The Relationship Between Cognitive Functions and Pain Intensity in Patients with Fibromyalgia

Objective: This study aimed to determine the cognitive functions in patients with fibromyalgia and healthy control group and compare the relationship of cognitive dysfunction with pain severity. Methods: This study evaluated the cognitive functions and pain severity of 93 patients and 93 healthy controls who were diagnosed with fibromyalgia in the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic and referred to our outpatient psychiatry clinic for consultation. Sociodemographic data form, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) scale for cognitive functions, Mini-Mental test, Hamilton Depression scale, and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain severity were applied to the patients. Consent was obtained from the patient and the control groups. Results: The total points of MOCA, attention, visuospatial, naming, language, abstraction, orientation, and delayed memory subscores of the fibromyalgia group were significantly lower than the healthy control group. This result revealed a significant level of mild deterioration in cognitive functions in the fibromyalgia group (p<0.005). Additionally, the VAS pain score was significantly higher in patients with fibromyalgia having cognitive impairment (p<0.005). Conclusion: Pain and psychiatric symptoms are quite frequently seen in patients with fibromyalgia; however, they are accompanied by cognitive dysfunction. Dysfunction in attention, visualization, naming, language, abstraction, orientation, and delayed memory increase the severity of pain. Therefore, we think that it will also affect the functionality in the future. Additionally, cognitive dysfunction identification and cognitive-behavioral treatments should be added to the current fibromyalgia treatment.