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

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.

1. Introduction

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic condition distinguished by disabling fatigue associated with multiple symptoms including post-exertional malaise, orthostatic intolerance, pain, sleep problems, and impaired cognitive and immune functions [1]. While the true prevalence is unknown, Johnston et al., estimated the pooled prevalence of ME/CFS to be 3.28% and 0.76% according to self-reporting and clinical assessment, respectively [2]. In Canada, 1.4% of people older than 12 years old [3] suffer from ME/CFS. Patients report post-exertional malaise (69–100%), muscle pain (63–95%), impaired memory or concentration (88%), non-restorative sleep (87%), joint pain (55–85%), and sore throat (62%) [1,4]. Health-related quality of life in ME/CFS patients is consistently reported as significantly lower than otherwise healthy populations with regards to physical and mental health, self-care, and ability to perform usual activities [5,6]. Not surprisingly, ME/CFS reduces patients’ abilities to carry out normal working activities leading to higher unemployment rates [7]. It is estimated that annual household and labor force productivity of ME/CFS patients are decreased by 37% and 54%, respectively, costing an approximate annual loss of $9.1 billion in the United States (US) [8]. ME/CFS patients, their families and employers endure a high financial burden estimated to be between $18 to $51 billion annually in the US [9].

Despite extensive research, the etiology and pathophysiology of ME/CFS have not yet been fully understood. Disruptions in the autonomic nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, and immune system were shown in several studies [10,11]. Metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction and abnormal gut microbiota were also shown to be interconnected with the above dysregulation [11]. A recent systematic review of neuroimaging studies showed inconsistent but widespread abnormalities in white matter, functional connectivity, and morphological changes of the autonomic nervous system [12].

With no specific etiology, there is no gold standard method to diagnose ME/CFS to date. A recent systematic review of diagnostic methods by Haney et al., identified nine case definitions [13]. Due to the lack of a biomarker, most of the case definitions require other competing diagnoses to be ruled out [14,15]. In the literature, the term myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) [16] was used earlier than the term chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) [17]. The Canadian case definition published in 2003 required post-exertional malaise as an essential symptom in these patients and recommended the umbrella term ME/CFS [18], used in this systematic review.

There is no cure for ME/CFS nor any FDA or Health Canada approved medication to treat it [14,19], therefore the focus tends to be on managing and minimizing the symptoms and improving quality of life. A variety of conventional and complementary therapies have been used to mitigate the symptoms of ME/CFS. As in other chronic conditions, long-term pharmacological interventions may have significant impacts on patients and their families in terms of adverse effects and financial burden [20,21]. Non-pharmacological options are of interest to patients as they may be less expensive and have fewer associated adverse effects.

Systematic reviews have shown low strength of evidence for the effectiveness of different complementary therapies [19], cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), counseling and behavioral therapies [14,22], and graded exercise therapy [23] for improvement of fatigue, physical functioning, sleep, and quality of life in patients with ME/CFS.

Mind-body approaches utilize the interactions between the brain, mind, and body, and behavior to improve health and wellbeing [24]. Using these interconnections strengthens self-awareness and self-care and helps to improve mood, quality of life, and increase one’s ability to cope. Examples of mind-body therapy interventions (MBIs) include progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, hypnosis, meditation, mindfulness, Tai chi, yoga, and biofeedback. Newer approaches are using the brain’s ability to change (i.e., neuroplasticity) associated with repeated, purposeful thoughts, feelings or behaviors [25]. The science behind how mind-body therapies work is expanding. It has been shown that the brain and body communicate in multiple directions using neurotransmitters/neuropeptides, hormones, and cytokines and MBIs may be influencing physical health by affecting these interactions [24,26].

Considering the complex nature of ME/CFS and the involvement of psycho-neuroendocrine and immune systems, these patients are an ideal population for evaluating MBIs. Furthermore, by enhancing self-knowledge and patients’ abilities to work through their problems and reduce stress, MBIs may improve their quality of life and wellbeing [27].

Several MBIs such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), yoga, and Qigong have been studied in ME/CFS patients, but to our knowledge, have not yet been included in any systematic review or meta-analysis. There are some promising results to improve anxiety, fatigue, depression, quality of life, and physical functioning [28,29,30,31,32] in ME/CFS. In this systematic review, we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of MBIs that were studied in individuals diagnosed with ME/CFS. The results of this review will inform the design and methodology of future randomized controlled trials.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to systematically review studies of MBIs for the treatment of ME/CFS symptoms and to report any adverse events reported for these approaches in ME/CFS patients.

2. Materials and Methods

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines [33]. The protocol of this systematic review was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42018085981).

2.1. Population, Intervention, Control, Outcome- Study Design (PICO-S)

The population of interest was adults (≥18 years old) diagnosed or symptom-matched with one of the ME/CFS case definitions (Appendix A, Table A1). Patients with any other conditions were included in this review, as long as they were diagnosed with ME/CFS. Interventions of interest included any of the MBIs listed in Table 1 and any placebo, the standard of care treatment or waiting list as a control group. To be eligible for inclusion, multiple-arm interventional studies were also required to have at least one of the control groups mentioned above.

Table A1

Case definitions for the diagnosis of ME/CFS over time.

