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Rosenberg R, Thorpy MJ, Doghramji K, Morse AM. Brain fog in central disorders of hypersomnolence: a review. J Clin Sleep Med 2024; 20:643-651. [PMID: 38217475 PMCID: PMC10985301 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.11014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Brain fog is an undefined term describing a cluster of symptoms related to fatigue and impaired memory, attention, and concentration. Brain fog or brain fog-like symptoms have been reported in central disorders of hypersomnolence and in a range of seemingly unrelated disorders, including coronavirus disease 2019, major depressive disorder, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and celiac disease. This narrative review summarizes current evidence and proposes a consensus definition for brain fog. Brain fog is prevalent in narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia, with more than three-quarters of patients with either disorder reporting this symptom in a registry study; it has also been reported as particularly difficult to treat in idiopathic hypersomnia. Studies directly evaluating brain fog are rare; tools for evaluating this symptom cluster typically are patient reports, with few objective measures validated in any disorder. Evaluating brain fog is further complicated by confounding symptoms, such as excessive daytime sleepiness, which is a hallmark of hypersomnolence disorders. No treatments specifically address brain fog. The paucity of literature, assessment tools, and medications for brain fog highlights the need for research leading to better disambiguation and treatment. Until a clear consensus definition is established, we propose brain fog in hypersomnia disorders be defined as a cognitive dysfunction that may or may not be linked with excessive sleepiness, related to an underlying neuronal dysfunction, which reduces concentration and impairs information processing, leading to a complaint of lack of clarity of mental thinking and awareness. CITATION Rosenberg R, Thorpy MJ, Doghramji K, Morse AM. Brain fog in central disorders of hypersomnolence: a review. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(4):643-651.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karl Doghramji
- Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Anne Marie Morse
- Department of Child Neurology and Sleep Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, Danville, Pennsylvania
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Sadeghi-Bahmani D, Parhoon H, Esmaeili M, Parhoon K, Sadeghi Bahmani L, Khazaie H, Becker SP, Burns GL, Brand S. Validation of the Farsi Version of the Adult Concentration Inventory for Assessing Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4607. [PMID: 37510724 PMCID: PMC10380426 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12144607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The internal and external validity of cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) relative to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-inattention (ADHD-IN) was evaluated herein with Farsi-speaking adults. A total of 837 Iranian adults assessed throughout the whole country (54.72% women, Mage = 23.85; SD = 7.05; age range = 18 to 58 years; 75% between 18 and 24 years old; reporting higher educational training) completed self-report measures of CDS, ADHD-IN, ADHD-hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI), depression, anxiety, and stress. Seven of the fifteen CDS symptoms showed a good convergent (high loadings on the CDS factor) and discriminant (higher loadings on the CDS factor than the ADHD-IN factor) validity. CDS also showed stronger first-order and unique associations with depression than ADHD-IN, whereas ADHD-IN showed stronger first-order and unique associations with ADHD-HI and anxiety than CDS. The first-order and unique associations of CDS and ADHD-IN did not differ in relation to stress. This study is the first to support the validity of the self-report of assessing CDS symptoms with the Adult Concentration Inventory with Farsi-speaking individuals residing in Iran, thus further strengthening the transcultural validity of the CDS, and paving the way for further transcultural research in the field of CDS among adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dena Sadeghi-Bahmani
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hadi Parhoon
- Department of Psychology, Razi University, Kermanshah 6714414971, Iran;
| | - Maryam Esmaeili
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 8174673441, Iran;
| | - Kamal Parhoon
- Department of Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran 1571914911, Iran;
| | - Laleh Sadeghi Bahmani
- Department of Education and Psychology, Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani University, Isfahan 8179949999, Iran;
| | - Habibolah Khazaie
- Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah 6714415185, Iran;
| | - Stephen P. Becker
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - G. Leonard Burns
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;
| | - Serge Brand
- Center for Affective, Sleep and Stress Disorders, Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland;
- Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
- Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah 6714415185, Iran
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran 1441987566, Iran
- Center for Disaster Psychiatry and Disaster Psychology, Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
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Godoy VP, Serpa ALDO, Fonseca RP, Malloy-Diniz LF. Executive Functions Contribute to the Differences Between ADHD and Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) in Adults. J Atten Disord 2023; 27:623-634. [PMID: 36802940 DOI: 10.1177/10870547231153948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper analyses the relationship between sociodemographic variables, executive dysfunctions, Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) and the mainly dimensions of ADHD: hyperactivity-impulsivity (ADHD-H/I) and inattention (ADHD-IN) in Brazilian adults. METHOD A cross-sectional, exploratory, and comparative design was used. A total of 446 participants (295 women) aging from 18 to 63 years old (M = 3,499 years, SD = 10.7) were recruited on the internet. Correlations, t independent tests and regressions were conducted. RESULTS Higher scores in ADHD dimensions were associated to more executive functioning problems and time perception distortions in comparison to those participants without significant ADHD symptoms. However, ADHD-IN dimension as well as SCT were higher associated with these dysfunctions than ADHD-H/I. The regression results showed that ADHD-IN was more related to Self-Management to time while ADHD-H/I to Self-Restraint and SCT to Self-Organization/Problem Solving. CONCLUSION This paper contributed to the distinction between SCT and ADHD in adults in important psychological dimensions.
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