title: Neuropsychological outcome after carbon monoxide exposure following a storm: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cognitive consequences of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are well described. However, most studies have been carried out without an ad-hoc group of control subjects. The main aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive and psychiatric outcome after CO exposure during the storm Klaus in the South West of France (January 2009) in a homogeneous group of patients compared to a group of 1:1 paired controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients and controls were asked to fill out questionnaires about quality of life and cognitive complaints. They then underwent a cognitive assessment derived from the Carbon Monoxide Neuropsychological Screening Battery. Psychiatric assessment was performed using subtests of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  38 patients and 38 paired controls were included (mean age 38.8 years) and evaluated 51 days after the poisoning. No difference was found between groups on the cognitive complaint questionnaire but patients had a lower quality of life than controls. Patients showed significantly lower cognitive performance than controls on processing speed, mental flexibility, inhibition and working and verbal episodic memories. Patients were more depressed than controls, and suffered more from post-traumatic stress disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report the first study investigating cognitive and psychiatric outcome in consecutive patients after CO poisoning during a natural disaster, using a group comparison method. CO poisoning during storms needs to be dealt with adequately and clinicians should be aware of its possible consequences.
authors.forename: Bérengère
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pages
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Planton
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buys
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lemesle
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Birmes
authors.forename: Emmanuel Joseph
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Barbeau
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maziero
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cordier
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabot
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puel
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genestal
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chollet
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie, Pôle Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, CHU Purpan, Place du Dr Baylac, Toulouse Cedex 9, France. jeremie.pariente@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: Jérémie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pariente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055907:Climatic Processes; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires