A, McCann, J·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·1991

This 1991 study examined cases where people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) experienced periods of unusually elevated mood and energy (mania) and whether this was connected to recovery from their illness. The researchers looked at individual case examples to explore this unusual pattern and what it might tell us about how ME/CFS develops and resolves.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Chronic fatigue: myth or reality?].

Comtois, R·L'union medicale du Canada·1991

This 1991 review article addresses a fundamental question: Is chronic fatigue a real medical condition or just a perception? The authors acknowledge that while fatigue is one of the most common health complaints doctors hear, it can be difficult to diagnose and treat because we don't have simple blood tests like we do for cholesterol. The paper discusses how new diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome were beginning to help doctors identify and manage this condition more effectively.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Clinical indications and diagnostic techniques of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection.

Krueger, G R, Ablashi, D V, Josephs, S F et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·1991

This review examines how doctors can diagnose human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection and its connection to various illnesses, including a condition called postinfectious chronic fatigue syndrome. HHV-6 is a common virus that most people catch in childhood and then carry dormant in their bodies for life. The authors explain which tests doctors should use to accurately identify active HHV-6 infection and discuss why proper diagnosis matters for treatment.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearCase-Control

Nortriptyline in chronic fatigue syndrome: a double blind, placebo-controlled single case study.

Gracious, B, Wisner, K L·Biological psychiatry·1991

This study tested whether a medication called nortriptyline (an older type of antidepressant) could help one person with ME/CFS. The researchers gave the patient either the medication or a placebo (inactive pill) without telling them which was which, and tracked how they felt. This type of single-patient study can provide useful information, but it only shows what happened with one individual and cannot prove the treatment works for everyone with ME/CFS.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Postinfectious chronic fatigue syndrome: case history of thirty-five patients in Germany.

Hilgers, A, Krueger, G R, Lembke, U et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·1991

This study followed 35 ME/CFS patients in Germany for up to eight years and found that most experienced severe fatigue, joint and muscle pain, sore throats, and various other symptoms. Researchers found evidence of herpesvirus reactivation in about 73% of patients and Epstein-Barr virus in about 34%, suggesting ongoing viral activity may play a role in the condition. While treatments were tried including immune therapy and antiviral drugs, none consistently worked well, though immune globulin therapy showed the most promise.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryTrialPEM not requiredRCT

A randomized comparison of two doses of human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha in hairy cell leukemia. Wellcome HCL Study Group.

Smalley, R V, Anderson, S A, Tuttle, R L et al.·Blood·1991

This study tested two different doses of interferon-alpha (a type of immune protein) in patients with hairy cell leukemia, a blood cancer. Researchers found that the lower dose worked almost as well as the higher dose for improving blood cell counts but caused fewer side effects, including less chronic fatigue. Based on these results, doctors were advised to start patients on the lower dose.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclear

Immunodysregulation and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kundu, S K, Ahronheim, G A, Menezes, J·Canada diseases weekly report = Rapport hebdomadaire des maladies au Canada·1991

This study examined whether ME/CFS involves problems with the immune system that aren't working properly. The researchers looked at immune system dysfunction in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome to understand if an imbalance in immune responses might explain the illness. This early research helped establish that immune abnormalities could be involved in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

Effective treatment for an adolescent with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wachsmuth, J R, MacMillan, H L·Clinical pediatrics·1991

This study describes the case of a teenager with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) who received treatment. The doctors documented how the patient was evaluated and what approach was used to help manage their symptoms. This single case report provides an early clinical example of treating ME/CFS in young patients.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The chronic fatigue syndrome: a reappraisal and unifying hypothesis.

Byrne, E·Clinical and experimental neurology·1991

This 1991 review examined ME/CFS from multiple scientific angles—including viral infection, immune system problems, metabolism, and mental health—to understand why this condition develops. The authors proposed that ME/CFS typically results from a combination of factors: personal characteristics before illness (like psychological traits or immune vulnerabilities), a trigger (such as a virus), and how someone's emotions respond to being sick. Rather than having one single cause, ME/CFS appears to exist on a spectrum of different presentations.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus, and chronic fatigue syndrome: a prospective case series.