Advisor Group, Year	Identifier	Case Definition and Required Symptom(s)
For Adults
Holmes et al., 1988 (CDC) [17]	CFS	Major criteriaNew onset of persistent or relapsing, debilitating fatigue or easy fatigability in a person who has no previous history of similar symptoms, that does not resolve with bedrest, and that is severe enough to reduce or impair average daily activity below 50% of the patient’s premorbid activity level for a period of at least 6 monthsMinor criteriaMild feverSore throatPainful lymph node in the anterior or posterior cervical or axillary distributionUnexplained generalized muscle weaknessMuscle discomfort or myalgiaProlonged generalized fatigue (≥24 h) after normal level of exerciseMigratory arthralgia without joint swelling or rednessNeurological complains one or more of: photophobia, transient visual scotomata, forgetfulness, excessive irritability, confusion, difficulty thinking, inability to concentrate, depressionSleep disturbances
Sharp et al., 1991 (Oxford) [46]	CFS	Fatigue as the principal symptomA definite onset that is not lifelongThe fatigue is severe, disabling, and affects physical and mental functioningThe fatigue should have been present for a minimum of 6 months during which it was present for more than 50% of the timeOther symptoms may be present, particularly myalgia, mood and sleep disturbance.
Fukuda et al., 1994, (CDC) [52]	CFS	Clinically evaluated, “unexplained”, persistent or relapsing fatigue for ≥6 months.Not the result of ongoing exertionNot substantially alleviated by restResulting in a substantial reduction in previous activity level.Four or more of the following concurrently present for ≥ 6 months:impaired memory or concentrationsore throattender cervical or axillary lymph nodesmuscle painmulti-joint painnew headachesunrefreshing sleeppost-exertion malaise
London criteria-V2, (Dowsett et al., 1994) [106]		These three criteria must all be present for a diagnosis of M.E./PVFSExercise-induced fatigue precipitated by trivially small exertion -physical or mental -relative to the patient’s previous exercise toleranceImpairment of short-term memory and loss of powers of concentration, usually coupled with other neurological and psychological disturbances such as emotional lability, nominal dysphasia, disturbed sleep patterns, disequilibrium or tinnitusFluctuation of symptoms, usually precipitated by either physical or mental exercise
Canadian ConsensusCriteria, (Carruthers et al., 2003) [88]	ME/PVFS	For a diagnosis of CFS/ME, a patient must meet the following criteria 1–6 and adhere to item 7:FatiguePost-exertional malaise and/or fatigueSleep dysfunctionPainTwo or more of the following neurological/cognitive manifestations:ConfusionImpairment of concentration and short-term memory consolidationDisorientationdifficulty with information processingcategorizing and word retrievalperceptual and sensory disturbancesOne or more symptoms from two of the following categories:Autonomic manifestation (e.g., orthostatic intolerance, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, …)Neuroendocrine manifestation (e.g., loss of thermostatic stability, sweating episode, …)Immune manifestation (e.g., tender lymph nodes, recurrent sore throat, …)Illness lasting ≥6 months
Revised Canadian ConsensusCriteria, (Jason et al., 2010) [107]	ME/CFS	Definition of Research CFS/ME criteria:Over the past 6 months, persistent or recurring chronic fatigue that is not lifelong and results in substantial reductions in previous levels of occupational, educational, social and personal activitiesPost-exertional malaise and/or fatigueUnrefreshing sleep or disturbance of sleep quantity or rhythm disturbancePain (or discomfort) that is often widespread and migratory in nature. At least one symptom from any of the following:Myofascial and/or joint pain (e.g., deep pain, abdomen/stomach pain, or achy and sore muscles.Pain, stiffness, or tenderness may occur in any joint but must be present in more than one joint and lacking edema or other signs of inflammation)Abdominal and/or head pain (e.g., stomach pain or chest pain).Headaches often described as localized behind the eyes or in the back of the head (includes headaches localized elsewhere, including migraines; headaches would need to be more frequent than they were before, which would indicate a new pattern of a new type as compared to headaches previously experienced (i.e., location of pain has changed, nature of pain has changed), or different in severity type as compared to headaches previously experienced by the patient)Two or more of the following neurological/cognitive manifestations:Impaired memory (self-reported or observable disturbance in the ability to recall information or events on a short-term basis)Difficulty focusing vision and attention (disturbed concentration may impair the ability to remain on task, to screen out extraneous/excessive stimuli)Loss of depth perceptionDifficulty finding the right wordFrequently forget what wanted to sayAbsent-mindednessSlowness of thoughtDifficulty recalling informationNeed to focus on one thing at a timeTrouble expressing thoughtDifficulty comprehending informationFrequently lose train of thoughtSensitivity to bright lights or noiseMuscle weakness/muscle twitchesAt least one symptoms from two of the following categories:Autonomic manifestation: Neurally mediated hypotension, postural orthostatic tachycardia, delayed postural hypotension, palpitations with or without cardiac arrhythmias, dizziness or fainting, feeling unsteady on the feet--disturbed balance, shortness of breath, nausea, bladder dysfunction, or irritable bowel syndromeNeuroendocrine manifestation: Recurrent feelings of feverishness and cold extremities, subnormal body temperature and marked diurnal fluctuations, sweating episodes, intolerance of extremes of heat and cold, marked weight change-loss of appetite or abnormal appetiteImmune manifestation: Recurrent flu-like symptoms, non-exudative sore or scratchy throat, repeated fevers and sweats, lymph nodes tender to palpitation--generally minimal swelling observed, new sensitivities to food, odors, or chemicals
International ConsensusCriteria, (Carruthers et al., 2011) [90]	ME	Myalgic encephalomyelitis is an acquired neurological disease with complex global dysfunctions. Pathological dysregulation of the nervous, immune and endocrine systems, with impaired cellular energy metabolism and ion transport, are prominent features. Although signs and symptoms are dynamically interactive and causally connected, the criteria are grouped by regions of pathophysiology to provide general focus. A patient will meet the following criteriaA. Post-exertional neuro-immune exhaustion (PENEpen’-e): CompulsoryThis cardinal feature is a pathological inability to produce sufficient energy on demand with prominent symptoms primarily in the neuro-immune regions. Characteristics are as follows: Marked, rapid physical and/or cognitive fatigability in response to exertion, which may be minimal such as activities of daily living or simple mental tasks, can be debilitating and cause a relapse Post-exertional symptom exacerbation: e.g., acute flu-like symptoms, pain and worsening of other symptoms. Post-exertional exhaustion may occur immediately after activity or be delayed by hours or days. Recovery period is prolonged, usually taking 24-h or longer. A relapse can last days, weeks or longer. Low threshold of physical and mental fatigability (lack of stamina) results in a substantial reduction in pre-illness activity level. B. Neurological impairments: At least one symptom from three of the following four symptom categories Neuro-cognitive impairments Difficulty processing information: slowed thought, impaired concentration, e.g., confusion, disorientation, cognitive overload, difficulty with making decisions, slowed speech, acquired or exertional dyslexia Short-term memory loss: e.g., difficulty remembering what one wanted to say, what one was saying, retrieving words, recalling information, poor working memory Pain Headaches: e.g., chronic, generalized headaches often involve aching of the eyes, behind the eyes or back of the head that may be associated with cervical muscle tension; migraine; tension headaches Significant pain can be experienced in muscles, muscle-tendon junctions, joints, abdomen or chest. It is non-inflammatory in nature and often migrates, e.g., generalized hyperalgesia, widespread pain (may meet fibromyalgia criteria), myofascial or radiating pain Sleep disturbance Disturbed sleep patterns: e.g., insomnia, prolonged sleep including naps, sleeping most of the day and being awake most of the night, frequent awakenings, awaking much earlier than before illness onset, vivid dreams/nightmares Unrefreshed sleep: e.g., awaken feeling exhausted regardless of the duration of sleep, day-time sleepiness Neuro-sensory, perceptual and motor disturbances Neurosensory and perceptual: e.g., inability to focus vision, sensitivity to light, noise, vibration, odor, taste and touch; impaired depth perception Motor: e.g., muscle weakness, twitching, poor coordination, feeling unsteady on feet, ataxia Immune, gastro-intestinal and genitourinary Impairments: At least one symptom from three of the following five symptom categories Flu-like symptoms may be recurrent or chronic and typically activate or worsen with exertion. e.g., sore throat, sinusitis, cervical and ⁄or axillary lymph nodes may enlarge or be tender on palpitation Susceptibility to viral infections with prolonged recovery periods Gastro-intestinal tract: e.g., nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome Genitourinary: e.g., urinary urgency or frequency, nocturia Sensitivities to food, medications, odors or chemicals Energy production⁄ transportation impairments: At least one symptom Cardiovascular: e.g., inability to tolerate an upright position—orthostatic intolerance, neurally mediated hypotension, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, palpitations with or without cardiac arrhythmias, light-headedness/dizziness Respiratory: e.g., air hunger, labored breathing, fatigue of chest wall muscles Loss of thermostatic stability: e.g., subnormal body temperature, marked diurnal fluctuations; sweating episodes, recurrent feelings of feverishness with or without low-grade fever, cold extremities Intolerance of extremes of temperature

Table 1

Criteria for selecting studies.

Population	Patients with a diagnosis of CFS, ME, and ME/CFS including:Patients who were previously treatedPatients who are previously untreatedAdults (≥18 years)
Interventions	Mind-body interventions (alone or in combination) including:Art TherapyAutogenic trainingBiofeedback/neurofeedbackBreathing exerciseCognitive restructuringDynamic Neural Retraining SystemEmotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)Guided imageryHypnotherapy/self-hypnosisMeditation (mindfulness, mantra, guided, transcendental)Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR)Music therapyNeurolinguistic programmingPrayer/spiritualityPsychological flexibilityQigongRelaxation therapy (relaxation response, progressive muscle relaxation)Tai ChiVisualizationYoga
Comparators	One or more of the following control conditions including:PlaceboStandard of care treatmentsWaitlist
Outcomes	Any single or combination of, but not limited to, the following outcomes:Fatigue (energy, motivation)Refreshing sleepPainAnxiety (stress, nervousness, etc.,)Depression (mood, hopefulness, helplessness)Quality of lifePerformance (physical, mental, emotional)Work-related outcome (employment, income, etc.)Changes in physical health such as sore throat, tender lymph nodes, and muscle weakness
Study Design	Parallel/Cross-over randomized controlled trials (RCTs)Controlled clinical trials (CCTs)Controlled before and after studiesSingle-arm interventional studies (within subject control group)Cohort
Other	English language

All outcomes relevant to the signs and symptoms of ME/CFS and quality of life were considered. The outcomes included fatigue, sleep refreshment, pain, anxiety (stress, nervousness, etc.), depression (mood, hopefulness, and helplessness), quality of life, performance (physical, mental, emotional), work-related outcomes (employment, income, etc.), and physical health symptoms such as sore throat, tender lymph nodes, and muscle weakness (Table 1).

Study designs eligible for inclusion were parallel/cross-over/N-of-1 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), single-arm experimental (within subject control group), controlled before and after studies, or cohort studies.

2.2. Search Methods

Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)) were searched from inception to September 2020. Search terms were based on those presented in Table 1; an example is found in Appendix B. No limitation was implemented in terms of publication dates. English language restriction was applied. The reference lists of included studies, and systematic reviews, were reviewed to identify additional studies.

2.3. Selection of Studies

Two review authors (MK, DJ) independently screened all the titles and abstracts retrieved from the search in order to identify those that may meet the inclusion criteria. They classified studies as being relevant, possibly relevant and irrelevant. Three reviewers (MK, DJ, SKA) independently assessed the full texts of all relevant and possibly relevant studies to assess inclusion. Discrepancies were resolved by referring to a senior review author (ES, SV).

