MEMORY DEFICITS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME

Performance on tests of memory in 39 patients who met Center for Disea se Control (CDC) criteria for chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndr ome (CFIDS) was compared with 23 depressed patients (DSM-III-R) and 12 9 healthy controls. Although the CFIDS patients had normal neuropsycho logical profiles, they significantly overestimated their ability (meta memory), performed significantly worse on tests of recall as context i ncreased (e.g., recognition), made more errors when rehearsal was prev ented, and had delayed mental scanning as memory load increased. The o verall pattern indicated that CFIDS patients had a significant memory deficit, far worse than implied by CDC criteria. The pattern for CFIDS patients was consistent with temporal-limbic dysfunction and signific antly different than depressed patients and control subjects.