Neurocognitive complaints and functional status among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

Karen B Schmaling; Karran L Betterton

doi:10.1007/s11136-015-1160-y

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Neurocognitive complaints and functional status among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Neurocognitive complaints and functional status among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

Karen B Schmaling and Karran L Betterton

Quality of life research, Vol.25(5), pp.1257-1263

05/2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-1160-y

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/104362

PMCID: PMC6115195

PMID: 26471263

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-1160-yView

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Abstract

Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - psychology

Humans

Middle Aged

Fatigue - complications

Male

Cognition

Fibromyalgia - psychology

Memory Disorders - complications

Disabled Persons - psychology

Young Adult

Fibromyalgia - diagnosis

Adolescent

Adult

Female

Surveys and Questionnaires

Aged

Quality of Life - psychology

Longitudinal Studies

Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - diagnosis

The purpose of this study was to conduct a longitudinal examination of cognitive complaints and functional status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) alone and those who also had fibromyalgia (CFS/FM). A total of 93 patients from a tertiary care fatigue clinic were evaluated on four occasions, each 6 months apart. Each evaluation included a tender point assessment, and self-reported functional status and cognitive complaints. Patients with CFS/FM reported significantly worse physical functioning, more bodily pain, and more cognitive difficulties (visuo-perceptual ability and verbal memory) than patients with CFS alone. Over time, bodily pain decreased only for participants with CFS alone. Verbal memory problems were associated with more bodily pain for both patient groups, whereas visuo-perceptual problems were associated with worse functional status for patients with CFS alone. This study adds to the literature on functional status, longitudinal course, and cognitive difficulties among patients with CFS and those with CFS and FM. The results suggest that patients with CFS/FM are more disabled, have more cognitive complaints, and improve more slowly over time than patients with CFS alone. Specific cognitive difficulties are related to worse functional status, which supports the addition of cognitive difficulties to the FM case criteria.

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Title: Neurocognitive complaints and functional status among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
Creators: Karen B Schmaling - Department of Psychology, Washington State University, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue, Vancouver, WA, 98686, USA. karen.schmaling@wsu.edu
Karran L Betterton - Department of Psychology, Washington State University, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue, Vancouver, WA, 98686, USA
Publication Details: Quality of life research, Vol.25(5), pp.1257-1263
Academic Unit: Psychology, Department of
Publisher: Netherlands
Grant note: U19AI38429 / NIAID NIH HHS U19 AI038429 / NIAID NIH HHS
Identifiers: 99900546646601842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article