ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

881–900 of 6,187 studies

The effect of cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome on self-reported cognitive impairments and neuropsychological test performance.

Knoop, Hans, Prins, Judith B, Stulemeijer, Maja et al.·Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry·2007

People with ME/CFS often report problems with concentration and memory. This study tested whether cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy—could help improve these cognitive problems. The researchers found that CBT did reduce how much patients *felt* their thinking was impaired, but it did not actually improve their performance on memory and attention tests.

Cognitive Impairment

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Does methylphenidate reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome?

Blockmans, Daniel, Persoons, Philippe, Van Houdenhove, Boudewijn et al.·The American journal of medicine·2006

This study tested whether methylphenidate (a stimulant medication) could help reduce fatigue and improve concentration in ME/CFS patients. Sixty patients took either methylphenidate or placebo for 4 weeks each in alternating order. The medication did reduce fatigue and concentration problems compared to placebo, but only about 17–22% of patients showed clinically meaningful improvement.

Cognitive Impairment

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

The therapeutic effects of electrical acupuncture and auricular-plaster in 32 cases of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Yuemei, Li, Hongping, Liu, Shulan, Feng et al.·Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan·2006

This study tested whether electrical acupuncture combined with auricular plaster (a small patch placed on the ear) could help people with chronic fatigue syndrome. The treatment group showed improvement in about 94% of cases, compared to 75% in the group taking a standard medicine (hydrocortisone). The results suggest this traditional Chinese medicine approach may work better than the medication tested.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Long-term efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy by general practitioners for fatigue: a 4-year follow-up study.

Leone, Stephanie S, Huibers, Marcus J H, Kant, Ijmert et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2006

Researchers tested whether cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a talk-based treatment, delivered by general doctors could help people with fatigue who were on sick leave. They followed up with patients 4 years after the original study ended. The results showed that CBT did not help—both the treatment group and the control group still had high fatigue and work absences after 4 years, suggesting that persistent fatigue has a poor long-term outlook.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Cognitive behavioural therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomised controlled trial of an outpatient group programme.

O'Dowd, H, Gladwell, P, Rogers, C A et al.·Health technology assessment (Winchester, England)·2006

This study compared three approaches for managing ME/CFS: group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), education and support groups, and standard medical care. After 12 months, patients who received CBT showed improvements in mental health, fatigue levels, and walking ability compared to standard care, though improvements were modest and many patients did not fully recover.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of a natural killer cell stimulant (BioBran MGN-3) in chronic fatigue syndrome.

McDermott, C, Richards, S C M, Thomas, P W et al.·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·2006

This study tested whether a supplement called BioBran MGN-3 could reduce fatigue in people with ME/CFS by boosting immune cells called natural killer cells. Seventy-one patients took either the supplement or a placebo for 8 weeks. Both groups improved during the study, but the supplement group did not improve significantly more than the placebo group, suggesting the supplement itself was not the reason for improvement.

Immune System

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Reliability of physiological, psychological and cognitive variables in chronic fatigue syndrome and the role of graded exercise.

Wallman, Karen E, Morton, Alan R, Goodman, Carmel et al.·Journal of sports science & medicine·2005

This study tracked ME/CFS patients' symptoms and physical abilities over several weeks before and after trying graded exercise therapy. Researchers found that mental and physical fatigue were the most unpredictable symptoms, fluctuating week to week, while other measurements stayed relatively stable. After doing graded exercise for 12 weeks, mental fatigue became more stable and predictable.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM unclearRCT

Acupuncture and Chinese patent drugs for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lijue, Zhao·Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan·2005

This study tested whether acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicines could help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Researchers compared patients who received these treatments to a control group to see if they experienced improvements in their fatigue and symptoms.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM unclearRCT

A feasibility study comparing two treatment approaches for chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents.

Wright, B, Ashby, B, Beverley, D et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2005

This study tested whether two different treatment approaches could help teenagers with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The researchers compared the treatments to see which one might be more practical and acceptable for young patients. Because no abstract was available, specific details about the treatments and results cannot be summarized from the published information.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Cognitive behaviour therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: randomised controlled trial.

Stulemeijer, Maja, de Jong, Lieke W A M, Fiselier, Theo J W et al.·BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2005

This study tested whether cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)—a type of talking therapy that helps people change unhelpful thinking patterns and gradually return to activities—could help teenagers with ME/CFS. Teenagers who received 10 sessions of CBT over five months showed greater improvements in fatigue, ability to do daily activities, and school attendance compared to those who waited for treatment. The therapy was tailored based on whether teenagers were mostly active or inactive.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredObservational

Predictors of outcome following treatment for chronic fatigue.

Darbishire, Lucy, Seed, Paul, Ridsdale, Leone·The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·2005

This study looked at 105 people with fatigue who received either exercise therapy or talking therapy to see which patients improved and which didn't. The researchers found that having a formal diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome made it much less likely that people would improve with these treatments. The effect was even stronger if patients had severe limitations in daily activities or believed their illness would have serious consequences.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Effect of ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, on fatigue in chronic hepatitis C: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study.

