FIBROMYALGIA IN THE COGNITIVE DISORDERS CLINIC. Issue 12 (15th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williamson, John; Larner, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 87:Issue 12(2016)
• Page Start: e1
• Page End: e1
• Publication Date: 2016-11-15
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2016-315106.65
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To examine the frequency of fibromyalgia referrals to a dedicated cognitive disorders clinic and patient performance on subtests of the Mini-Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (MACE). Results: Of 328 consecutive new referrals seen over 12 months (January–December 2015), 8 (2.4%) had an established diagnosis of fibromyalgia, of whom 6 (75%) were referred from primary care. All were female (age range 29–55 years, median 42.5). Only two had been tested with cognitive screening instruments in primary care (6CIT, GPCOG). Most patients (7/8) were tested in the clinic with MACE. Considering the various subtests of MACE (Attention, Memory, Letter Fluency, Clock Drawing, Memory Recall), the worst aggregate performance was on Letter Fluency (0/7 patients scored at ceiling) whereas the best performance was on Clock Drawing (6/7 at ceiling); performance on other tests was intermediate (second worst to second best: Memory Recall, Memory, Attention) No patient received a diagnosis of either dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Conclusions: Cases of fibromyalgia are occasionally referred to dedicated memory disorders clinics. Patient performance on the individual MACE subtests may be related to cognitive demand of each subtest.