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Abstract: The pathophysiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) remains
unclear; however, both biological and psychological factors have been
implicated in establishing or maintaining this condition. People with CFS
report significant and disabling cognitive difficulties such as impaired
concentration that in some cases are exacerbated by exposure to chemical
triggers. The aim of this study was to determine if neuropsychological
deficits in CFS are triggered by exposure to chemicals, or perceptions
about the properties of these substances. Participants were 36 people
with a primary diagnosis of CFS, defined according to Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) criteria. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
crossover design was used, with objective assessment of
neuropsychological function and participant rating of substance type,
before and after exposure to placebo or chemical trigger. Results showed
decrements in neuropsychological tests scores on three out of four
outcome measures when participants rated the substance they had been
exposed to as "chemical." No change in performance was found
based on actual substance type. These results suggest that cognitive
attributions about exposure substances in people with CFS may be
associated with worse performance on neuropsychological tasks. In
addition, these findings suggest that psychological interventions aimed
at modifying substance-related cognitions may reduce some symptoms of
CFS.
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