2.4. Data Collection

Standardized data extraction forms were used to extract data from full-text articles. Extracted data included general characteristics of the study (first author, publication year, country, settings, design), sample size, age and sex distribution in groups, diagnosis methods, type of MBI and other relevant data including frequency and duration, control (active or passive), primary outcome, secondary outcomes, primary and secondary measurement tools, length of study, follow up period, statistically significant outcomes, and adverse events reported. Data extraction was completed by one reviewer (DJ) and independently verified by a second reviewer (SKA). Disagreements between the authors were resolved by discussion until consensus was reached; if consensus could not be reached, a senior reviewer’s opinion was sought.

2.5. Data Analysis

This systematic review was conducted to determine which outcomes and outcome measures were used in the studies of MBIs for the treatment of ME/CFS patients and whether the interventions were effective. General information of the included studies along with the statistically significant and insignificant outcomes were described. We present the findings of studies using different diagnostic criteria (e.g., Oxford criteria, CDC criteria) separately. We also report whether studies assessed adverse events, their absence or presence, and frequencies. A meta-analysis was not performed due to heterogeneous interventions and outcomes used in the included studies. Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used by two independent review authors (SKA, SP) to assess sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding, incomplete outcome data, selective outcome reporting, and other sources of bias [34] in RCTs. Other study designs including single-arm experimental studies were also appraised by two independent reviewers (SKA, SP) for risk of bias using Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-Randomized Studies of Intervention (ACROBAT_NRSI) which was recently renamed ROBINS-I [35]. Domains for assessing the risk of bias in these studies include bias due to confounding, selection of participants, measurement of interventions, a departure from the intended intervention, missing data, measurement of outcomes, and selection of the reported result.

2.6. Patient Involvement

Patient engagement in health research can improve the quality, relevance and impact of the research [36,37]. To recruit patient research partners in this study, a “call for patient representative” letter was developed and distributed among patients, caregivers and advocates. Three patient partners were selected based on their educational background, personal experience, and health status to participate in the study team. They did not receive any financial compensation. They participated regularly in teleconference calls and skype meetings. They also provided feedback and participated in team discussions via email. They contributed to the protocol design, development of the literature search strategy, the condition/diagnosis definitions, and outcome selection.

3. Results

Our search results yielded 382 references. After removing duplicates, 270 were screened using title and abstracts, and 47 references were considered relevant for full-text screening. Considering the a priori inclusion criteria and obtaining additional clarifying information from authors of some of the references, twelve studies (17 reports) were ultimately included [10,28,29,30,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45]. The flow of studies through the screening process of the review is shown in Figure 1. The excluded studies and the reasons for exclusion are shown in Table A2.

Figure 1

Adapted version of PRISMA flow diagram of study selection for the ME/CFS systematic review.

Table A2

Excluded studies.

Primary Author, Publication Year	Reason for Exclusion
Aaron L. 2003	Review study
Arroll M. 2012	Not intervention of interest
Arroll MA. 2014	Not eligible control group
Benor D. 2017	Not population of interest
Bentler S. 2005	Not population of interest
Craske N. 2009	Not population of interest
Crawley E. 2017	Not population of interest
Deale A. 1997	Not intervention of interest
Deale A. 2001	Not eligible control group
Densham S. 2016	Not population of interest
Fjorback LO. 2012	Not population of interest
Fjorback LO. 2013	Not population of interest
Fjorback LO. 2013	Not population of interest
Guthlin C. 2012	Not intervention of interest
Hlavaty LE. 2011	Not intervention of interest
Hall DL. 2017	Not eligible control group
Jacobson HB. 2017	Not population of interest
James, L. 1996	Case study
Jason L. 2007	Not intervention of interest
Kos D. 2015	Not eligible control group
Lee J. 2015	Not population of interest
Nijs J. 2008	Not intervention of interest
Oka T. 2017	Not eligible control group
Pauzano-Slamm N. 2005	Not peer-reviewed publication
Ryan M. 2004	Not population of interest
Sampalli T. 2009	Not population of interest
Stevens MW. 1999	Full-text not available
Toussaint L. 2012	Not population of interest
Walach H. 2008	Not intervention of interest
Windthorst P. 2017	Not eligible control group

3.1. Characteristics of the Included Studies

Table 2 shows the characteristics of all the included studies.

Table 2

General characteristics of the included studies.

