Systematic Review of Mind-Body Interventions to Treat Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic condition distinguished by disabling fatigue associated with post-exertional malaise, as well as changes to sleep, autonomic functioning, and cognition. Mind-body interventions (MBIs) utilize the ongoing interaction between the mind and body to improve health and wellbeing. Purpose: To systematically review studies using MBIs for the treatment of ME/CFS symptoms. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched (inception to September 2020). Interventional studies on adults diagnosed with ME/CFS, using one of the MBIs in comparison with any placebo, standard of care treatment or waitlist control, and measuring outcomes relevant to the signs and symptoms of ME/CFS and quality of life were assessed for inclusion. Characteristics and findings of the included studies were summarized using a descriptive approach. Results: 12 out of 382 retrieved references were included. Seven studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with one including three reports (1 RCT, 2 single-arms); others were single-arm trials. Interventions included mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, relaxation, Qigong, cognitive-behavioral stress management, acceptance and commitment therapy and isometric yoga. The outcomes measured most often were fatigue severity, anxiety/depression, and quality of life. Fatigue severity and symptoms of anxiety/depression were improved in nine and eight studies respectively, and three studies found that MBIs improved quality of life. Conclusions: Fatigue severity, anxiety/depression and physical and mental functioning were shown to be improved in patients receiving MBIs. However, small sample sizes, heterogeneous diagnostic criteria, and a high risk of bias may challenge this result. Further research using standardized outcomes would help advance the field.

The Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Yijinjing Qigong Exercise for the Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis on the Pain, Dysfunction, and Mood Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Evidence of systematic review for Qigong has shown to improve depression (27,28), and this study provided corresponding evidence for YJJQE. This finding might benefit from the fact that psychosomatic therapy has the dual mechanism of exercise and meditation that can relieve KOA pain and mood disorders (29,30). The underlying mechanism that physical exercise, combined with continuous cognitive challenge training, can maintain a new neuron pool experiences, more complex cognitive tasks, and even recruits new neurons to improve brain function (31).…”

Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning

“…Similarly, a recent review of meditation for post-viral fatigue (eg, ME/CFS) did not find significant differences at follow-up for any interventions lasting less than 8 weeks. 175 Interventions shorter than 8 weeks did not find changes in underlying biomarkers, immune markers, or neurocognitive functioning. The research appears to support bringing about positive biological processes in 8–12 weeks of meditation (see Tables 1 and 2 ).…”

“…In addition, a recent review of meditation for post-viral fatigue (eg, ME/CFS) concluded that the basic symptoms were shown to be improved in patients receiving mind-body interventions. 175 Mahendru 4 found that those provided meditation after SARS-CoV-2 infection reported improvement in multiple sleep indicators. Bushell et al 8 review suggested that meditation interventions were of importance to moderating immune function, specifically for SARS-CoV-2 infection and Long COVID.…”

“…There is one recent study reporting positive biological outcomes after short-term intervention, and this involved 8 days of intensive practice during a full-time on-site retreat. 175 The retreat was also tightly controlled: participants meditated more than 10 hours a day, remained silent for 8 days, ate vegan meals prepared for them, did not work, and followed a regular sleep schedule. This suggests that short-term interventions may compensate for a small duration of practice, by intensifying the amount of time spent in meditation.…”

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“…They found general improvements in these outcome parameters. However, these findings must be regarded as provisional, due to small sample sizes, heterogeneous diagnostic criteria, and the possibility of various biases [42].…”