Complementary and integrative health approaches used for pain management by U.S. adults with [ME/CFS]: Findings from the 2022..., 2025, Driscoll et al

Complementary and integrative health approaches used for pain management by U.S. adults with [ME/CFS]: Findings from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876382025000150

Highlights

• Limited research on pain management for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME)
• U.S. National Health Interview Survey data were examined
• 32.3% reported complementary/integrative healthcare (CIH) for pain management
• Females were more likely to use CIH approaches for pain relative to males
• Findings highlight an area for CFS/ME pain management treatment dissemination

Abstract

Introduction
While most persons with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) experience pain, traditional pain treatments may be harmful or unfavorable to this population. Complementary and integrative health approaches for pain management offer a potentially important alternative. However, there is a paucity of research regarding which pain treatments patients with CFS/ME use. This study examined the prevalence of pain-related complementary and integrative health usage in CFS/ME adults and the factors that may be associated with usage, such as sex and anxious and depressive symptoms.

Methods
Using 2022 U.S. National Health Interview Survey data, seven different complementary and integrative health approaches were examined. Survey weights and variance estimation variables were utilized, and Rao-Scott chi-square test examined group-based differences.

Results
A total of 453 individuals (1.6%) reported currently having CFS/ME. About one third (32.3%) of the CFS/ME sample reported using complementary and integrative health approaches for pain management. The most commonly reported treatments were meditation (15.1%), chiropractic care (14.5%), and massage (10.7%). Females with CFS/ME were significantly more likely to use pain-related complementary and integrative health approaches relative to their male counterparts (39.2% vs. 24.4%, respectively; χ2 (1) = 8.18, p = 0.004). Usage in pain-related complementary and integrative health approaches did not differ significantly among those with or without clinically elevated anxious or depressive symptoms.

Conclusions
Overall, persons with CFS/ME appear to use pain-related complementary and integrative health modalities at a lower rate relative to the general population. Although complementary and integrative health use was common, over half of the sample were not using these modalities, highlighting an opportunity for broader dissemination for pain management purposes.

 

Somehow, an NIH study published in 2025 uses the term CFS/ME. Weak. Like the absolutely odd conclusions that we should do more alternative medicine because reasons.

 

Thank goodness these people could help the alternative providers with writing a business case.