First Author, Year, Country	Setting	Design, Sample Size (Enrolled/Completed/Analyzed), Treatment Duration	Study Population (Diagnosis, Age, Gender)	Mind-Body Intervention,Frequency,Duration,Self-Practice	Control Group	Outcome, Measurement Tool and Validity
Surawy, Ch., 2005, UK [29]	Not reported	A series of exploratory studies:Study 1Design: RCT,Sample size:Intervention: 9/9/9,Control: 9/8/8Treatment duration: 8 weeksStudy 2Design: single-arm trial,Sample size: 12/9/9,Treatment duration: 8 weeksStudy 3Design: single-arm trial,Sample size: 11/9/9,Treatment duration: 8 weeks and a follow-up period of 3 months	Patients diagnosed with Oxford criteria [46]Study 1Age range: 18–65 y/o,56% femaleStudy 2Age range: 18–65 y/o,75% femaleStudy 3Age range: 18–65 y/o,64% female	MBSR/MBCTFrequency: Once a week,Duration: Not reported,Self-practice: Not reported	Study 1: Wait listStudy 2: No control groupStudy 3: No control group	Study 1, 2, and 3Anxiety and Depression: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [47] Fatigue Severity: Chalder’s Fatigue Scale [48]Quality of Life: SF36 physical functioning [49]Study 2 and 3Effect of fatigue on quality of life:Fatigue impact scale [50]
Thomas, M., 2006 and 2008, UK [39,51]	Outpatient clinics	Design: RCT,Sample size:Intervention (relaxation group): 14/14/14,Control: 9/9/9Treatment duration: 10 weeksFollow-up: 6 months	Patients diagnosed with CFS by CDC diagnostic criteria for CFS [52]Age (mean ± SD):Intervention (relaxation): 45.7 ± 12.5, Control: 46.2 ± 11.04,Intervention (relaxation): 71.4% female, Control: 66.7% female	Relaxation therapyFrequency: Once a week, Duration: 1 h,Self-practice: Not reported	Standard medical care	Report 1Illness history:Beck Depression Inventory [53]Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale [54],Chalder Fatigue Scale [48],Cognitive Failures Questionnaire [55],Cohen–Hoberman Index of Physical Symptoms [56],Current State of Health [57],Fatigue Problem Rating Scale [58],Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [47],MOS SF-36 [49]Perceived Stress [56]Positive and Negative Affect [59],Profile of Fatigue Related Symptoms [60],Sleep Questionnaire [57],Symptom Check List [57]Mood testing: Alertness, hedonic tone and anxiety: measured using 18 computerized visual analogue mood scalesPerformance testing: Word recall, reaction time, vigilance tasks using a Viglen Dossier laptop computer connected to a simple 3-button response box [57]Report 2Primary outcome: Functional performance: Karnofsky performance scale [61]Secondary outcome: Global measures of illness and satisfaction with treatment (including improvement and changes in fatigue and disability)
Bogaerts, K., 2007, Belgium [38]	University hospital clinic	Design: Single-arm trial,Sample size: 30/30/30Treatment duration: Single time imagery trial	Patients diagnosed with CFS by CDC diagnostic criteria for CFS [52]	Relaxation imageryFrequency: onceDuration: less than 5 min Self-practice: NA	No control group	Ventilatory measures: Pet CO2Subjective measures:Degree of fatigue, imagery vividness, concentration ability on the scripts and similarity of evoked feelings with daily life feelings: 9-point rating scalePositive and negative affectivity: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) [62]Hyperventilation complaints: Symptom checklist [63]Chronic fatigue acceptance: Acceptance Chronic Fatigue Test (ACFT)Tendency to worry: Penn-State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) [64]Valence, arousal and dominance: Self-assessment Manikin [65]
Lopez, C., 2011. USA [45]	Physician referrals, community	Design: RCTSample size: 69/58/58Treatment duration: 12 weeks	Patients diagnosed with CFS by CDC diagnostic criteria for CFS [52],Age (mean ±SD):45.9 ± 9.388.4% female	Cognitive-behavioral stress managementFrequency: WeeklyDuration: Two hoursSelf-practice: Workbook and relaxation tapes	Psychoeducation (half-day seminar)	Distress: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) [66], Profile of Mood States (POMS) [67]Quality of life: Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) [68]CFS symptoms: CDC Symptom Inventory for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome [69]
Chan, J., 2013, Hong Kong [41] (characteristics of Ho et al., 2012 [70] as the preliminary study and Li et al., 2015 [71] as the study conducted on a subset of participants suffering from bereavement are reported here as well)	Community	Design: RCT,Sample size:Ho, R., 2012 report:Intervention: 35 * /27/33Control group: 35 ** /25/31Chan, J., 2013 (main report):Intervention: 77/53/72 ^Control: 77/58/65 ^^Li, J., 2015, report:Intervention: 22/22/22Control: 24/24/24Treatment duration: 5 consecutive weeks training sessions + 12 weeks home-based qigong exercise (4 months in total)Li et al., however, reported their findings after three months of intervention.	Patients diagnosed with CFS by CDC diagnostic criteria for CFS [52]Age (mean ± SD), % female:Ho, R., 2012 report:Intervention: 42.1 ± 7.3, Control: 42.5 ± 5.5,Intervention: 75.8% female, Control: 83.9% femaleChan, J., 2013 (main report):Intervention: 42.4 ± 6.7, Control: 42.5 ± 6.4,Intervention: 72.2% female, Control: 81.5% femaleLi, J., 2015, report: Patient with CFS had been bereaved within the previous 2 years.Age (median, range):Intervention: 46 (23–52), Control: 45 (32–51),Intervention: 86.4% female, Control: 87.5% female	Qigong exercise training (Wu Xing Ping Heng Gong),Frequency: twice a week,Duration: 2 h,Self-practice: 30 min, every day at home	Waitlist	Chan, J., 2013 (main report):Primary outcome: Fatigue severity: Chalder’s Fatigue Scale [48,72]Secondary outcomes: Anxiety and Depression: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [47,73]Ho, R., 2012 report: In addition to fatigue severity, they measured Physical functioning and mental functioning: the Chinese version of the Medical Outcomes Study 12- Item Short-Form Health Survey [74,75] as their primary outcome and Telomerase Activity as their secondary outcome.Li, J., 2015, report: In addition to fatigue severity and anxiety and depression, they measured quality of life: Short form health survey (SF-12) [74,75]and Spiritual well-being: the “spirituality” subscale of the Body-Mind-Spirit Well-being Inventory (BMSWBI-S) [76]
Rimes, K., 2013, U.K. [30]	A specialist National Health Service CFS Unit	Design: RCT,Sample size:Intervention group: 18/16/16Control group: 19/19/19Treatment duration: Introductory session + 8 weeksFollow-up: at 2 months, and at 6 months for MBCT group only	Patients diagnosed with CFS by Fukuda et al. [52] criteria or Oxford criteria [46]Age (mean ± SD):Intervention: 41.4 ± 10.9, Control: 45.2 ± 9.4,Intervention:75% female, Control: 89.5% female	MBCT,Frequency: Once a week,Duration: 2.25 h,Self-practice: Home practice with the support of CDs.	Waitlist	Primary outcome: Fatigue: Chalder Fatigue Scale [48]Secondary outcomes:Impairment: The Work and Social Adjustment Scale [77] Physical Functioning: Physical Functioning (PF-10) scale) [78,79]Beliefs about Emotions: Beliefs about Emotions Scale [80]Self-Compassion: Self-Compassion Scale [81]Mindfulness: Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire [82]Anxiety and Depression: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [47]All-or-Nothing Behaviour and Catastrophic Thinking about Fatigue: five-item subscale of the Cognitive and Behavior Responses to Symptoms Questionnaire (Moss-Morris and Chalder, in preparation; King’s College London, UK)Acceptability and Engagement:Record of class attendance and amount of home practice undertaken
Chan, J., 2014 and 2017, Hong Kong [40,83]	Community	Design: RCT,Sample size:Report 1:Intervention: 75/57/75Control: 75/58/75Report 2:Intervention:46Control: 62Treatment duration: 9 consecutive weeksFollow-up: 3-month post-intervention.	Patients diagnosed with CFS by CDC diagnostic criteria for CFS [52]Report 1:Age (mean ± SD):Intervention: 39.1 ± 7.8, Control: 38.9 ± 8.1, Intervention: 61.3% female, Control: 82.7% femaleReport 2Age (mean ± SD): 39 ± 7.9All females	Qigong exercise: Baduanjin QigongFrequency: 16 sessions,Duration: 1.5 h,Self-practice:30 min, every day	Waitlist	Report 1Primary outcomes:Sleep Quality: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) [84,85,86]Fatigue severity: Chalder Fatigue Scale (ChFS) [48,72]Anxiety and Depression: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [47,73] Secondary outcome: Dose-response relationship between Qigong exercise and improvements.Global Assessment, SatisfactionReport 2Anxiety and Depression: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [47,73]Plasma Adiponectin Levels
Oka, T., 2014, Japan [28]	Outpatients with CFS who visited the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of KyushuUniversity Hospital	Design: RCT,Sample size:Intervention: 15/15/15Control: 15/15/15Treatment duration: Two months	Patients diagnosed with CFS by CDC diagnostic criteria for CFS [52]Age (mean ±SD):Intervention:38.0 ±11.1, Control:39.1 ± 14.2,Intervention: 80% female, Control: 80% female	Isometric yogaFrequency: every two to three weeks, at least 4 times during the intervention period,Duration: 20 min,Self-practice:With the aid of a digital videodisk and booklet	Waitlist	Acute effects of isometric yoga on fatigue: The fatigue and vigor score of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire [67] immediately after the final 20-min yoga sessionChronic effects of isometric yoga on fatigue: Chalder’s Fatigue Scale [48]Quality of Life: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 8, standard version (SF-8) [87]
Sollie, K., 2017. Norway [43]	Community	Design: Single-arm trialSample size: 10Treatment duration: Eight weeks with three months follow-up	Patients diagnosed with CFS by Canada criteria [88]Age (mean ± SD):43.5 ± 9.9,80% female	MBCT,Frequency: WeeklyDuration: Two hoursSelf-practice: Homework with the aid of workbook and CD	No control group	Fatigue: Chalder Fatigue Scale [48]Symptom burden: Likert scaleAnxiety and depression: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [47]Tendency to ruminate: Ruminative Response Scale [89]Dispositional mindfulness: Five Facet Mindfulness questionnaire [82]Quality of life: Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) [90]
Oka, T., 2018 and 2019, Japan [42,91]	Outpatients with CFS who visited the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of KyushuUniversity Hospital	Design: Single-arm trialSample size: 15Treatment duration: Eight weeks	Patients diagnosed with CFS by CDC diagnostic criteria for CFS [52], the 2011 international consensuscriteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis [92] and the 2015 diagnostic criteria for systemic exertion intolerancedisease [1]Age (mean ± SD): 38.0 ± 11.180% female	Sitting isometric yogaFrequency: Biweekly with a yoga instructorDuration: 20 minSelf-practice: Daily in-home session	No control group	Report 1:Fatigue and vigor: The fatigue and vigor score of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire [67]Autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions: Heart rate and Heart rate variability (HRV)Blood biomarkers: Serum cortisol, DHEA-S, TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-α, IFN-γ, PRL, total carnitine, free carnitine, and acylcarnitine, and plasma TGF-β1, BDNF, MHPG, and HVAReport 2:Fatigue severity: Chalder fatigue scale (FS) score [48]Levels of the blood biomarkers: Cortisol, DHEA-S, TNF-α, IL-6, prolactin, carnitine, TGF-β1, BDNF, MHPG, HVA, and α-MSHThe autonomic nervous functions: Heart rate (HR) and HR variabilityAlexithymia: The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) [93]Anxiety and depression: Japanese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [47]
Jonsjo, M., 2019, Sweden [44]	Tertiary specialist clinic	Design: Single-arm trialSample size: 40/32/32Treatment duration: 13 sessions with three- and six-month follow-up	Patients diagnosed with CFS according to CDC [52] and 2003 Canadiancriteria for ME/CFS [88]Age (mean ± SD): 49.02 ± 10.7876.7% female	Acceptance and commitment therapyFrequency: Weekly to biweekly depending on illness severity (13 sessions)Duration: 45 minSelf-practice: Home assignments	No control group	Primary outcomes:Disability: The pain disability index [94]Psychological inflexibility: The Psychological Inflexibility in Fatigue Scale (PIFS) [95]Secondary outcomes:ME/CFS symptoms and severity: 5-point scaleFatigue: The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) [96]Anxiety and depression: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [47]Dimensions of mental and physical health: SF-36 Health Survey [79]Health-related quality of life: EQ-5D-3L [97]
Takakura, S., 2019, Japan [10]	Outpatients with CFS who visited the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of Kyushu University Hospital	Design: Single-arm trialSample size: 9Treatment duration: Three months	Patients diagnosed with CFS according to the 1994 Fukuda case definition of CFS [52], the 2011 International Consensus Criteria for ME [92], and the 2015 diagnostic criteria for systemic exertion intolerance disease [1] Age (mean ± SD): 37.2 ± 9.9All female	Recumbent isometric yogaFrequency: Every two to four weeksDuration: 20–30 min depending on patient’s preferenceSelf-practice: In-home daily sessions	No control group	Fatigue: Japanese version of 11 item Chalder Fatigue Scale [98,99]Human microRNA

* 2 dropped out before the intervention ** 4 dropped out before the intervention ^ 5 dropped out before the intervention ^^ 12 dropped out before the intervention.

