Neuropsychological Sequelae in a Series of Patients with End-Stage Cystic Fibrosis: Lung Transplant Evaluation

• Published in: Archives of clinical neuropsychology Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 59 - 70
• Main Authors: Crews, W.David, Jefferson, Angela L., Broshek, Donna K., Barth, Jeffrey T., Robbins, Mark K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 01.01.2000
• Subjects: cystic fibrosis; medical disease; neuropsychology; pulmonary disease; young adults
• ISSN: 0887-6177; 1873-5843
• DOI: 10.1093/arclin/15.1.59

There has been a relative absence of studies that examine the neuropsychological profiles of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. Data are presented here for 18 individuals with end-stage cystic fibrosis who were also potential candidates for lung transplantation. Neuropsychological test results indicated a diversity of memory and executive control deficits, the most frequent of which were immediate and delayed free recall and retrieval impairments on a memory measure involving noncontextual verbal material. The majority of this sample of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis also exhibited clinically significant elevations on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-2/MMPI-A), which are suggestive of heightened levels of psychological distress (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.