Piche, T, Vanbiervliet, G, Cherikh, F et al.·Gut·2005

This study tested whether a medication called ondansetron, which affects serotonin in the brain, could reduce fatigue in people with chronic hepatitis C. Thirty-six patients took either ondansetron or a placebo pill for one month and were then observed for another month. Ondansetron significantly improved fatigue scores by more than 30% within two weeks and maintained this improvement, while placebo did not.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Chronic treatment with modafinil may not be beneficial in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Randall, Delia C, Cafferty, Fay H, Shneerson, John M et al.·Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2005

This study tested whether modafinil, a medication that promotes wakefulness, could help 14 ME/CFS patients think more clearly and feel less tired. Patients took either modafinil (at two different doses) or placebo in a blinded, controlled trial. The results were mixed: some thinking tasks improved slightly at the lower dose, but higher doses actually made some tasks harder, and fatigue ratings didn't improve at all.

Cognitive Impairment

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Effect of psychiatric disorders on outcome of cognitive-behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prins, Judith, Bleijenberg, Gijs, Rouweler, Eufride Klein et al.·The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·2005

This study looked at whether having a mental health condition (like depression or anxiety) affects how well cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) works for ME/CFS. Researchers interviewed 270 people with ME/CFS about their psychiatric history and tracked their recovery after CBT treatment. Surprisingly, they found that people with mental health diagnoses improved just as much as those without them, suggesting that having a psychiatric condition doesn't prevent CBT from helping with ME/CFS symptoms.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

A randomized controlled graded exercise trial for chronic fatigue syndrome: outcomes and mechanisms of change.

Moss-Morris, Rona, Sharon, Cynthia, Tobin, Roseanne et al.·Journal of health psychology·2005

This study tested whether a 12-week exercise program could help people with ME/CFS feel better. Patients who did the graded exercise program reported feeling significantly more improved and less fatigued compared to those who received standard medical care alone. Interestingly, the improvement seemed to come mainly from patients worrying less about their symptoms, rather than from getting physically stronger.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Randomized controlled trial of Siberian ginseng for chronic fatigue.

Hartz, A J, Bentler, S, Noyes, R et al.·Psychological medicine·2004

This study tested whether Siberian ginseng could reduce fatigue in people with chronic fatigue lasting at least 6 months. Ninety-six people took either Siberian ginseng or a placebo pill for 2 months. While both groups improved during the study, the ginseng did not work better than placebo overall, though it showed some promise in people with moderate (not severe) fatigue.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Exploratory open label, randomized study of acetyl- and propionylcarnitine in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vermeulen, Ruud C W, Scholte, Hans R·Psychosomatic medicine·2004

This study tested whether two types of carnitine supplements—acetylcarnitine, propionylcarnitine, or both together—could help reduce fatigue in ME/CFS patients. Over 24 weeks, about 59–63% of patients taking either supplement alone reported significant improvement in fatigue and concentration, though acetylcarnitine worked better for mental fatigue while propionylcarnitine worked better for general fatigue. Unfortunately, most patients experienced worsening fatigue within 2 weeks after stopping treatment.

Cognitive Impairment

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Comparison of oral nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) versus conventional therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Santaella, María L, Font, Ivonne, Disdier, Orville M·Puerto Rico health sciences journal·2004

This study tested whether a supplement called NADH could help people with ME/CFS feel better compared to standard nutritional supplements and counseling. Over 24 months, 12 patients received NADH while a comparison group received conventional treatment. During the first three months, patients taking NADH showed significant improvement in their symptoms, but by later time points, both groups improved at similar rates.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Immune modulation with a staphylococcal preparation in fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome: relation between antibody levels and clinical improvement.

Zachrisson, O, Colque-Navarro, P, Gottfries, C G et al.·European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2004

Researchers tested whether a vaccine made from killed bacteria could help people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia by stimulating their immune system. Half of 28 patients received the vaccine and half received placebo over 6 months. Patients who received the vaccine developed antibodies (immune proteins) against bacterial toxins, and those with stronger antibody responses showed more clinical improvement.

Immune System

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Social support and the persistence of complaints in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prins, J B, Bos, E, Huibers, M J H et al.·Psychotherapy and psychosomatics·2004

This study looked at how social support affects people with ME/CFS and compared them to cancer survivors, fatigued workers, and healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients experienced more negative interactions from others and felt less supported than the other groups. Interestingly, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) reduced negative interactions and improved fatigue, but support groups alone did not help as much.

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The effect of cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome on self-reported cognitive impairments and neuropsychological test performance.

Does methylphenidate reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome?

The therapeutic effects of electrical acupuncture and auricular-plaster in 32 cases of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Long-term efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy by general practitioners for fatigue: a 4-year follow-up study.

Cognitive behavioural therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomised controlled trial of an outpatient group programme.

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of a natural killer cell stimulant (BioBran MGN-3) in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reliability of physiological, psychological and cognitive variables in chronic fatigue syndrome and the role of graded exercise.

Acupuncture and Chinese patent drugs for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

A feasibility study comparing two treatment approaches for chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents.

Cognitive behaviour therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: randomised controlled trial.

Predictors of outcome following treatment for chronic fatigue.

Effect of ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, on fatigue in chronic hepatitis C: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study.

Chronic treatment with modafinil may not be beneficial in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Effect of psychiatric disorders on outcome of cognitive-behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

A randomized controlled graded exercise trial for chronic fatigue syndrome: outcomes and mechanisms of change.

Randomized controlled trial of Siberian ginseng for chronic fatigue.

Exploratory open label, randomized study of acetyl- and propionylcarnitine in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Comparison of oral nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) versus conventional therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Immune modulation with a staphylococcal preparation in fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome: relation between antibody levels and clinical improvement.

Social support and the persistence of complaints in chronic fatigue syndrome.

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