3.2. Design

Six studies were prospective RCTs with at least one eligible control group [28,30,39,40,41,45]. One manuscript presented a brief report of three studies in which one was a prospective RCT and the other two were single-arm experimental studies [29]. Five additional publications were also single-arm experimental studies [10,38,42,43,44].

3.3. Population

Participants were all adults diagnosed with ME/CFS (n = 564 total; sample size range n = 9–150). Six studies used the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for the diagnosis of their patients [28,39,40,41,45,51]. One study used the 2003 Canadian criteria [43]. One study used Oxford criteria [29], one study used both CDC and Oxford criteria [30] and three studies used a combination of CDC criteria with 2003 or 2005 versions of Canadian criteria and 2011 international consensus criteria [10,42,44].

The healthcare settings included outpatient settings [28,39], community [40,41,43,45], a university hospital clinic [38], department of psychosomatic medicine [10,42] and a specialist ME/CFS unit [30,44]. One study did not report the setting from which their patients were recruited [29].

Three studies were conducted in the United Kingdom [29,30,39], three in Japan [10,28,42], two were conducted in Hong Kong, China [40,41], and one each in Belgium [38], Norway, Sweden, and USA [43,44,45].

3.4. Intervention

A variety of different interventions were implemented in the included studies comprising mindfulness-based stress reduction/mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBSR/MBCT) [29], MBCT [30,43], relaxation therapy [39], relaxation imagery [38], Qigong exercise training [41], Baduanjin Qigong [40], and isometric yoga [28], seated isometric yoga [42], recumbent isometric yoga [10], acceptance and commitment therapy [44] and cognitive-behavioral stress management [45]. Treatment duration ranged between 5–12 weeks.

3.5. Comparison

Participants assigned to the control group were either placed on the waiting list [28,29,30,40,41] or received standard medical care [39]. They were advised to keep their usual lifestyle activities including seeking general medical care but not to participate in any activities similar to the intervention of interest.

3.6. Outcomes

Many different outcomes and outcome measures were reported in the included studies. Four studies clearly stated their primary and secondary outcomes/objectives [30,39,40,41]. Fatigue severity was measured by seven studies using Chalder fatigue scale [10,28,29,30,40,41,43]. One study (published as two reports), listed Chalder fatigue scale in one of the reports as the administered questionnaire [51]. In the other report, however, they measured fatigue using patient-rated Likert-type scales [39]. Other studies used either profile of mood state (POMS) [42,45] or multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) [44].

Eight studies measured anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [29,30,40,41,43,44,51,91]. Six studies measured quality of life or physical and/or mental functioning using different quality of life outcome measures [28,29,30,41,45,51]. Seven studies measured objective outcomes including ventilatory parameters [38], performance testing by computer programs [51], telomerase activity [70], autonomic nervous system functions, blood biomarkers [42,91], adiponectin levels [83], and microRNA changes [10]. Table 2 describes the details of these outcome measures and the other outcomes measured in the included studies.

3.7. Effects of Interventions

Due to heterogeneous interventions and outcome measures used in the included studies, a meta-analysis was not performed. The statistically significant outcomes reported by these studies are presented in Table 3 and Table 4. Table A3 and Table A4 show the statistically insignificant outcomes.

Table 3

Significant outcomes in the included studies using CDC, Canadian and international consensus criteria for diagnosing CFS.

Intervention Type	First Author, Year		Outcome (Assessed by)	Comparison Groups	Comparison Time Point	p-Value
Relaxation-based	Thomas, M., 2006 and 2008 [39,51]	Report 1 (2006)	Alertness (as part of a subjective mood scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	<0.027
			Anxiety (as part of a subjective mood scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	<0.002
			Current state of health (self-reporting scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post-treatment (10 weeks)	Reported significant (value not reported)
		Report 2 (2008)	Performance score-10% improvement (Karnofsky scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post-treatment (10 weeks)	Reported significant (value not reported)
			Global measures of health: overall condition (Likert-type scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post-treatment (10 weeks)	Reported significant (value not reported)
			Global measures of health: Fatigue levels (Likert-type scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post-treatment (10 weeks)	Reported significant (value not reported)
			Global measures of health: Fatigue levels (Likert-type scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	Reported significant (value not reported)
			Global measures of health: reduction in disability (Likert-type scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post-treatment (10 weeks)	Reported significant (value not reported)
			Global measures of health: reduction in disability (Likert-type scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	Reported significant (value not reported)
	Bogaerts K., 2007 [38]		PetCO2	Relaxation imagery (pre-post)	Post intervention	<0.01
Cognitive-based	Lopez C., 2011 [45](Cognitive restructuring)		Distress (Perceived stress scale)	CBSM compared to control	Time X group **	0.03
			Total mood disturbance (Profile of Mood States (POMS)	CBSM compared to control	Time X group **	0.05
			Quality of life (QOLI Category)	CBSM compared to control	Time X group **	0.002
			Quality of life (QOLI Raw score)	CBSM compared to control	Time X group **	0.05
			Quality of life (QOLI Total score)	CBSM compared to control	Time X group **	0.05
			CFS symptoms (Total CDC symptom severity)	CBSM compared to control	Time X group **	0.04
	Sollie K., 2017 [43] (Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy)		Fatigue (Chalder Fatigue Scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post intervention (8 weeks)	p value not reported, medium effect size was reported (d = 0.56)
			Anxiety (HADS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post intervention (8 weeks)	p value not reported, medium to large effect size was reported (d = 0.68)
			Anxiety (HADS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	p value not reported, medium effect size was reported (d = 0.48)
			Dispositional mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness questionnaire)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	p value not reported, large effect size was reported (d = 0.77)
	Jonsjo, M., 2019 [44] (Psychological flexibility)		Disability (Pain disability index)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.000
			Psychological flexibility (Psychological inflexibility fatigue scale)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.000
			CFS symptoms	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.017
			Anxiety (HADS)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.001
			General fatigue (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.024
			General fatigue (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.049
			Physical fatigue (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.046
			Mental fatigue (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.004
			Reduced activity (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.041
			Reduced motivation (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.043
			SF-36 physical	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.009
Movement-based	Chan J., 2013 [41]	Ho, R., 2012 (Preliminary report)	Quality of life: Mental functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post-training (5 weeks)	<0.01
			Quality of life: Mental functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	<0.01
			Quality of life: Mental functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Qigong compared to control	Time X group **	0.001
			Telomerase activity * (Telomerase PCR ELISA)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	<0.05
			Telomerase activity * (Telomerase PCR ELISA)	Qigong compared to control	Time X group **	0.029
		Chan J., 2013(main report)	Total fatigue score (ChFS)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	<0.001
			Total fatigue score (ChFS)	Qigong compared to control	Time X group **	0.000
			Physical fatigue score (ChFS)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	<0.001
			Physical fatigue score (ChFS)	Qigong compared to control	Time X group **	0.000
			Mental fatigue score (ChFS)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	<0.001
			Mental fatigue score (ChFS)	Qigong compared to control	Time X group **	0.050
			Anxiety score (HADS)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	<0.001
			Depression score (HADS)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	<0.001
			Depression score (HADS)	Qigong compared to control	Time X group **	0.002
		Li J., 2015 (Subset study report)	Spirituality (the spirituality subscale of BMSWBI-S)	Qigong compared to control	Post intervention (3 months)	0.013
			Quality of life: mental component summary (MOS SF-12)	Qigong compared to control	Post intervention (3 months)	0.002
			Quality of life: mental component summary (MOS-SF 12)	Qigong compared to control	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 3 months)	0.002
	Chan, J. 2014 [40] and Chan, J. 2017 [83]	Report 1 (2014)	Sleep quality: total score (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.05
			Subjective sleep quality (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.01
			Subjective sleep quality (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (change score from baseline to 3 months)	<0.01
			Subjective sleep quality (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to wait list	Time X group **	0.002
			Sleep latency (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.05
			Sleep latency (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	0.044
			Sleep duration (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.05
			Total fatigue score (ChFS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.001
			Total fatigue score (ChFS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (change score from baseline to 3 months)	<0.001
			Total fatigue score (ChFS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	<0.001
			Physical fatigue score (ChFS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.001
			Physical fatigue score (ChFS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (change score from baseline to 3 months)	<0.001
			Physical fatigue score (ChFS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	<0.001
			Mental fatigue score (ChFS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.001
			Mental fatigue score (ChFS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (change score from baseline to 3 months)	<0.01
			Mental fatigue score (ChFS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	<0.001
			Anxiety (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.01
			Anxiety (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (change score from baseline to 3 months)	<0.05
			Anxiety (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	0.016
			Depression (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.001
			Depression (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	<0.001
		Report 2 (2017)	Increase in adiponectin levels	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.05
			Depression (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	<0.001
			Anxiety (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (9 weeks)	<0.05
	Oka T, 2014 [28]		Fatigue score -acute effect (POMS)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	<0.001
			Vigor score- acute effect (POMS)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	<0.01
			Physical fatigue score (ChFS)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	0.004
			Physical fatigue score (ChFS)	Isometric yoga compared to control	Time X group **	0.009
			Mental fatigue score (ChFS)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	0.004
			Mental fatigue score (ChFS)	Isometric yoga compared to control	Time X group **	0.007
			Total fatigue score (ChFS)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	0.002
			Total fatigue score (ChFS)	Isometric yoga compared to control	Time X group **	0.003
			Quality of life: bodily pain (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	0.0001
			Quality of life: general health perception (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	0.0021
			Quality of life: Physical component summary (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	0.024
	Oka, T., 2018 and Oka, T., 2019 [42,91]	Report 1 (2018)	Fatigue (POMS)	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	0.001
			Vigor (POMS)	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	0.002
			Decreased heart rate	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	0.047
			Increased high-frequency power of HR variability	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	0.028
			Increased serum levels of DHEA-S	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	0.012
			Decreased levels of cortisol	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	0.016
			Decreased level of TNF-α	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	0.035
		Report 2 (2019)	Fatigue (POMS)	Longitudinal effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	0.002
			Depression (HADS)	Longitudinal effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	0.02
	Takakura, S., 2019 [10]		Fatigue (11 score Chalder’s fatigue scale)	Recumbent isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (3 months)	<0.0001
			Changes in miRNA expression	Recumbent isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (3 months)	<0.05 (Four miRNAs significantly upregulated and 42 were significantly downregulated)

