Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Biol Psychiatry. 1996 Sep 15;40(6):535-41. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(95)00422-x.

Abstract

Twenty-nine subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and 25 healthy control subjects were administered a lengthy neuropsychological battery that included standard neuropsychological tests and a computerized set of tasks that spanned the same areas of ability. The primary significant differences between patients and controls were found on tests of learning and memory. These differences remained when the degree of psychiatric symptomatology in the subjects was covaried. Patients on and off psychoactive medications did not differ in their performance on these tasks. These results suggest that at least a subset of CFS patients may experience significant impairments in learning and memory.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology*
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / complications*
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales