Advisor(s)
Michael Crowe
Committee Member(s)
Melissa Buelow
Jarred Younger
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2016
Abstract
Fibromyalgia is a disease that encompasses difficulties with pain, physical function, and emotion, but is also characterized by complaints of poor cognition. Over the last two decades, a vast amount of literature has tested for cognitive differences between individuals with and without fibromyalgia. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a quantitative synthesis on these differences across multiple cognitive domains. After a systematic search of eligible studies, random-effect meta-analyses were conducted on effect sizes (Hedges’ g) derived from 37 cross-sectional studies covering domains of processing speed, memory and executive function. Participants included persons with fibromyalgia (total n = 964) and participants from age-matched control groups without fibromyalgia (total n = 1,025). Results showed the largest deficit on inhibitory control, an aspect of executive function (g = .66), moderate deficits on measures of short-term and long-term memory, working memory, and premorbid intelligence (gs range from .44 to .51), and small deficits on the executive components of set-shifting (g = .30) and accessing ability (g = .38). These findings suggest that screening for cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia may be needed in addition to assessment of the traditional fibromyalgia symptoms.
ProQuest Publication Number
ISBN
978-1-369-45183-2
Recommended Citation
Bell, Tyler Reed, "Meta-analysis of cognitive performance in fibromyalgia" (2016). All ETDs from UAB. 1143.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/1143
Comments
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