Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol 59, Issue 1 58-66, Copyright © 1997 by American Psychosomatic Society

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Cognitive slowing and working memory difficulties in chronic fatigue syndrome

PS Marshall, M Forstot, A Callies, PK Peterson and CH Schenck
Department of Psychiatry, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) commonly report problems with attention, memory, learning, and speed of cognitive processing. This study attempted to evaluate these complaints using objective test criteria. METHOD: A test battery composed of six tests assessing these cognitive functions was given on two consecutive days. Twenty CFS patients were compared with 20 healthy control subjects and 14 patients with a history of major depression or dysthymia matched by age, intelligence, education level, and sex. RESULTS: Compared with control subjects, CFS patients consistently scored lower on tests in which motor and cognitive processing speeds were a critical factor, eg, reaction-time tasks. They also had more difficulty on working-memory tests in which rapid cognitive processing speed is also an important factor. The effort made on the first day of testing did not result in a decline in cognitive function on the following day. CFS patients did not qualify as having affective disorder by several different diagnostic criteria. Nonetheless, CFS patients' test performances did not differ from patients with a history of major depression or dysthymia. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that, although CFS and major depression and dysthymia have distinct clinical features, these disorders have slowed motor and cognitive processing speed in common.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A Haig-Ferguson, P Tucker, N Eaton, L Hunt, and E Crawley Memory and attention problems in children with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalopathy Arch. Dis. Child., October 1, 2009; 94(10): 757 - 762. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Majer, L. A. M. Welberg, L. Capuron, A. H. Miller, G. Pagnoni, and W. C. Reeves Neuropsychological Performance in Persons With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Results From a Population-Based Study Psychosom Med, September 1, 2008; 70(7): 829 - 836. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Randall, F. H. Cafferty, J. M. Shneerson, I. E. Smith, M. B. Llewelyn, and S. E. File Chronic treatment with modafinil may not be beneficial in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome J Psychopharmacol, November 1, 2005; 19(6): 647 - 660. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. P. de Lange, J. S. Kalkman, G. Bleijenberg, P. Hagoort, S. P. vd Werf, J. W. M. van der Meer, and I. Toni Neural correlates of the chronic fatigue syndrome--an fMRI study Brain, September 1, 2004; 127(9): 1948 - 1957. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. LaManca, A. Peckerman, S. A. Sisto, J. DeLuca, S. Cook, and B. H. Natelson Cardiovascular Responses of Women With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to Stressful Cognitive Testing Before and After Strenuous Exercise Psychosom Med, September 1, 2001; 63(5): 756 - 764. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Wessely Chronic Fatigue: Symptom and Syndrome Ann Intern Med, May 1, 2001; 134(9_Part_2): 838 - 843. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Finset, A. W. Anke, E. Hofft, K. Skavberg Roaldsen, J. Pillgram-Larsen, and J. K. Stanghelle Cognitive Performance in Multiple Trauma Patients 3 Years After Injury Psychosom Med, July 1, 1999; 61(4): 576 - 583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. K. Peterson, A. Pheley, J. Schroeppel, C. Schenck, P. Marshall, A. Kind, J. M. Haugland, L. J. Lambrecht, S. Swan, and S. Goldsmith A Preliminary Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial of Fludrocortisone for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Arch Intern Med, April 27, 1998; 158(8): 908 - 914. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]