Our recent research has shown that children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyopathy (CFS/ME) describe problems with focused attention, sustained attention, recall and stress. Neuropsychological testing demonstrated lower scores for sustained attention, switching attention, divided attention, auditory learning and immediate recall compared to normative data. This paper describes what is currently known about memory and attention problems in children with CFS/ME and suggests a variety of strategies that could be used to overcome these difficulties.
Baldwin, T., Demellweek, C., Rankin, P., & Carleton, F. ( 2006). Cognitive Problems. In R. Appleton & T. Baldwin (Eds.), Management of brain injured children, second edition (pp. 170-222). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
2.
Busichio, K., Tiersky, L.A., Deluca, J., & Natelson, B.H. (2004). Neuropsychological deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 10, 278-285.
3.
Chalder, T., Goodman, R., Wessely, S., Hotopf, M., & Meltzer, H. ( 2003). Epidemiology of chronic fatigue syndrome and self reported myalgic encephalomyelitis in 5-15 year olds: cross sectional study. BMJ, 327, 654-655.
4.
Davies, S.M. & Crawley, E. ( 2008). Chronic fatigue syndrome in children aged 11 years old and younger. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 93, 419-421.
5.
Deluca, J., Johnson, S.K., Beldowicz, D., & Natelson, B.H. (1995). Neuropsychological impairments in chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and depression. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 58, 38-43.
6.
Deluca, J., Johnson, S.K., Ellis, S.P., & Natelson, B.H. (1997). Cognitive functioning is impaired in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome devoid of psychiatric disease . Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 62, 151-155.
7.
Dobbs, B.M., Dobbs, A.R., & Kiss, I. ( 2001). Working memory deficits associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 7, 285-293.
8.
Farmer, A., Fowler, T., Scourfield, J., & Thapar, A. ( 2004). Prevalence of chronic disabling fatigue in children and adolescents. British Journal of Psychiatry, 184, 477-481.
9.
Grafman, J., Schwartz, V., Dale, J.K., Scheffers, M., Houser, C., & Straus, S.E. ( 1993). Analysis of neuropsychological functioning in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 56, 684-689.
10.
Haig-Ferguson, H., Tucker, P., Eaton, N., Hunt, L., & Crawley, E. ( 2009). Memory and attention problems in children with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalopathy. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 94, 757-762.
11.
Hitch, G.J., & Baddeley, A.D. (1976). Verbal reasoning and working memory. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 28, 603-621.
12.
Hood, J., Baird, G., Rankin, P.M., & Isaacs, E. ( 2005). Immediate effects of methylphenidate on cognitive attention skills of children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 47, 408-414.
13.
Jones, J.F., Nisenbaum, R., Solomon, L., Reyes, M., & Reeves, W.C. ( 2004). Chronic fatigue syndrome and other fatiguing illnesses in adolescents: A population-based study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 35, 34-40.
14.
Jordan, K.M., Ayers, P.M., Jahn, S.C., Taylor, K.K., Huang, C.F., Richman, J., et al. (2000). Prevalence of fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness in children and adolescents. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 6, 3-21.
15.
Joyce, E., Blumenthal, S., & Wessely, S. ( 1996). Memory, attention, and executive function in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 60, 495-503.
16.
Kane, R.L., Gantz, N.M., & DiPino, R.K. (1997). Neuropsychological and psychological functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome. Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology, and Behavioral Neurology, 10, 25-31.
17.
Lange, G., Steffener, J., Cook, D.B., Bly, B.M., Christodoulou, C., Liu, W.C. et al. (2005). Objective evidence of cognitive complaints in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A BOLD fMRI study of verbal working memory. Neuroimage, 26, 513-524.
18.
Manly, T., Robertson, I.H., Anderson, V., & Nimmo-Smith, I. (1998). Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch). Bury St Edmunds, UK: Thames Valley Test Company.
19.
Marshall, P.S., Forstot, M., Callies, A., Peterson, P.K., & Schenck, C.H. ( 1997). Cognitive slowing and working memory difficulties in chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychosomatic Medicine, 59, 58-66.
20.
Michel, J.A., & Mateer, C.A. ( 2006). Attention rehabilitation following stroke and traumatic brain injury. A review. Europa Medicophysica, 42, 59-67.
21.
Michiels, V., & Cluydts, R. ( 2001). Neuropsychological functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome: a review. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 103, 84-93.
22.
Michiels, V., Cluydts, R., Fischler, B., Hoffmann, G., Le Bon, O., & De Meirleir, K. (1996). Cognitive functioning in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 18, 666-677.
23.
Michiels, V., de Gucht, V., Cluydts, R., & Fischler, B. ( 1999). Attention and information processing efficiency in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 21, 709-729.
24.
Moss-Morris, R. ( 1996). Neuropsychological deficits in chronic fatigue syndrome: artifact or reality? Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 60, 474-477.
25.
Nice (2007). Chronic fatigue syndrome/Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy): Diagnosis and management (Report No. CG53). London, UK: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
26.
Park, N.W., & Ingles, J.L. ( 2001). Effectiveness of attention rehabilitation after an acquired brain injury: A meta-analysis. Neuropsychology, 15, 199-210.
27.
Patel, M.X., Smith, D.G., Chalder, T., & Wessely, S. ( 2003). Chronic fatigue syndrome in children: A cross-sectional survey. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 88, 894-898.
28.
Rangel, L., Garralda, M.E., Levin, M., & Roberts, H. ( 2000). The course of severe chronic fatigue syndrome in childhood . Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 93, 129-134.
29.
Rimes, K.A., Goodman, R., Hotopf, M., Wessely, S., Meltzer, H., & Chalder, T. ( 2007). Incidence, prognosis, and risk factors for fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents: A prospective community study. Pediatrics, 119, e603-e609.
30.
Ross, S., Straus, B., & Grafman, J. ( 2001). Divided attention deficits in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Applied Neuropsychology, 8, 4-11.
31.
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health ( 2004). Evidence Based Guideline for the Management of CFS/ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalopathy) in Children and Young PeopleLondon, UK: RCPCH.
32.
Sankey, A., Hill, C.M., Brown, J., Quinn, L., & Fletcher, A. ( 2006). A follow-up study of chronic fatigue syndrome in children and adolescents: Symptom persistence and school absenteeism. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 11, 126-138.
33.
Vercoulen, J.H., Bazelmans, E., Swanink, C.M., Galama, J.M., Fennis, J.F., van der Meer, J.W., et al. (1998). Evaluating neuropsychological impairment in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 20, 144-156.
34.
Vollmer-Conna, U., Wakefield, D., Lloyd, A., Hickie, I., Lemon, J., Bird, K.D., et al. (1997). Cognitive deficits in patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, acute infective illness or depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 171, 377-381.
35.
Walker, M.P., & Stickgold, R. ( 2004). Sleep-dependent learning and memory consolidation. Neuron, 44, 121-133.