Fark, A R·The Journal of family practice·1991

This study looked at whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the virus that causes infectious mononucleosis (mono), might be the cause of ME/CFS. Researchers found that some people with chronic fatigue had high levels of antibodies (immune markers) against EBV, and some of them had never fully recovered from a previous mono infection. The study suggests a possible link between EBV infection and the development of chronic fatigue, though it doesn't prove the virus directly causes ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

McBride, S J, McCluskey, D R·British medical bulletin·1991

This review examines different treatments that doctors have tried for ME/CFS, a condition marked by severe tiredness and other ongoing symptoms. Because the exact cause of ME/CFS isn't yet known, it's challenging to design treatments that target the underlying problem. The authors discuss various treatment approaches and the difficulties involved in managing this complicated illness.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Muscle performance, voluntary activation, twitch properties and perceived effort in normal subjects and patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lloyd, A R, Gandevia, S C, Hales, J P·Brain : a journal of neurology·1991

Researchers tested whether ME/CFS patients have weak muscles or lack motivation during exercise compared to healthy people. They measured muscle strength and effort in both groups while performing repetitive arm exercises for 45 minutes. Both groups showed similar muscle performance and reported similar levels of effort, suggesting that muscle weakness or poor motivation are not the primary causes of fatigue in ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

Is chronic fatigue syndrome synonymous with effort syndrome?

Rosen, S D, King, J C, Wilkinson, J B et al.·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·1990

This 1990 study examined whether chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) might actually be caused by a breathing pattern problem called chronic hyperventilation. The researchers found that 93 out of 100 patients diagnosed with CFS showed signs of this breathing issue instead. They suggest doctors should check patients for hyperventilation problems before diagnosing them with ME or CFS.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Ewig, S, Dengler, H J·Klinische Wochenschrift·1990

This paper discusses chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as a condition that can develop after viral infections like Epstein-Barr virus or Coxsackie-B virus. Researchers noted that CFS may actually be several different diseases with different causes rather than one single condition. The authors emphasize that diagnosis requires ruling out other medical conditions first, and that at this time, we don't have enough knowledge to recommend specific treatments.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Sensory and cognitive event-related potentials in myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Prasher, D, Smith, A, Findley, L·Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry·1990

This study tested whether ME/CFS patients have objective brain activity differences related to thinking and attention. Researchers used special sensors to measure how the brain responds to sounds and tasks requiring concentration. While basic sensory responses were normal, they found that brain signals related to attention and processing speed were slower in about one-third to one-half of patients tested, suggesting ME/CFS affects how the brain handles information rather than basic sensation.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and depression].

Martin-Du-Pan, R·Revue medicale de la Suisse romande·1990

This 1990 review article examines the relationships between chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, and depression. The author discusses how these three conditions sometimes occur together and explores whether they share common features or causes. The paper helps clarify how ME/CFS and fibromyalgia are distinct from depression, even though all three can cause fatigue and other overlapping symptoms.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Isolation of human herpesvirus-6 from clinical specimens using human fibroblast cultures.

Luka, J, Okano, M, Thiele, G·Journal of clinical laboratory analysis·1990

Researchers developed a better way to detect and study human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) in blood samples by using a specific type of human cell culture. They successfully isolated HHV-6 from blood samples of three ME/CFS patients, along with samples from other patients with different conditions. The virus samples they found had some genetic differences from previously known HHV-6 strains.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome and the psychiatrist.

Abbey, S E, Garfinkel, P E·Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie·1990

This review article examines ME/CFS and the role psychiatrists can play in caring for patients. The authors note that ME/CFS involves thinking difficulties, mood changes, and behavioral symptoms alongside fatigue. They explain what psychiatrists should know about the condition and how they can help in assessment and treatment.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

Neurasthenia in the 1980s: chronic mononucleosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and anxiety and depressive disorders.

Greenberg, D B·Psychosomatics·1990

In the 1980s, doctors thought chronic fatigue syndrome might be caused by a virus called Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes mononucleosis). This editorial explains that while this seemed like a logical explanation, the virus is not actually the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. The author points out that many people with chronic fatigue also have depression or anxiety, and notes that these mental health conditions should be carefully evaluated and treated rather than overlooked.

Diagnostics

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Depression and chronic fatigue in the patient with chronic pain.

Mania and recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Chronic fatigue: myth or reality?].

Clinical indications and diagnostic techniques of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection.

Nortriptyline in chronic fatigue syndrome: a double blind, placebo-controlled single case study.

Postinfectious chronic fatigue syndrome: case history of thirty-five patients in Germany.

A randomized comparison of two doses of human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha in hairy cell leukemia. Wellcome HCL Study Group.

Immunodysregulation and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Effective treatment for an adolescent with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The chronic fatigue syndrome: a reappraisal and unifying hypothesis.

Infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus, and chronic fatigue syndrome: a prospective case series.

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Muscle performance, voluntary activation, twitch properties and perceived effort in normal subjects and patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Is chronic fatigue syndrome synonymous with effort syndrome?

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Sensory and cognitive event-related potentials in myalgic encephalomyelitis.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and depression].

Isolation of human herpesvirus-6 from clinical specimens using human fibroblast cultures.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and the psychiatrist.

Neurasthenia in the 1980s: chronic mononucleosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and anxiety and depressive disorders.

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