ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1–20 of 205 studies

Sorted by evidence level and year

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Digital Approaches for Managing Brain Fog in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): Interventions, Monitoring, and Future Directions.

Araja, Diana, Murovska, Modra, Krumina, Angelika et al.·Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

This review examined how digital tools—such as apps and online platforms—might help people with ME/CFS monitor and manage 'brain fog', a common cognitive difficulty patients report. The authors found that while some digital assessment tools show promise, most approaches for using technology to help with brain fog remain under-studied and limited in evidence. Digital monitoring and rehabilitation approaches are less well-established than cognitive assessment tools.

InterventionsDiagnosticsCognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[Post-COVID: An inventory focusing on the key complaints PEM and POTS].

Hensel, Ole, Pfrommer, Laura, Furch, Peggy et al.·MMW Fortschritte der Medizin·2026

This is a narrative review (a summary of existing research rather than a new study) that examined long-term effects of COVID-19, with a focus on post-exertional malaise (PEM) and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The authors report that in people with post-COVID, PEM—a worsening of symptoms after exertion—was observed in approximately 86% of patients, and POTS-related symptoms in up to 82%. The review suggests pacing and symptom-focused treatments may help, though these are early findings from a narrative synthesis rather than definitive evidence.

InterventionsAutonomic Nervous SystemDiagnosticsLong COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

The efficacy of exercise in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhao, Liping, Gou, Bo, Zhang, Meng·Journal of psychosomatic research·2026

A systematic review of 17 randomized controlled trials (involving 1,944 patients) found that exercise was associated with reported improvements in fatigue, sleep quality, quality of life, depression, and anxiety in ME/CFS patients. However, exercise did not show significant benefits for heart and lung function or overall physical capacity. The review noted no major differences in safety or tolerability between exercise and control groups, though individual responses vary and respecting personal energy limits is emphasized.

InterventionsSleepPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Recent Perspectives on the Physiological and Therapeutic Benefits of Placental Extracts in Chronic Noninfectious Diseases and Aging.

Xinliang, Zhang, Dudnik, Elena N, Gavrikov, Leonid K et al.·Current medicinal chemistry·2026

This systematic review examined studies on placental extracts—cell-free preparations derived from human or animal placenta—as potential treatments for various chronic diseases including metabolic disorders and liver disease. The review reports that these extracts were associated with improvements in liver function, muscle preservation, and metabolic markers in the studies reviewed; one study also mentioned chronic fatigue syndrome among the conditions examined. However, the authors note that large-scale, rigorously designed trials are needed to confirm whether these treatments actually work, and the quality of evidence underlying these associations remains unclear.

Energy MetabolismInterventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Comparative effectiveness of non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Zhang, Yihan, Zhou, You, Xu, Hangying et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2026

A systematic review of 29 studies examined whether traditional Chinese medicine therapies—including massage, moxibustion, and cupping—were associated with improvements in fatigue, sleep, anxiety, and depression in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. The review reported that massage and moxibustion showed associations with reduced fatigue and mood symptoms, while cupping was associated with better sleep quality, though the authors note these findings should be interpreted cautiously given limitations in the underlying studies.

InterventionsSleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Efficacy and safety of Xiaoyao San in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Wang, Qianqian, Zhou, Jian, Gong, Guanwen·Frontiers in pharmacology·2025

This review looked at whether Xiaoyao San, a traditional Chinese herbal treatment, helps people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Researchers examined 6 studies with 623 patients and found that Xiaoyao San improved fatigue, reduced anxiety and depression, and caused fewer side effects compared to standard treatments. However, the overall quality of evidence was low, so we need larger, better-designed studies to be confident about these results.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Dietary Supplementation for Fatigue Symptoms in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-A Systematic Review.