BMSWBI-S: Body-Mind-Spirit Well-being Inventory, ChFS: Chalder’s Fatigue Scale, HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, MOS SF-12: Medical Outcomes Study 12- Item Short-Form Health Survey, POMS: Profile of Mood States, PSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, SF-8: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 8, QOLI: Quality of life inventory, MFI-20: Multidimensional fatigue inventory-20, ACT: Acceptance and commitment therapy, MBCT: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, CBSM: Cognitive-based stress management. * measure of stress-related damage at a cellular level. ** to test the interaction effect of time and group.

Table 4

Significant outcomes in the included studies using Oxford criteria for diagnosing CFS.

Intervention Type	First Author, Year		Outcome (Assessed by)	Comparison Groups	Comparison Time Point	p-Value
Mindfulness and cognitive-based	Surawy, Ch., 2005 [29]	Study 1 (RCT)	Anxiety (HADS)	MBSR/MBCT compared to controls	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.010
		Study 2 (single-arm experimental study)	Anxiety (HADS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.000
			Fatigue impact: total score (FIS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.010
		Study 3 (single-arm experimental study)	Anxiety (HADS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.010
			Anxiety (HADS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	0.010
			Depression (HADS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post-treatment (8 weeks)	0.010
			Depression (HADS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	0.050
			Fatigue score (ChFS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.010
			Fatigue score (ChFS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	0.000
			Quality of life: physical functioning (SF-36)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.010
			Quality of life: physical functioning (SF-36)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	0.000
			Fatigue impact: total score (FIS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.020
			Fatigue impact: total score (FIS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	0.050
	Rimes, K., 2013 [30]		Fatigue (ChFS)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.014
			Fatigue (ChFS)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.033
			Fatigue (ChFS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.010
			Impairment (The work and social adjustment scale)	MBCT compared to wait list	Post-treatment (8 weeks)	0.04
			Impairment (The work and social adjustment scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.054
			Impairment (The work and social adjustment scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.004
			Impairment (The work and social adjustment scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.004
			Beliefs about Emotions (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.01
			Beliefs about Emotions (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.012
			Beliefs about Emotions (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.004
			Self-Compassion (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.007
			Self-Compassion (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.006
			Self-Compassion (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.003
			Mindfulness (5 facet mindfulness questionnaire)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.035
			Mindfulness (5 facet mindfulness questionnaire)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.006
			Mindfulness (5 facet mindfulness questionnaire)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.017
			Catastrophizing (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.004
			Catastrophizing (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.012
			All-or-nothing behavior (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.005
			All-or-nothing behavior (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.017
			Depression (HADS)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post-treatment (8 weeks)	0.038

ChFS: Chalder’s Fatigue Scale, HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, MBSR: Mindfulness-based stress reduction, MBCT: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, SF-36: 36- Item Short-Form Health Survey.

Table A3

Statistically insignificant outcomes in the included studies using CDC, Canadian and international consensus criteria for diagnosing CFS.

Intervention Type	First Author, Year		Outcome (Assessed by)	Comparison Groups	Comparison Time Point	p-Value
Relaxation-based	Thomas, M., 2006 and 2008 [39,51]	Report 1 (2006)	Anxiety (as part of a self-report subjective mood scale)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post treatment (10 weeks)	Non-significant
			Performance (word recall, reaction time and vigilance tasks)	Relaxation group (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	Non-significant
		Report 2 (2008)	Performance score-10% improvement or 80% attainment (Karnofsky scale)	Relaxation group compared to MCT and control groups	Post treatment (10 weeks)	Non-significant
Cognitive-based	Lopez C., 2011 [45](Cognitive restructuring)		Fatigue (Profile of Mood States (POMS)	CBSM compared to control	Time X group **	0.06
	Sollie K., 2017 [43] (Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy)		Fatigue (Chalder Fatigue Scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = 0.26)
			Depression (HADS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post intervention (8 weeks)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = 0.32)
			Depression (HADS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = 0.33)
			Dispositional mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness questionnaire)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post intervention (8 weeks)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = 0.11)
			Rumination (Ruminative Response Scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post intervention (8 weeks)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = 0.26)
			Rumination (Ruminative Response Scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = 0.32)
			CFS symptom burden	MBCT (pre-post)	Post intervention (8 weeks)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = 0.07)
			CFS symptom burden	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = 0.04)
			Satisfaction with life (Satisfaction With Life Scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post intervention (8 weeks)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = −0.09)
			Satisfaction with life (Satisfaction With Life Scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (3 months)	p value not reported, small effect size was reported (d = 0.09)
	Jonsjo, M., 2019 [44] (Psychological flexibility)		Disability (Pain disability index)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.608
			Psychological flexibility (Psychological inflexibility fatigue scale)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.775
			CFS symptoms	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.652
			Anxiety (HADS)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.922
			Depression (HADS)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.574
			Depression (HADS)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.066
			Physical fatigue (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.352
			Mental fatigue (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.943
			Reduced activity (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.449
			Reduced motivation (MFI-20)	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.918
			SF-36 physical	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.325
			SF-36 mental	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.520
			SF-36 mental	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.301
			EQ. 5D-Index	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention (after 13 sessions)	0.065
			EQ. 5D-Index	ACT (pre-post)	Post intervention to post follow-up (3 months)	0.524
Movement-based	Chan J., 2013 [41]	Ho, R., 2012 (Preliminary report)	Quality of life: physical functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post training (5 weeks)	Non-significant
			Quality of life: physical functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Qigong (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	Non-significant
			Quality of life: physical functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Qigong compared to control	Time X group **	0.484
			Quality of life: physical functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Control (pre-post)	Post training (5 weeks)	Non- significant
			Quality of life: physical functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Control (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	Non- significant
			Quality of life: mental functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Control (pre-post)	Post training (5 weeks)	Non-significant
			Quality of life: mental functioning score (MOS SF-12)	Control (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	Non-significant
			Telomerase activity* (Telomerase PCR ELISA)	Control (pre-post)	Post intervention (4 months)	Non-significant
		Chan J., 2013(main report)	Anxiety score (HADS)	Qigong (pre-post)	Time X group **	0.584
			Depression score (HADS)	Control (pre-post)	Post-intervention (4 months)	0.365
		Li J., 2015 (Subset study report)	Quality of life: physical component summary (MOS SF-12)	Qigong compared to control	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 3 months)	0.451
	Chan, J. 2014 [40] and Chan, J. 2017 [83]	Report 1 (2014)	Sleep quality: total score (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	0.064
			Sleep duration (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	0.151
			Sleep efficacy (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to wait list	Time X group **	0.522
			Sleep disturbance (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	0.062
			Use of sleep medication (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	0.803
			Daytime dysfunction (PSQI)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Time X group **	0.253
		Report 2 (2017)	Adiponectin levels	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 3-month)	Non-significant
			Depression (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 3-month)	Non-significant
			Anxiety (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 9 weeks)	Non-significant
			Anxiety (HADS)	Baduanjin Qigong compared to waitlist	Post intervention (change score from baseline to 3-month)	Non-significant
	Oka T, 2014 [28]		Quality of life: vitality (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	Non-significant
			Quality of life: role emotional (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	Non-significant
			Quality of life: mental health (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	Non-significant
			Quality of life: physical functioning (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	Non-significant
			Quality of life: mental component summary (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	Non-significant
			Quality of life: role physical (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	Non-significant
			Quality of life: social functioning (SF-8)	Isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	Non-significant
	Oka, T., 2018 and Oka, T., 2019 [42,91]	Report 1 (2018)	Autonomic function indices (low-frequency power of HR variability, CVR-R: Coefficient of variation of R-R intervals)	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	Non-significant
			Serum biomarkers (IL-6, prolactin, Free carnitine, total carnitine, acylcarnitine)	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	Non-significant
			Plasma biomarkers (Transforming growth factor-beta1; Brain-derivedNeurotrophic factor, Homovanillic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol)	Acute effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Before to after the final 20-min session	Non-significant
		Report 2 (2019)	Autonomic function tests, serum, and blood biomarkers	Longitudinal effects of sitting isometric yoga (pre-post)	Post intervention (2 months)	Non-significant
			Anxiety (HADS)	Seated isometric yoga compared to controls	Time X group **	0.786
			Depression (HADS)	Seated isometric yoga compared to controls	Time X group **	0.008
			Alexithymia (TAS-20)	Seated isometric yoga compared to controls	Time X group **	0.950

