Cognitive Impairment in Fibromyalgia: A Meta-Analysis of Case–Control Studies. Issue 5 (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Yu-Lin; Huang, Chun-Jen; Fang, Su-Chen; Ko, Ling-Hsin; Tsai, Pei-Shan
• Is Part Of: Psychosomatic medicine. Volume 80:Issue 5(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: cognitive function -- fibromyalgia -- meta-analysis -- pain -- ACR = American College of Rheumatology -- ACT = Auditory Consonant Trigram -- BAI = Beck Anxiety Inventory -- BDI = Beck Depression Inventory -- BSI = Brief Symptom Inventory -- CES-D = Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression -- CI = confidence interval -- DS = Digit Symbol Test -- DSM-V = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 -- DST = Digit Span Test -- FAS = verbal fluency -- FMS = fibromyalgia -- HAD-A = Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety -- HAD-D = Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression -- MPI-PS = Multidimensional Pain Inventory-Pain severity -- MPQ = McGill Pain Questionnaire -- NFAQ = National Fibromyalgia Association Questionnaire -- PASAT = Paced Auditory Serial Additions Test -- PVT = Psychomotor Vigilance Task -- RAVLR = Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test -- SCWT = Stroop Color and Word Test -- STAI = State-Trait Anxiety Inventory -- TEA = Test of Everyday Attention -- TMT = Trail Making Test -- ToL = Tower of London -- VAS = visual analog scale -- WCST = Wisconsin Card Sorting Test; Medicine, Psychosomatic -- Periodicals; 616.0805
• DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000575
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-3174

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective: Cognitive dysfunction has been reported in individuals with fibromyalgia. However, findings regarding cognitive function examined using neuropsychological tests have been inconsistent. The aim of the study was to determine domain-specific cognitive impairment in patients with fibromyalgia compared with healthy controls. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis that systematically searched six databases (PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) for articles published before September 2017. Results: Twenty-three case–control studies with a total of 2096 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Cognitive function was significantly lower ( g = 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.60–1.15) in individuals with fibromyalgia than in healthy controls. Large effect sizes were found in learning/memory and attention/psychomotor speed ( g = 0.94, p = .013; g = 1.22, p < .001, respectively); medium effect sizes were reported in executive function and working memory ( g = 0.72, p < .001; g = 0.75, p < .001, respectively). Depression and anxiety scores were associated with the effect size of group differences in cognitive function ( B = 0.11, p < .001, 95% CI = 0.09–0.13; B = 0.02, p < .001, 95% CI = 0.01–0.02, respectively). Conclusions: Cognitive impairment across different cognitive domains was found in individuals with fibromyalgia compared with healthy controls. Mood states (depression and anxiety) may explain the heterogeneity across studies.