Dorczok, Marie Celine, Mittmann, Gloria, Mossaheb, Nilufar et al.·Nutrients·2025

This review looked at 14 studies examining whether dietary supplements can help reduce fatigue in ME/CFS patients. Some supplements like L-carnitine, CoQ10 combined with selenium, and NADH showed promise in reducing fatigue symptoms. However, the studies had significant quality issues, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about which supplements truly work.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Nutraceutical Supplementation Effects on Subjective Fatigue Symptoms in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Brito, Emanuella M, Bonifanti, Leonardo, Patel, Rajvi et al.·Cureus·2025

This review looked at studies testing whether vitamins, minerals, and dietary changes help ME/CFS patients feel less exhausted. Researchers found that a few supplements—like NADH, CoQ10, wasabi, and probiotics—showed promise in improving symptoms. However, many studies didn't use standardized ways to measure improvement, making it hard to compare results fairly across different research.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Effectiveness and safety of exercise therapy in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Wei, Zhenya, Wu, Heying, Cui, Chong et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2025

Researchers reviewed 13 studies involving 1,305 ME/CFS patients to see how exercise therapy affects fatigue. Exercise therapy did reduce fatigue overall, but the type of exercise mattered: traditional aerobic exercise was better for reducing overall tiredness, while a gentler practice called Qigong was better for mental fatigue. However, the researchers noted that more research is needed to fully understand whether these treatments are safe for ME/CFS patients.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

The relation between cognitive-behavioural responses to symptoms in patients with long term medical conditions and the outcome of cognitive behavioural therapy for fatigue - A secondary analysis of four RCTs.

de Gier, M, Picariello, F, Slot, M et al.·Behaviour research and therapy·2023

This study looked at how people with different long-term illnesses—including ME/CFS—think and behave in response to fatigue, and whether these patterns affect how well cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) works. Researchers found that certain thought patterns and behaviours, like avoiding activity or believing that fatigue causes damage, were linked to less improvement with CBT. The good news is that when CBT helped patients change these patterns—by reducing fear, worry, and excessive rest—their fatigue improved significantly.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

[Current status of animal experiment report of acupuncture intervention in chronic fatigue syndrome based on ARRIVE guidelines and GSPC list].

Cui, Jia-He, Hu, Bin, Wang, Xin-Cao et al.·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2023

This study looked at 16 animal research papers that tested whether acupuncture could help with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The researchers found that most of these studies had significant problems in how they reported their work—important details were missing or poorly described, making it hard to know if the results were trustworthy. The study recommends that future animal experiments follow better reporting standards to improve the quality and reliability of the research.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

A systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials evaluating prognosis following treatment for adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ingman, Tom, Smakowski, Abigail, Goldsmith, Kimberley et al.·Psychological medicine·2022

This review examined 15 studies testing whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) help adults with ME/CFS. About 44% of people felt better after CBT and 43% felt better after GET in the short to medium term, compared to smaller improvements in control groups. However, most studies were only moderate to weak quality, and results may not apply to people with severe ME/CFS.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Cost-effectiveness of Interventions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations.

Cochrane, M, Mitchell, E, Hollingworth, W et al.·Applied health economics and health policy·2021

This review looked at whether ME/CFS treatments are worth the money they cost. Researchers found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a type of talking therapy—appears to be cost-effective for some adults with ME/CFS, though results varied depending on how it was delivered. There is much less evidence for other treatments, and very little research on what works best for children with ME/CFS.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management

NICE Guideline Committee·National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)·2021

The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated its ME/CFS guidelines after a comprehensive evidence review. The updated guidelines removed Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as recommended treatments, as evidence showed they were not effective and could be harmful. Pacing and energy management were endorsed.

InterventionsDiagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Moxibustion for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

You, Jianyu, Ye, Jing, Li, Haiyan et al.·Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM·2021

This review examined whether moxibustion—a traditional Chinese medicine treatment that applies heat to specific points on the skin—might help people with ME/CFS. The researchers looked at 15 published studies involving over 1,000 patients and found that moxibustion appeared to reduce fatigue severity more effectively than acupuncture or standard medications. However, the researchers note that the overall quality of evidence is limited, meaning we need more rigorous studies before we can be confident about these results.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Cognitive and emotional variables predicting treatment outcome of cognitive behavior therapies for patients with medically unexplained symptoms: A meta-analysis.

