title: Cognitive impairment in fibromyalgia.
abstract: Cognitive and behavioral impairments are core manifestations of fibromyalgia and may be more disabling than pain itself. Involvement of the central nervous system is ascertained by the fact that frontoparietal and limbic cortices are often functionally and structurally affected along the course of this disease. Even though neuroimaging has brought some experimental evidence to support such network disruption, there are currently no clinically effective biomarkers that detect and quantify cognitive and behavioral disturbances in fibromyalgia; thus, traditional scales and tests of neuropsychiatric assessment remain the most important diagnostic tools. This review addresses the most common cognitive and behavioral impairments in people with fibromyalgia, while explaining their pathophysiological basis and currently available therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil. bertolucci.paulo@unifesp.br
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique Ferreira
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Bertolucci
authors.forename: Fabricio Ferreira
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires