Daños Neuropsicológicos Asociados a los Tratamientos Quimioterapéuticos: Una Propuesta de Evaluación

Abstract

Chemotherapy treatments in cancer patients may cause cognitive impairment in a percentage ranging from 15 to 50%, and cause significant deficits in their quality of life. We present the main methodological problems in this field and the recommendations for overcoming them, in terms of design, sampling, impairment criteria, assessment tools and control groups. We present a proposal to assess chemotherapy-induced cognitive Impairment in Spanish samples. The guidelines aim to assess three cognitive domains that may be at risk of deterioration: Verbal memory, executive function and psychomotor abilities, as well as modulating variables: Quality of life, fatigue and emotional state (anxiety and depression). The study design should be longitudinal, with assessment at the baseline, before chemotherapy, posttreatment and follow-up. We present the most suitable instruments to assess each of the variables, and recommendations about impairment criteria, interpretation and analysis.