Sarter, Lena, Heider, Jens, Kirchner, Lukas et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2021

This study looked at 37 research papers about cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy—for people with medically unexplained symptoms. The researchers found that people who worry a lot about their symptoms, have anxiety or mood problems, tend to notice body sensations intensely, or don't believe they can manage their illness tend to get less benefit from CBT. The findings suggest that tailoring CBT to each person's specific concerns might help treatments work better.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Advances in Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Zhang, Xiaoyan, Wang, Miao, Zhou, Shigao·Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM·2020

This review looked at research on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome over a five-year period. Researchers found that many clinical studies showed TCM may help improve CFS symptoms, but the results are still not completely clear. The review examined different TCM approaches including syndrome-based treatment, external therapies, and combinations with other treatments.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Patients' experiences and effects of non-pharmacological treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - a scoping mixed methods review.

Mengshoel, Anne Marit, Helland, Ingrid Bergliot, Meeus, Mira et al.·International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being·2020

This review looked at 16 European studies on non-drug treatments for ME/CFS, examining what actually helps patients and what matters most to them during treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) showed the most promise for reducing fatigue compared to no treatment, while rehabilitation and activity-pacing approaches showed mixed results. Importantly, patients felt most helped when their doctors truly recognized ME/CFS as a real illness and supported them, but they were often unsure what these treatments actually involved or why they were being recommended.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

Kim, Do-Young, Lee, Jin-Seok, Park, Samuel-Young et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

Researchers reviewed 55 clinical trials testing different treatments for ME/CFS involving over 6,000 patients. They found that while a few treatments showed promise—including some medications, cognitive-behavior therapy, graded exercise, and traditional therapies like acupuncture—none proved to be reliably effective across multiple studies. This review highlights that we still don't have a clearly proven treatment for ME/CFS.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Assessment of the scientific rigour of randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy and graded exercise therapy for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review.

Ahmed, S A, Mewes, J C, Vrijhoef, Hjm·Journal of health psychology·2020

This review examined 18 previous studies that tested cognitive behavioural therapy (talk therapy focused on thoughts and behaviors) and graded exercise therapy (gradually increasing physical activity) for ME/CFS. The reviewers found that most of these studies had significant problems in how they were designed and conducted, which means we cannot be confident in their results. The review highlights that better, more carefully designed studies are needed with better ways of measuring improvements.

Interventions

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Evidence browser

Digital Approaches for Managing Brain Fog in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): Interventions, Monitoring, and Future Directions.

[Post-COVID: An inventory focusing on the key complaints PEM and POTS].

The efficacy of exercise in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Recent Perspectives on the Physiological and Therapeutic Benefits of Placental Extracts in Chronic Noninfectious Diseases and Aging.

Comparative effectiveness of non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Efficacy and safety of Xiaoyao San in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dietary Supplementation for Fatigue Symptoms in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-A Systematic Review.

Nutraceutical Supplementation Effects on Subjective Fatigue Symptoms in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Effectiveness and safety of exercise therapy in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

The relation between cognitive-behavioural responses to symptoms in patients with long term medical conditions and the outcome of cognitive behavioural therapy for fatigue - A secondary analysis of four RCTs.

[Current status of animal experiment report of acupuncture intervention in chronic fatigue syndrome based on ARRIVE guidelines and GSPC list].

A systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials evaluating prognosis following treatment for adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cost-effectiveness of Interventions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management

Moxibustion for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cognitive and emotional variables predicting treatment outcome of cognitive behavior therapies for patients with medically unexplained symptoms: A meta-analysis.

Advances in Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Patients' experiences and effects of non-pharmacological treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - a scoping mixed methods review.

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

Assessment of the scientific rigour of randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy and graded exercise therapy for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review.

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