Validation of a telephone cognitive assessment test battery for use in chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract

We compared a computerized version of the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) cognitive assessment test battery and a completely automated telephone version of the same battery. These assessed aspects of attention, working memory and long-term memory. Both methods were used to assess the cognitive performance of a cohort of 30 people with confirmed chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and a group of 30 healthy controls matched for age and education. The CFS group had significantly slower reaction times on all four cognitive measures on both the computerized and telephone tests. The mood data followed similar patterns in the computer and telephone assessments. The results from both forms of the test battery confirmed the pattern and severity of cognitive impairment in CFS. Furthermore, the two methods of testing were similarly sensitive in detecting cognitive deficits. The incapacitating nature of CFS may cause problems for researchers if the restrictions to mobility affect the representativeness of the study group. The findings of the present study support the use of a fully automated telephone cognitive testing system for detecting deficits in CFS.