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Cognitive deficits in patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, acute infective illness or depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Ute Vollmer-Conna ,
Denis Wakefield ,
Andrew Lloyd ,
Ian Hickie ,
Jim Lemon ,
Kevin Bird  and
Reginald Westbrook
Ute Vollmer-Conna*
Affiliation:
Inflammation Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of New South Wales
Denis Wakefield
Affiliation:
Inflammation Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of New South Wales
Andrew Lloyd
Affiliation:
Inflammation Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of New South Wales
Ian Hickie
Affiliation:
Inflammation Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of New South Wales
Jim Lemon
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney
Kevin Bird
Affiliation:
Inflammation Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of New South Wales
Reginald Westbrook
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales
*
Dr Ute Vollmer-Conna, Inflammation Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052 NSW, Australia. Fax: (61-2) 9385 1389; e-mail: u.vollmer-conna@unsw.edu.au
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Abstract

Background

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) report neuropsychological symptoms as a characteristic feature. We sought to assess cognitive performance in patients with CFS, and compare cognitive performance and subjective workload experience of these patients with that of two disease comparison groups (non-melanchonic depression and acute infection) and healthy controls.

Method

A computerised performance battery employed to assess cognitive functioning included tests of continuous attention, response speed, performance accuracy and memory. Severity of mood disturbance and subjective fatigue were assessed by questionnaire.

Results

All patient groups demonstrated increased errors and slower reaction times, and gave higher workload ratings than healthy controls. Patients with CFS and non-melancholic depression had more severe deficits than patients with acute infection. All patient groups reported more severe mood disturbance and fatigue than healthy controls, but patients with CFS and those with acute infection reported less severe mood disturbance than patients with depression.

Conclusions

As all patients demonstrated similar deficits in attention and response speed, it is possible that common pathophysiological processes are involved. The differences in severity of mood disturbance, however, suggest that the pathophysiological processes in patients with CFS and acute infection are not simply secondary to depressed mood.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 4 , October 1997 , pp. 377 - 381
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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