BMSWBI-S: Body-Mind-Spirit Well-being Inventory, ChFS: Chalder’s Fatigue Scale, HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, MCT: Multi-convergent therapy, MOS SF-12: Medical Outcomes Study 12- Item Short-Form Health Survey, POMS: Profile of Mood States, PSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, SF-8: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 8, QOLI: Quality of life inventory, MFI-20: Multidimensional fatigue inventory-20, ACT: Acceptance and commitment therapy, MBCT: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, CBSM: Cognitive-based stress management, TAS: 20-item Toronto alexithymia scale. ** to test the interaction effect of time and group.

Table A4

Statistically insignificant outcomes in the included studies using Oxford criteria for diagnosing CFS.

Intervention Type	First Author, Year		Outcome (Assessed by)	Comparison Groups	Comparison Time Point	p-Value
Mindfulness and cognitive-based	Surawy, Ch., 2005 [29]	Study 1 (RCT)	Depression (HADS)	MBSR/MBCT compared to controls	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.28
			Fatigue score (ChFS)	MBSR/MBCT compared to controls	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.08
		Study 2 (single-arm experimental study)	Depression (HADS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.16
			Fatigue score (ChFS)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.06
			Quality of life: physical functioning (SF-36)	MBCT/MBSR (pre-post)	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.69
	Rimes, K., 2013 [30]		Mindfulness (5 facet mindfulness questionnaire)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.067
			Catastrophizing (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.152
			All-or-nothing behavior (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.089
			Depression (HADS)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.153
			Anxiety (HADS)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.173
			Anxiety (HADS)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.296
			Quality of life: physical functioning (SF-36)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post treatment (8 weeks)	0.124
			Quality of life: physical functioning (SF-36)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.345
			Impairment (The work and social adjustment scale)	MBCT compared to waitlist	Post follow-up (2 months)	0.054
			Fatigue (ChFS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.089
			Depression (HADS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.069
			Catastrophizing (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.063
			All-or-nothing behavior (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.082
			Self-Compassion (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.110
			Anxiety (HADS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.211
			Quality of life: physical functioning (SF-36)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.164
			Beliefs about Emotions (Self-reporting scale)	MBCT (pre-post)	Between 2- and 6-month follow-up	0.84
			Quality of life: physical functioning (SF-36)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.051
			Depression (HADS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.051
			Anxiety (HADS)	MBCT (pre-post)	Post follow-up (6 months)	0.206

ChFS: Chalder’s Fatigue Scale, HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, MBSR: Mindfulness-based stress reduction, MBCT: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, SF-36: 36- Item Short-Form Health Survey.

In comparison to the control group, both mental and physical fatigue scores improved significantly in four included studies using MBCT [30], isometric yoga [28], Qigong exercise [41] and Baduanjin Qigong [40]. Two studies showed within-group fatigue improvement in participants receiving an 8-week mindfulness therapy [29] and in participants receiving a 10-week relaxation program [39] (Table 3 and Table 4)

Anxiety and depression were improved in participants receiving Baduanjin Qigong compared to the controls after 16 sessions (9 weeks) of therapy [40]. Depression was improved in participants after 4 months of Qigong exercise [41] and 8 weeks of MBCT [30] compared to the control groups. Surawy et al. [29] also showed improvement of anxiety after 8 weeks of MBSR/MBCT intervention compared to the control group.

In comparison to the control group, quality of life improved in participants receiving Qigong exercise [41,70,71] and cognitive-behavioral stress management [45].

Table 3 and Table 4 show the details of all the significant outcomes of the included studies according to the diagnosis of ME/CFS (Oxford or CDC criteria).

3.8. Adverse Events

Seven studies assessed adverse events: Four did not identify any adverse events [30,39,41,43]; and three studies recorded adverse events such as deterioration of their symptoms, muscle ache, palpitation, dizziness, knee pain, backache, fatigue, and nervousness [28,40,44]. Five studies did not report if they assessed adverse events [10,29,38,42,45]

3.9. Risk of Bias in the Included Studies

All the included RCT studies were assessed at a high risk of bias in relation to the lack of blinding of participants and personnel. We were not able to assess the risk of bias in many areas as most of the studies were poorly reported (Figure 2). The risk of bias assessment for the single-arm experimental studies using the ROBINS-I assessment tool is shown in Table A5.

Figure 2

Risk of bias summary: review authors’ judgments about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Table A5

Risk of Bias (ROBINS-I).

Domains	Bogaerts 2007	Surawy 2005 Study 2	Surawy 2005 Study 3	Sollie 2017	Oka 2018 and 2019	Jonsjo 2019	Takakura 2019
Confounding	No information	No information	No information	Low	Low	Low	Low
Selection bias	Low	Serious	Serious	Low	Moderate	Low	Low
Measurement of intervention	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low
Deviation from the intended intervention	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low
Missing data	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low
Measurement of outcomes	Moderate	Serious	Serious	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Reported results	No information	No information	No information	Low	Low	Low	Low
Overall	Moderate	Serious	Serious	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate

Low risk of bias (the study is comparable to a well-performed randomized trial with regard to this domain), Moderate risk of bias (the study is sound for a nonrandomized study with regard to this domain but cannot be considered comparable to a well-performed randomized trial), Serious risk of bias (the study has some important problems).

4. Discussion

This is the first systematic review of studies using MBIs in patients with ME/CFS. The MBIs used in these studies were mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, relaxation, Qigong, and yoga.

The etiology and pathogenesis of ME/CFS are still unknown [1]. Researchers have shown changes in some biological markers [100,101,102,103]. Other studies highlight changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in these patients [104].

It was also suggested that ME/CFS may be a neurophysiological disorder in the brain caused by repeated incidental or unnecessary stimuli in the limbic system, which is known as the threat response/protection center. These stimuli can be emotional, psychological, chemical, and/or physiological and they can keep the threat response center on a continuous high alert [105]. Connections between the amygdala and sympathetic, hypothalamic and other limbic brain systems can initiate a series of stimulations and uncontrolled reactions throughout the whole body, which could be considered as the root cause of CFS symptoms [105].

