Working memory deficits in chronic fatigue syndrome: differentiating between speed and accuracy of information processing.
To examine the relative influence of speed of information processing versus working memory ability, CFS participants with psychiatric comorbidity (CFS-Psych) and CFS without a psychiatric history (CFS-noPsych) were examined on tests of visual and auditory processing speed and visual and auditory working memory. Compared to healthy controls (HC) and a group of participants with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the CFS-noPsych group displayed significantly reduced performance on tests of information processing speed, but not on tests of working memory. No significant differences were observed between the CFS-Psych group and any other group in the study. The implications of group heterogeneity on the understanding of cognitive impairment in CFS are discussed.
Deluca
John
J
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA. Jdeluca@kmrrec.org
Christodoulou
Christopher
C
Diamond
Bruce J
BJ
Rosenstein
Elliot D
ED
Kramer
Neil
N
Natelson
Benjamin H
BH
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time; D012720:Severity of Illness Index