Relationship between perceived cognitive dysfunction and objective neuropsychological performance in persons with
So Young Shin1, Patricia Katz, Laura Julian
1University of California, San Francisco, USA. syshin@kmu.ac.kr
Arthritis Care & Research
|August 18, 2012
Summary
In rheumatoid arthritis patients, subjective cognitive dysfunction did not correlate with objective performance. Depression and fatigue, however, significantly impacted perceived cognitive deficits.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Neuropsychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- A discrepancy exists between how individuals with chronic diseases perceive their cognitive abilities and their actual performance on cognitive tests.
- This study specifically investigates this cognitive dysfunction gap in individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between subjective cognitive dysfunction and objective neuropsychological performance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- To identify factors associated with perceived cognitive deficits in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 120 rheumatoid arthritis patients underwent assessment of subjective cognitive dysfunction using the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ).
- Objective cognitive impairment was evaluated using a standardized battery of 12 neuropsychological tests.
- Multivariate regression analyses examined the association between PDQ scores and objective cognitive function, controlling for demographic, disease, and psychological variables.
Main Results:
- No significant relationship was found between subjective cognitive dysfunction (PDQ scores) and objective cognitive function in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- However, higher scores on the PDQ were significantly associated with increased levels of depression and fatigue.
- Depression and fatigue explained a significant portion of the variance in perceived cognitive deficits.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a significant gap between perceived and objectively measured cognitive impairment in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Psychological factors, specifically depression and fatigue, play a crucial role in the subjective experience of cognitive dysfunction in RA patients.
- These findings underscore the importance of addressing mental health and fatigue in the clinical management of cognitive symptoms in chronic diseases.
