Perceived Cognitive Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Dyscognition or fibro-fog is a top concern of individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS]; however, it is often overlooked clinically and remains relatively understudied as a symptom. This study sought to explore the multiple types of perceived dyscognition and associate each type with other clinical symptoms common to the presentation of FMS. Seventy-two individuals with FMS and 24 age-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Multiple types of perceived dyscognition were assessed by the Multiple Abilities Self-Report Questionnaire. Other symptom domains included pain, fatigue, sleep problems, mood, and illness burden. Both correlation and regression modeling were used to identify unique relationships between types of dyscognition and the clinical presentation of FMS. Individuals with FMS scored significantly higher on all self-report measures of dyscognition than did healthy controls. In general, perceived dyscognition in FMS was most strongly associated with fatigue and mood. Pain was uniquely associated with perceived language deficits, and sleep was uniquely associated with aspects of dyscognition involving memory. Somewhat unexpected, pain was not related to attention or concentration. These data suggest that perceived dyscognition is a multi-faceted clinical concern in individuals with FMS. When assessed, dyscognition should reflect the multi-dimensionality of the symptom in order to be valid. Treatments aimed at dyscognition should similarly consider the importance of addressing multiple types of dyscognition in order to be considered effective.