Neuropsychological sequelae in a series of patients with end-stage cystic fibrosis: Lung transplant evaluation

There has been a relative absence of studies that examine the neuropsycholo gical profiles of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. Data are present ed here for 18 individuals with end-stage cystic fibrosis who were also pot ential candidates for lung transplantation Neuropsychological test results indicated a diversity of memory and executive control deficits, the most fr equent of which were immediate and delayed free recall and retrieval impair ments on a memory measure involving noncontextual verbal material The major ity of this sample of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis also exhibite d clinically significant elevations on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personalit y Inventory-2 and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (M MPI-2/MMPI-A), which are suggestive of heightened levels of psychological d istress (e.g., depressive symptomatology) and multiple somatic complaints. These findings are discussed in light of factors associated with end-stage cystic fibrosis. Implications for clinical practice and future research are also provided. (C) 1999 National Academy of Neuropsychology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.