Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
Does the cognitive index of the symptom severity scale evaluate cognition? Data from subjective and objective
Odelia Elkana1, Amir K Falcofsky1, Ran Shorer2
1School of Behavioural Sciences, Tel Aviv-Jaffa Academic College, Jaffa, Israel.
Objectives:
The current provisional diagnostic criteria for the fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) include a cognitive index score (SSS-Cog), which constitutes a part of the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS). The current study aimed at assessing the validity of the cognitive index score, by comparing this subjective measure of cognitive impairment with an objective measure of cognitive functioning, collected through comprehensive computerised cognitive testing and assessment.
Methods:
50 FM patients underwent a computerised cognitive assessment battery, including testing in domains of memory, executive function, attention and information processing speed (NeuroTraxCorp.). Age and education standardised scores were computed. FM symptoms were assessed by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of clinical pain and the Beck Depression inventory (BDI-II).
Results:
The index score for subjective assessment of cognitive decline (SSS-Cog) was not correlated with any of the objective cognitive measures. However, a positive correlation was found between the SSS-Cog and the FIQ, the WPI and the VAS measures, all reflecting subjective overall functional ability.
Conclusions:
No significant relationship was found between FM patients' subjective appraisal of cognitive deficit and objective cognitive scores on all computerised subtests. However, subjective appraisal of cognitive impairment was found to be strongly and significantly related to patients' functional ability. Therefore, we suggest reconsidering the definition of this index score (SSS-Cog) and propose developing novel and more accurately defined tools in order to measure cognitive impairment in FM patients, for both diagnostic and epidemiological purposes.
More Related Videos
13:20Online Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Dorsomedial and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Cognition Decision Making, and Cognitive Dissonance
Published on: December 5, 2025
07:30Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Dissonance
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Cognition and Behavior
Cognitive Learning
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
Language and Cognition
Cognitive Therapy