Factsheet: Literature from updates 2005

SOME FACTS ABOUT M.E./PVFS/CFS

 

1. Findings using MRI suggest the existence of a subgroup with encephalopathy.

2. Further differences between CFS and fibromyalgia.

Casado, B., Zanone, C., Annovazzi, L., Iadarola, P., Whalen, G and Baraniuk, JN. Urinary electrophoretic profiles from chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia patients: a pilot study for achieving their normalization. Journal of Chromatography B (Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci), 2005, 814, 1, 43-51.

3 Further evidence of the involvement of  EBV.

Glaser, R., Padgett, DA., Litsky, ML., Baiocchi, RA., Yang, EV., Chen, M., Yeh, P-E., Klimas, NG., Marshall, GD., Whiteside, T., Herberman, R., Kiecolt-Glaser, J and Williams, MV.  Stress-associated changes in the steady-state expression of latent Epstein-Barr virus: implications for chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2005, 19, 2, 91-103.

4. Severity of symptoms is important in assessing CFS. 

King, C and Jason, LA. Improving the diagnostic criteria and procedures for chronic fatigue syndrome. Biological Psychology, 2005, 68, 87-106.

5. New research on activity:

a. Activity is associated with significant abnormalities.

Whistler, T., Jones, JF., Unger, ER and Vernon, SD. Exercise responsive genes measured in peripheral blood of women with chronic fatigue syndrome and matched control subjects. BMC Physiology, 2005, Mar 24; 5, 1, 5.

[Their findings are consistent with other studies showing abnormal responses to exercise e.g. McCully and Natelson 1999 (oxidative metabolism), Paul et al 1999 (muscle power), Sorensen et al 2003 (immune system), and Whiteside et al 2004 (change in pain threshold following GET).]

b. Increased activity does not lead to an improvement in symptoms and functioning, and cannot be maintained for very long.

Black, CD., O'Connnor, PJ and McCully, KK. Increased daily physical activity and fatigue symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. Dynamic Medicine, 2005, 4, 3.

c. Pacing alone is not as effective as programmes which also provide advice and emotional support.

Wright, B., Ashby, B., Beverley, D., Calvert, E., Jordan, J., Miles, J., Russell, I and Williams, C. A feasibility study comparing two treatment approaches for chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2005, 90, 369-372

d. Pacing does not necessarily lead to a significant decrease in physical activity, even after exercise.

Bazelmans, E., Bleijenberg, G., Voeten, MJM., van der Meer, JWM and Folgering, H. Impact of a maximal exercise test on symptoms and activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.  Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2005, 59, 4, 201-208.

6. More information about subgroups:

Jason, LA., Corradi, K., Torres-Harding, S., Taylor, RR and King, C. Chronic fatigue syndrome: the need for subtypes. Neuropsychology Review, 2005, 15, 1, 29-58.

7. Certain fatigue scales have low ceilings and are therefore not adequate measures of fatigue in people with ME and CFS.

Stouten, B. Identification of ambiguities in the 1994 chronic fatigue syndrome research case definition and recommendations for resolution. BMC Health Services Research, 2005, 5:37 (As per 13^th May 2005).

8, Evidence of genetic changes.

Kaushik, N., Fear, D., Richards, SCM., McDermott, CR., Nuwaysir, EF., Kellam, P., Harrison, TJ., Wilkinson, RJ., Tyrrell, DAJ., Holgate, ST and Kerr, JR. Gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2005, 58, 826-832. 

Smith, J., Fritz, EL., Kerr, JR., Cleare, AJ., Wessely, S and Mattey, DL. Association of chronic fatigue syndrome with human leucocyte antigen class II alleles. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2005, 58, 860-863.

9. Further evidence of abnormalities.

Badawy, AA., Morgan, CJ., Llewelyn, MB., Albuquerque, SR and Farmer A. Heterogeneity of serum tryptophan concentration and availability to the brain in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2005, 19, 4, 385-391. 

De Lange, FP., Kalkman, JS., Bleijenberg, G., Hagoort, P., van der Meer, JWM and Toni, I. Gray matter volume reduction in the chronic fatigue syndrome. NeuroImage, 2005, 26, 3, 777-781. 

Kennedy, G., Spence, VA., McLaren, M., Hill, A., Underwood, C and Belch, JJ. Oxidative stress levels are raised in chronic fatigue syndrome and are associated with clinical symptoms. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2005, 39, 5, 584-589. 

Robertson, MJ., Schacterle, RS., Mackin, GA., Wilson, SN., Bloomingdale, KL., Ritz, J and Komaroff, AL. Lymphocyte subset differences in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and major depression. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 2005, 141, 2, 326-332. 

10. Research which undermines the CBT model:

a. the model as tested by Vercoulen et al. 

Song, S and Jason, LA. A population based study of CFS experienced in differing patient groups. An effort to replicate Vercoulen et al.'s model of CFS Journal of Mental Health, 2005, 14, 3, 277-289.

b. the hypothesis that CFS is linked to an exercise phobia.

Gallagher, AM., Coldrick, AR., Hedge, B., Weir, WRC and White, PD. Is the chronic fatigue syndrome an exercise phobia? A case control study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2005, 58, 4, 367-373.

11. Review of enteroviral research

Chia, JKS. The role of enterovirus in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2005, 58, 1126-1132.

12.  Realistic discussion of experiences of patients.

Taylor, RR. Can the social model explain all of disability experience? Perspectives of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome.  American Journal of  Occupational Therapy, 2005,  59, 5,  497-506.

 

Copyright EM. Goudsmit 2005. ©
Psychologist/Archivist, London.
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