With increasing knowledge based on neuroplasticity and the impact of limbic function on somatic symptoms, the potential mechanisms of MBIs might be explained. There is growing interest in using MBIs and many programs are being offered directly to the public to assist with mental and physical health. One of these programs developed specifically for ME/CFS (25) has shown modest success in functional ability in a clinical audit. Because patients are accessing MBI programs, there is an urgent need for evidence as to whether these programs are having an impact on the core symptoms of ME/CFS or mainly address the secondary dissatisfaction that comes with having a chronic, poorly understood disease for which there is no cure. In this review, the MBIs used in the included studies were quite heterogenous. Two studies used relaxation techniques, five studies used movement-based therapies including different forms of yoga and Qigong and the remaining ones used various forms of mindfulness and cognitive-based approaches. Table A6 describes these interventions briefly.

Table A6

Brief descriptions of mind-body interventions used in the included studies.

MBIs	Definition
Relaxation therapies	https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/relaxation-techniques-for-health (accessed on 13 June 2021).“Relaxation techniques include a number of practices such as progressive relaxation, guided imagery, biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and deep breathing exercises. The goal is similar in all: to produce the body’s natural relaxation response, characterized by slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and a feeling of increased well-being”.
Movement-based interventions	https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/yoga-what-you-need-to-know (accessed on 13 June 2021).“Although classical yoga also includes other elements, yoga as practiced in the United States typically emphasizes physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dyana).There are many different yoga styles, ranging from gentle practices to physically demanding ones. Differences in the types of yoga used in research studies may affect study results. This makes it challenging to evaluate research on the health effects of yoga.Yoga and two practices of Chinese origin—tai chi and qi gong—are sometimes called “meditative movement” practices. All three practices include both meditative elements and physical ones”.
	https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tai-chi-and-qi-gong-in-depth (accessed on 13 June 2021).“Tai chi and qi gong are centuries-old practices that involve certain postures and gentle movements with mental focus, breathing, and relaxation. The movements can be adapted or practiced while walking, standing, or sitting. In contrast to qi gong, tai chi movements, if practiced quickly, can be a form of combat or self-defense”.
Mindfulness and cognitive-based	Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR):“The program is conducted as an 8- to 10-week course for groups of up to 30 participants who meet weekly for 2—2.5 hr for instruction and practice in mindfulness meditation skills, together with a discussion of stress, coping, and homework assignments”. 1
	Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT):“MBCT incorporates elements of cognitive therapy that facilitate a detached or de-centered view of one’s thoughts, including statements such as “thoughts are not facts” and “I am not my thoughts.” This decentered approach also is applied to emotions and bodily sensations”. 1
	Cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) is based on cognitive restructuring: “CBSM interventions reduce distress by teaching relaxation techniques; modifying patients’ outlook, cognitive appraisals, and coping strategies; and when performed ina group format may also improve their perceptions of social support”. 2
	Acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) is based on psychological flexibility.“This is defined as the ability to act in line with important long-term goals or values in life, even in the presence of negative experiences (e.g., non-acute somatic symptoms or psychological distress). Psychological flexibility is a complex overarching behavioral construct that includes several behavioral processes such as acceptance/non-acceptance and cognitive fusion/diffusion”. 3

1 Baer RA. Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical psychology: Science and practice. June 2003, 10,125–143. 2 Lopez C, Antoni M, Penedo F, Weiss D, Cruess S, Segotas M-C, et al. A pilot study of cognitive-behavioral stress management effects on stress, quality of life, and symptoms in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of psychosomatic research. 2011, 70, 328–334. 3 Jonsjö MA, Wicksell RK, Holmström L, Andreasson A, Olsson GL. Acceptance and commitment therapy for ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)–a feasibility study. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 2019, 12, 89–97.

In this systematic review, we found the most commonly measured outcomes were fatigue severity, anxiety and depression, and quality of life or its components (e.g., physical and mental functioning). When compared to the control group, fatigue severity, mental functioning and anxiety/depression mostly improved in patients receiving MBIs. However, poor reporting, small sample sizes, different diagnostic criteria, and a high risk of bias may challenge this result. It is also worth noting that these symptoms are not specific and can be found not only in some individuals with ME/CFS but also in individuals with many other physical and mental health conditions.

According to the 2015 Institute of Medicine report [1], impaired function, post-exertional malaise and unrefreshing sleep are the core symptoms in ME/CFS patients. None of our included studies, however, measured post-exertional malaise. One study measured sleep using a self-reporting scale which improved after 9 weeks of Qigong exercise [40]. Physical or mental functioning and functional performance were mostly measured using self-report scales and only one study measured performance using objective measures [51].

In contrast, anxiety and depression and some cognitive constructs were commonly measured in the included studies. While these symptoms are important, they are secondary and not the key features of ME/CFS. Reporting secondary outcomes while omitting measurement of the core symptoms of a disease may lead to inaccurate conclusions about treatment effectiveness.

Previous studies have used a variety of definitions for the diagnosis of ME/CFS. Lack of consensus and competing definitions act as a barrier for research in this field. Most of the studies in this systematic review used the 1994 CDC criteria for the diagnosis of ME/CFS and two studies used Oxford criteria.

The Oxford criteria were developed at a consensus meeting [46]. They do not require the presence of any symptom other than disabling fatigue. The presence of other symptoms such as immune, autonomic and mood symptoms differentiate ME/CFS from other common medical and psychiatric conditions including major depression. It has long been suspected that the Oxford criteria may therefore fail to exclude individuals with other fatiguing conditions [14,19].

To address this concern, the Agency for Healthy Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the United States conducted a sensitivity analysis in which the outcomes of treatment studies using the Oxford criteria were compared with studies using other criteria (mostly the 1994 CDC Criteria) [14]. They found that whereas most studies using the Oxford criteria showed some benefits for CBT, studies using the CDC criteria were mixed with no overall benefit. With regards to graded exercise therapy, exclusion of the trials using the Oxford case definition left insufficient evidence about the effectiveness of graded exercise therapy on any outcome. Studies of other therapies were not affected as primary studies had small sample sizes and a high risk of bias. These findings confirm that the choice of inclusion criteria impacts study outcomes. The AHRQ concluded that future research should retire the use of the Oxford case definition. The National Institutes of Health held a consensus workshop to guide the future of ME/CFS research [19]. For similar reasons as the AHRQ, they also recommended that the Oxford Criteria should be retired.

The 1994 CDC criteria also have significant drawbacks. They require four out of eight criteria but none are mandatory. This means two subjects identified with these criteria may have no symptoms in common with each other—one might have four and the other, another four. Moreover, minor symptoms may overlap with the symptoms of psychiatric disorders including major depression [14].

The Institute of Medicine [1] has proposed diagnostic criteria which are very similar to the Canadian Consensus Criteria [88]. They require patients to have moderate, substantial or severe disabling fatigue, post-exertional malaise and unrefreshing sleep for at least half of the time and one of the cognitive impairments or orthostatic intolerance symptoms. Conclusions about the effectiveness of interventions will be possible once studies use the same diagnostic criteria and measure core outcomes using standardized measures.

4.1. Strengths and Limitations

Assessment of a broad range of mind-body approaches and outcomes in a systematic fashion was one of the main strengths of this systematic review. Engaging patients in the process of designing the review protocol and in reviewing the findings increase the applicability and relevance of the findings of this study.

As we found a diverse range of interventions and outcomes across the included studies; we were not able to perform a meta-analysis. We also may have missed some relevant information by including only studies published in the English language.

4.2. Research Implications

As recommended by the Institute of Medicine report, using objective measures is a priority in studies of ME/CFS. There are several symptoms such as post-exertional malaise, cognitive dysfunction, orthostatic intolerance, and changes including impaired immune function and abnormal brain functions that could be measured objectively.

Future RCTs will benefit from larger sample sizes. Investigators must use an appropriate randomization method and ensure outcome assessors are blinded to the group identity of the participants. They should measure and report the outcomes specified in their protocol in order to avoid selective reporting.

5. Conclusions

In this systematic review, we described the current literature on MBIs for the treatment of ME/CFS. Future clinical trials will benefit from the findings of this study in terms of what outcomes and outcome measures are mostly used in previous studies. We showed that the included studies did not report measuring post-exertional malaise as a core outcome of ME/CFS. On the other hand, fatigue severity, anxiety/depression and mental functioning were shown to be improved in the patients receiving MBIs. However, poor reporting, small sample sizes, different diagnostic criteria, and a high risk of bias may challenge this result. We highlight the need for further research to use objective and standardized outcomes and outcome measures for making definitive conclusions.