title: Correlates of perceived health-related quality of life in post-treatment Lyme encephalopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Marked functional impairment has been reported by patients with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to identify the clinical features that contribute most strongly to the impaired health status associated with PTLDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrolled patients had a well-documented history of Lyme disease, prior treatment with at least 3 weeks with intravenous ceftriaxone, a positive IgG Western blot, and objective problems with memory. An index score to capture aggregate cognitive functioning, Short-Form 36 physical and mental component summary scores, and scores on other clinical and demographic measures were examined. Multiple linear regressions were performed to determine significant predictors of perceptions of impaired life functioning as delineated by the Short-Form 36.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fatigue was the most important contributor to perceived impairments in overall physical functioning, and fatigue and depression significantly predicted perceived impairments in overall mental functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because fatigue and depression contribute prominently to reports of impaired physical functioning and mental functioning among patients with PTLDS, clinicians should assess patients for these symptoms and consider targeting these symptoms in the selection of treatment interventions. Future controlled studies should examine the effectiveness of such agents for patients with PTLDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Avinash M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Keilp
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fallon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D020852:Lyme Neuroborreliosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone