Chronic Pain and Cognition

Abstract

Comments on an article by Karen dos Santos Ferreira et al. (see record 2016-25751-002). Ferreira et al. in this issue, have reported cognitive evaluation of patients with chronic pain and determined the main confounder factors observed to be associated with cognitive impairment. Working memory has been evaluated by different instruments, revealing heterogeneity through studies. Executive dysfunction is an umbrella, with many sides and with very heterogeneous evaluation and results. Ferreira et al. evaluated 45 patients with chronic pain matched by age, gender and schooling to 45 controls without pain. The group with chronic pain had shown more frequency in major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, unrefreshed sleep, and hypothyroidism. According to authors, this study is the first in Brazil. More studies are necessary, with more comprehensive cognitive evaluation, with a larger number of patients, to permit analyses with different pain duration, pain intensity, and etiologies. It is a valuable study in this field in our country. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)