Research Roundup! The Latest Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia (FM) Research by Cort Johnson
Brain Improvement with CBT!
Previous studies have shown that ME/CFS patients have reduced brain grey matter volume in their brains. Grey matter makes up the neurons, glial cells, dendrites, etc. in the central nervous system. These Dutch researchers found that besides improving their general health, physical activity levels and thinking that cognitive behavior therapy also increased ME/CFS patients cerebral grey matter volume.
This may be the first study to show physiological changes in ME/CFS occurring as a result of CBT. While this may be disheartening to some note that CBT has been shown to increase immune functioning in AIDS patients and to produce physiological changes in other diseases as well.
(Also please note that CBT is no longer about bludgeoning your way through your symptoms. Progressive CBT therapists now utilize the envelope theory to avoid crashes and slowly increase ones activity levels.)
How did the CBT work? Perhaps it has to do with overactive neural circuits. Dr. Baraniuk, a US researcher, believes some neural circuits are over-activated in ME/CFS. While he believes the disease has a neurological origin he also asserts that mental exercises such as CBT, meditation, relaxation exercises, etc. that turn down the stress response system can help turn off these overactive circuits.
It's intriguing that over-excitation of nervous system cells (excitotoxicity) leads to cell death. Did CBT, by changing these patients lifestyles - and reducing their stress inducing thoughts - and their overall stress levels - tamp down an overexcited nervous system? Allowing it to heal somewhat?
We still don't know how much these patients were helped; was it a bit, a moderate amount or a large amount? More later.
de Lange FP, Koers A, Kalkman JS, Bleijenberg G, Hagoort P, van de Meer JW, Toni I. 2008. Increase in prefrontal cortical volume following cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Brain. 2008 Jun 28.
The Stress Response Again ! Stress Response Genes to the Fore in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
These Japanese researchers found they were able to differentiate CFS from fatigued but non-CFS patients and healthy controls using the gene expression profiles of nine 'stress-response' genes. This means they found nine genes which were either dramatically over or under-active in chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients. These genes were involved in immune functioning (T and natural killer cells no less), energy regulators (ATP and the mitochondria (again) and others.
They checked their results three times in three different (but small) groups - that is rare and that is promising. These genes could be a diagnostic biomarkers but how do they compare to those found in other gene expression studies? I'll review this study in the Phoenix Rising newsletter - you'll have to subscribe to it find that out.
Journal Mol Med. 2008 Jul 3. Identification of Marker Genes for Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Saiki T, Kawai T, Morita K, Ohta M, Saito T, Rokutan K, Ban N.
*Warning! Cort Johnson is a laymen with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS); the views on this page do not reflect the understanding of a health professional. See your health professional for questions on how to interpret these studies.
