Assessing Cognitive and Psychomotor Performance in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Shmygalev, S.; Dagtekin, Oguzhan; Gerbershagen, Hans J.; Marcus, Hanke; Jübner, Martin; Sabatowski, Rainer; Petzke, Frank

doi:10.1007/s40122-014-0028-0

Cited by 17 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…As a result, many studies have evidenced cognitive impairment in patients with fibromyalgia compared with control groups, with fibromyalgia patients mainly exhibiting problems with working memory processes and/or in their attentional and executive domains, as well as in processing speed [ 3 – 8 ]. However, other studies have failed to find any impaired performance in the cognitive functions of these patients [ 9 – 12 ]. A couple of recent meta-analytical reviews undertaken with a chronic pain population have provided evidence of impairment of working memory and also of three other components of executive functions: response inhibition, complex executive function and set shifting [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

The effect of depressive symptoms on cognition in patients with fibromyalgia

et al. 2018

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BackgroundFibromyalgia (FM) patients frequently complain of cognitive problems, but it remains unclear whether these cognitive complaints can be attributed to a dysfunction of the central nervous system or if they can be explained by other factors associated with the disease, such as depression, anxiety and sleep dysfunction.MethodsOne hundred and ten patients with FM were compared with thirty-three patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder (DD) and fifty healthy controls (HC). Several measures of attention and executive functions were used to make these comparisons and the patients were also asked to complete questionnaires on depression, anxiety and sleep quality. Univariate analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed to identify and control confounders and multiple linear models were used to examine the effects of fibromyalgia and depression on cognitive measures.ResultsFM and HC differed significantly with respect to depression, anxiety and sleep dysfunction, whereas FM and DD did not differ in terms of symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, FM was associated with a worse quality of sleep than DD. Comparisons of cognitive performance between groups showed that short-term and working memory and inattention measures were only associated with symptoms of depression, whereas selective attention was associated with both depression and fibromyalgia, and processing speed, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control showed a significant interaction between depression and fibromyalgia. Moreover, cognitive flexibility and inhibition abilities were specifically associated with FM.ConclusionFM patients show a cluster of cognitive impairment in the attentional and executive domains, although some of the symptoms observed could be explained by the severity of the symptoms of depression, while others seem to depend on the effects of fibromyalgia. Implications of the findings for the understanding and management of cognitive impairment of FM patients are discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

The effect of depressive symptoms on cognition in patients with fibromyalgia

et al. 2018

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“…Several studies have coincided in identifying the existence of cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia and in emphasizing problems associated with executive functions and, more specifically, with working memory processes and attentional and executive control [4][5][6][7]. However, some authors have failed to find such impaired performance in these components [8][9][10], while others have even concluded that the cognitive dysfunction observed in these patients could be explained by concurrent symptoms of depression [11,12].…”

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Executive function in fibromyalgia: Comparing subjective and objective measures

Gelonch

Garolera

Valls

et al. 2016

Comprehensive Psychiatry

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Patients with fibromyalgia showed executive dysfunction in subjective and objective measures, although most of this impairment was associated with mood disturbances. Exceptions to this general rule were observed in the impairment of working memory evidenced on the BRIEF-A scale and the inhibition impairment exhibited by the interference effect from the Stroop Test. The two types of measurement provide different yet complementary information.

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“…Clinically, the objective consequences of dyscognition in fibromyalgia are not clear ( Shmygalev et al, 2014 ). Cognitive deficits are not overtly obvious to medical observation, certainly far less than what is seen in pathologically-defined neuropsychiatric dementias such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing “fibrofog”: Subjective appraisal, objective performance, and task-related brain activity during a working memory task

Čeko

Khatiwada

Gracely

et al. 2016

NeuroImage: Clinical

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The subjective experience of cognitive dysfunction (“fibrofog”) is common in fibromyalgia. This study investigated the relation between subjective appraisal of cognitive function, objective cognitive task performance, and brain activity during a cognitive task using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Sixteen fibromyalgia patients and 13 healthy pain-free controls completed a battery of questionnaires, including the Multiple Ability Self-Report Questionnaire (MASQ), a measure of self-perceived cognitive difficulties. Participants were evaluated for working memory performance using a modified N-back working memory task while undergoing Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) fMRI measurements. Fibromyalgia patients and controls did not differ in working memory performance. Subjective appraisal of cognitive function was associated with better performance (accuracy) on the working memory task in healthy controls but not in fibromyalgia patients. In fibromyalgia patients, increased perceived cognitive difficulty was positively correlated with the severity of their symptoms. BOLD response during the working memory task did not differ between the groups. BOLD response correlated with task accuracy in control subjects but not in fibromyalgia patients. Increased subjective cognitive impairment correlated with decreased BOLD response in both groups but in different anatomic regions. In conclusion, “fibrofog” appears to be better characterized by subjective rather than objective impairment. Neurologic correlates of this subjective experience of impairment might be separate from those involved in the performance of cognitive tasks.

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Assessing Cognitive and Psychomotor Performance in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Cited by 17 publications

References 54 publications

The effect of depressive symptoms on cognition in patients with fibromyalgia

The effect of depressive symptoms on cognition in patients with fibromyalgia

Executive function in fibromyalgia: Comparing subjective and objective measures

Characterizing “fibrofog”: Subjective appraisal, objective performance, and task-related brain activity during a working memory task

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