Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41366804›Full record

ReviewJournal of translational medicine2025

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): diagnosis and management.

Jin Fan, Jiao Jiao, Hai-Qing Chang, Dong-Ling Zhong, Xiao-Bo Liu, Juan Li, Ling-Min Chen, Rong-Jiang Jin, Xi Wu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of translational medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jin Fan *Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Jiao Jiao *Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Hai-Qing Chang *Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Dong-Ling ZhongSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Xiao-Bo LiuSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Juan LiSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Ling-Min ChenDepartment of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. chenlingmin@wchscu.edu.cn.
Rong-Jiang JinSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. cdzyydxjrj@126.com.
Xi WuAcupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. wuxi@cdutcm.edu.cn.

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2025M771949Clinical Trial Center, China Medical University Hospital 2024HXBH065Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province 2024NSFSC2123Sichuan Science and Technology Program 2025ZNSFSC1646
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has garnered substantial scientific and clinical interest, due to its rising global prevalence and significant pathophysiological overlap with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). This review systematically elucidates the prevailing diagnostic criteria, summarizes recent advances in understanding the potential pathophysiological mechanisms, and evaluates pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and symptom-based assessment and management strategies.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for articles published from inception to August 2025.

resultsCurrent diagnostic frameworks for ME/CFS rely primarily on clinical symptomatology and lack definitive biomarkers. Immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation are central to its pathology. Pharmacological management includes immunomodulatory treatments, antioxidant therapies, mitochondrial support, and neuroinflammation intervention. Non-pharmacological strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), graded exercise therapy (GET), activity pacing, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) complement biomedical approaches by alleviating symptom severity and promoting energy conservation.

conclusionAmong these approaches, CBT serves as an adjunctive therapy for symptom management rather than a curative one, whereas GET is contraindicated due to its potential for harm. Comprehensive clinical assessment and management of ME/CFS requires being symptom oriented and the recognition of individual differences. Recommended directions for future research include developing biomarker-based diagnostic tools, optimizing combination therapies that target multiple pathophysiological pathways simultaneously, and integrating real-world data and digital health technologies for precise monitoring and management of ME/CFS.

Indexed as

Fatigue Syndrome, ChronicBiomarkersCognitive Behavioral TherapyCOVID-19HumansSARS-CoV-2BiomarkersDiagnosisManagementMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Identifiers

PMID41366804
PMCPMC12801797

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.