Auditory event-related brain potentials in fibromyalgia syndrome

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate cognitive functions using auditory event-related brain potentials (ERP) in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Methods: The P300 component of ERP was studied in 36 female FMS patients and 22 control subjects. The short form 36 (SF-36) medical outcome study was used to determine quality of life. Number of tender points and disease duration were noted. Cognitive functions were evaluated with P300. Results: The symptoms were discrepant in FMS (P < 0.001). The scores of the eight SF-36 subgroups in FMS patients were significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.001). Fibromyalgia syndrome patients had prolonged latency and reduced amplitude of P300 (P < 0.001). No correlation was found between the subgroups of SF-36, tender point count, disease duration, and P300. Conclusion: The results of our study reveal that FMS affects quality of life and dysfunction in cognitive abilities can be determined by brain event-related potentials.