Impairments to Cognitive Control in Patients with Somatoform Disorders and Their Treatment

Abstract

Objectives. To study impairments to cognitive control in patients with somatoform dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (somatoform disorder – SFD) and to assess the efficacy of the use of Recognan in the treatment of this pathology. Materials and methods. A total of 46 patients aged 18–45 years with SFD were studied. Histories were taken from all patients, who also underwent neurological examination and assessment of autonomic impairments. The severity of asthenic and emotional disorders were quantified using a subjective asthenia assessment scale (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, MFI-20), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), and the Cognitive Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Attention and impulsivity were quantified by the TOVA psychophysiological test. Patients of the study group were treated using Recognan (citicoline). The control group consisted of 30 essentially healthy people aged 18–45 years. Results. Patients with SFD were characterized by cognitive domain features which were most marked in the form of impaired attention. Psychological investigations demonstrated an increase level of anxiety. In addition, patients with SFD had lower levels of cognitive control of the emotions than members of the control group. The results of follow-up studies after courses of treatment indicated that the use of Recognan in the treatment of SFD was highly effective (improvements occurred in 67.4% of patients). Courses of treatment were followed by significant decreases in the severity of autonomic impairments and decreases in measures characterizing asthenia.