ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

781–800 of 6,157 studies

Changes in illness perceptions mediated the effect of cognitive behavioural therapy in severe functional somatic syndromes.

Christensen, Sara Sletten, Frostholm, Lisbeth, Ørnbøl, Eva et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2015

This study tested whether cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps people with long-term functional health conditions by changing how they think about their illness. Patients who received CBT showed improvements in their physical health, and the research suggests this happened because they developed a better sense of control over their condition. The findings indicate that helping patients understand and reframe their illness beliefs may be a key reason why CBT works for these conditions.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial of duloxetine in the treatment of general fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Arnold, Lesley M, Blom, Thomas J, Welge, Jeffrey A et al.·Psychosomatics·2015

This study tested whether duloxetine, a medication that affects mood and pain, could help reduce fatigue in people with ME/CFS. Over 12 weeks, 60 patients either took duloxetine or a placebo (dummy pill). While the medication did not significantly improve general fatigue compared to placebo, it did help some people with mental fatigue, pain, and overall symptom severity.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Activity Pacing Self-Management in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Kos, Daphne, van Eupen, Inge, Meirte, Jill et al.·The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association·2015

This study tested whether learning to pace activities (doing things gradually and breaking them into manageable chunks) helped women with ME/CFS feel more satisfied with their daily lives. Thirty-three women were split into two groups: one learned activity pacing strategies while the other received relaxation training. Women who learned pacing reported greater satisfaction with their activities and experienced improvements in fatigue levels, suggesting this approach may help people with ME/CFS do more of what matters to them.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Effect of Lixujieyu recipe in combination with Five Elements music therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome.

Zhang, Zhenxian, Cai, Zhixing, Yu, Yonghui et al.·Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan·2015

This study tested whether a traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Lixujieyu recipe) combined with specific types of music therapy could help reduce fatigue, depression, and anxiety in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers assigned 90 patients to different groups: five groups received the herbal medicine plus different types of music therapy, and one group received the herbal medicine alone. After 4 weeks of treatment, patients who received the herbal medicine combined with certain music types (Gong-Tune or Jiao-Tune) showed better improvement in fatigue, depression, and anxiety compared to the herbal medicine alone.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor combined with dengzhanshengmai capsule improves the fatigue symptoms: a 12-week open-label pilot study.

Li, De-Qiang, Li, Zhong-Chun, Dai, Zhi-Yuan·International journal of clinical and experimental medicine·2015

Researchers tested whether combining an antidepressant medication (SSRI) with a traditional Chinese herbal supplement called Dengzhanshengmai could help ME/CFS patients better than the antidepressant alone. Over 12 weeks, patients taking both treatments showed faster and greater improvement in physical fatigue, general tiredness, and motivation compared to those taking only the antidepressant, though both groups had similar side effects overall.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

From Body to Mind and Spirit: Qigong Exercise for Bereaved Persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Like Illness.

Li, Jie, Chan, Jessie S M, Chow, Amy Y M et al.·Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM·2015

This study looked at how grief affects people with ME/CFS-like illness and tested whether a traditional Chinese exercise called Qigong could help. People who were grieving had more mental fatigue and lower physical quality of life than those not grieving. After 5 weeks of Qigong classes plus home practice, grieving participants who did Qigong improved more in fatigue, mood, spiritual well-being, and quality of life compared to those who didn't do Qigong.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

[Moxibustion at Gaohuang (BL 43) for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial].

Tian, Liang, Wang, Jinhai, Luo, Chenglin et al.·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2015

This study tested whether moxibustion (a traditional Chinese medicine technique using heated mugwort) applied to a specific acupuncture point on the back could help people with ME/CFS feel less tired. Seventy-two patients received either moxibustion or traditional acupuncture at the same points for three treatment courses. The moxibustion group showed greater improvement in fatigue scores compared to the acupuncture group.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Adverse events and deterioration reported by participants in the PACE trial of therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Dougall, Dominic, Johnson, Anthony, Goldsmith, Kimberley et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2014

This study looked at side effects and health changes that happened to people with ME/CFS who tried four different treatments in the PACE trial. Researchers found that side effects were common across all treatment types, but people doing graded exercise therapy (GET) and adaptive pacing therapy (APT) were more likely to experience a noticeable worsening of their physical abilities. The study suggests that the high rate of side effects may reflect how ME/CFS affects the body rather than being caused by the treatments themselves.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Agomelatine but not melatonin improves fatigue perception: a longitudinal proof-of-concept study.

