Neurocognitive Profiles in Patients with Fibromyalgia in a City of the Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

Several studies have shown that symptoms associated with fibromyalgia are: severe fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety and mood disorders. But, there is lower consensus related to the neuro-cognitive profile of these patients. Patients with fibromyalgia may refer complaints regarding the deterioration of cognitive function or mental alertness (Glass & Park, 2001); difficulty in remembering words, psychomotor slowness and memory loss (Wallace, 1997). The most recent literature shows a general decline in all areas evaluated in patients with fibromyalgia when they were contrasted with healthy controls group (Munguia – Left, Legaz – Arrese, Moliner – Urdiales & Reverter – Macias, 2008). The objectives of this research: 1. Get epidemiological evidence of the existence of the disease in a Colombian Caribbean city; 2. Establish neuro-cognitvo profile of patients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. A quasi-experimental design with control group was raised. The subjects will be compared with healthy individuals with similar characteristics to the Clinical Group. Aspects as attention, memory, executive function, processing speed, concept formation and language will be evaluated. And depression, anxiety and pain catastrophizing too. Differences will be compared using ANOVA. It is hypothesized that individuals with pain have a lower neuro-cognitive performance than their controls. Clinically significant levels of depression, anxiety and catastrophizing will be presented. The results will be discussed in relation to existing literature. Carry out studies of this type enable understanding of the pain as a multidimensional entity comprehended by physical, cognitive and affective aspects.