Pardini, M, Cordano, C, Benassi, F et al.·European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology·2014

This study tested whether a medication called agomelatine could reduce fatigue in people with ME/CFS. The researchers compared agomelatine to melatonin (a common sleep supplement) over 24 weeks in 62 patients. Agomelatine improved fatigue and quality of life, while melatonin alone did not—and when patients switched from melatonin to agomelatine, their fatigue improved.

Sleep

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

[Randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome patients].

Lu, Chen, Yang, Xiu-Juan, Hu, Jie·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2014

This study tested whether acupuncture and moxibustion (a traditional Chinese medicine technique using heat) could reduce fatigue in ME/CFS patients. 133 patients received either manual acupuncture, warm-needling (heated acupuncture), or treatment at non-acupuncture points as a control. Both active treatments reduced fatigue symptoms after 20 daily sessions, with warm-needling showing slightly better results than manual acupuncture.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Disease mechanisms and clonidine treatment in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: a combined cross-sectional and randomized clinical trial.

Sulheim, Dag, Fagermoen, Even, Winger, Anette et al.·JAMA pediatrics·2014

This study looked at whether adolescents with ME/CFS have overactive stress response systems in their bodies and whether a medication called clonidine could help. Researchers found that young people with ME/CFS did have higher levels of stress chemicals and signs of body inflammation compared to healthy teens, but the medication did not improve their condition and actually reduced their physical activity. The study suggests that the overactive stress response may be the body's attempt to cope with ME/CFS rather than the root cause.

Endocrine Disruption

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM unclearRCT

Pilot study investigating the utility of a specialized online symptom management program for individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome as compared to an online meditation program.

Arroll, Megan A, Attree, Elizabeth A, Marshall, Clare L et al.·Psychology research and behavior management·2014

This pilot study tested whether an online program designed to help people manage ME/CFS symptoms could be helpful for patients. Researchers compared this specialized program to an online meditation program and tracked changes in fatigue, symptoms, and how much control people felt they had over their condition over 8 weeks. The specialized program showed some benefits, particularly in helping people feel more in control and improving sleep difficulties, though overall ME/CFS symptoms didn't change significantly.

Sleep

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Tryptophan depletion in chronic fatigue syndrome, a pilot cross-over study.

The, Gerard K H, Verkes, Robbert J, Fekkes, Durk et al.·BMC research notes·2014

Researchers tested whether reducing tryptophan (a protein building block that helps make serotonin, a brain chemical) would improve ME/CFS symptoms. Five women with ME/CFS received either a special amino acid drink designed to lower tryptophan or placebo, one week apart. The drink successfully reduced tryptophan levels by 96%, but it did not change fatigue, mood, or concentration compared to placebo.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Qigong exercise alleviates fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, improves sleep quality, and shortens sleep latency in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness.

Chan, Jessie S M, Ho, Rainbow T H, Chung, Ka-Fai et al.·Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM·2014

This study tested whether a gentle movement and breathing practice called Baduanjin Qigong could help people with chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness. Over 9 weeks, 150 participants either took Qigong classes and practiced at home, or waited for treatment. The Qigong group showed improvements in sleep quality, how quickly they fell asleep, fatigue levels, and anxiety and depression symptoms—and the more they practiced, the better they did.

Sleep

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Pain in chronic fatigue syndrome: response to rehabilitative treatments in the PACE trial.

Bourke, J H, Johnson, A L, Sharpe, M et al.·Psychological medicine·2014

This study looked at whether four different ME/CFS treatments—cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), graded exercise therapy (GET), adaptive pacing therapy (APT), and standard medical care—could reduce pain symptoms. Both CBT and GET appeared to reduce muscle and joint pain more than APT or standard care, though the improvements were modest in size. Importantly, these pain improvements happened independently of whether fatigue got better.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Isometric yoga improves the fatigue and pain of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who are resistant to conventional therapy: a randomized, controlled trial.

Oka, Takakazu, Tanahashi, Tokusei, Chijiwa, Takeharu et al.·BioPsychoSocial medicine·2014

This study tested whether a gentle form of yoga called isometric yoga could help ME/CFS patients who hadn't improved with standard treatments. Thirty patients who had tried conventional therapies for at least six months were split into two groups: one continued their usual treatment, while the other added twice-weekly yoga sessions plus daily home practice. The yoga group showed significant improvements in fatigue and some also reported pain relief, with minimal side effects.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Mediators of the effects on fatigue of pragmatic rehabilitation for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wearden, Alison J, Emsley, Richard·Journal of consulting and clinical psychology·2013

This study tested whether a form of rehabilitation program helped ME/CFS patients feel less tired compared to standard GP care. The researchers found that improvements in fatigue were linked to patients reducing limiting activities and catastrophizing (assuming the worst about their symptoms). Importantly, physical exercise capacity (measured by a step test) did not improve, suggesting the fatigue reduction came from changes in how patients thought about and responded to their illness, not from increased physical fitness.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Cost-effectiveness of supported self-management for CFS/ME patients in primary care.

Richardson, Gerry, Epstein, David, Chew-Graham, Carolyn et al.·BMC family practice·2013

This study tested whether two nurse-led treatments for ME/CFS—pragmatic rehabilitation (exercise-based) and supportive listening (counseling-based)—were worth the cost compared to standard care from a GP. Both nurse-led treatments were more expensive than usual care and did not provide enough additional benefit to justify their cost, though some patients saw short-term fatigue improvements with rehabilitation.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging and volumetric measurements of the brain in patients with postcancer fatigue: a randomized controlled trial.

Prinsen, Hetty, Heerschap, Arend, Bleijenberg, Gijs et al.·PloS one·2013

This study looked at whether brain structure and chemistry differences seen in chronic fatigue syndrome patients also appear in cancer survivors with fatigue. Researchers compared fatigued and non-fatigued cancer survivors using brain imaging and measured whether cognitive behavior therapy changed these brain markers. They found no significant differences in brain structure or chemistry between fatigued and non-fatigued groups, and treatment did not change these markers even though fatigue improved.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredObservational

[The use of melatonin in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and circadian rhythm disorders in Parkinson's disease].

Datieva, V K, Rosinskaia, A V, Levin, O S·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·2013

This study tested whether melatonin, a natural hormone that helps regulate sleep, could help Parkinson's disease patients who also experience chronic fatigue. Thirty patients took melatonin and showed a 21% improvement in fatigue, better sleep, less anxiety, and improved quality of life. The treatment did not significantly affect movement problems, thinking abilities, or depression.

Sleep

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Changes in illness perceptions mediated the effect of cognitive behavioural therapy in severe functional somatic syndromes.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial of duloxetine in the treatment of general fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Activity Pacing Self-Management in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Effect of Lixujieyu recipe in combination with Five Elements music therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor combined with dengzhanshengmai capsule improves the fatigue symptoms: a 12-week open-label pilot study.

From Body to Mind and Spirit: Qigong Exercise for Bereaved Persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Like Illness.

[Moxibustion at Gaohuang (BL 43) for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial].

Adverse events and deterioration reported by participants in the PACE trial of therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Agomelatine but not melatonin improves fatigue perception: a longitudinal proof-of-concept study.

[Randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome patients].

Disease mechanisms and clonidine treatment in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: a combined cross-sectional and randomized clinical trial.

Pilot study investigating the utility of a specialized online symptom management program for individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome as compared to an online meditation program.

Tryptophan depletion in chronic fatigue syndrome, a pilot cross-over study.

Qigong exercise alleviates fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, improves sleep quality, and shortens sleep latency in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness.

Pain in chronic fatigue syndrome: response to rehabilitative treatments in the PACE trial.

Isometric yoga improves the fatigue and pain of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who are resistant to conventional therapy: a randomized, controlled trial.

Mediators of the effects on fatigue of pragmatic rehabilitation for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cost-effectiveness of supported self-management for CFS/ME patients in primary care.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging and volumetric measurements of the brain in patients with postcancer fatigue: a randomized controlled trial.

[The use of melatonin in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and circadian rhythm disorders in Parkinson's disease].

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