Cerebral perfusion in chronic fatigue syndrome and depression

Abstract

Abnormal cerebral perfusion patterns in CFS subjects who are not depressed are similar but not identical to those in patients with depressive illness. Thalamic overactivity may be a correlate of increased attention to activity in CFS and depression; reduced prefrontal perfusion in depression may be associated with the greater neuropsychological deficits in that disorder.

The difference in patterns of motor and cognitive function in chronic fatigue syndrome and severe depressive illness

“…In this report, there are important similarities and differences between CFS and MDD, as we have found in studies of neuroendocrine function ) and with Single Photon Emission Tomography (MacHale et al 2000). CFS and MDD may have similar provoking factors and an important overlap in the motor domain.…”

“…We also measured endocrine function and cerebral perfusion, but provide accounts of these investigations elsewhere (MacHale et al , 2000. We specifically tested the hypothesis that the cognitive and motor impairments in depression and CFS would be expressed similarly as reductions in performance as compared to healthy controls, but with diurnal improvement in depression and evening worsening in CFS.…”

Cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: New trends and future directions

“…In CFS, abnormalities in white matter have been reported [7,8], as well as reduced global gray matter [9]. Reduced cerebral blood flow has also been reported globally [10] and in the frontal and occipital lobes [11], although the findings may depend on the choice of control group. For example, monozygotic twins discordant for CFS do not show differences in cerebral blood flow [12].…”

A New Class of Antidepressant Drugs in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: The Triple Reuptake Inhibitors

“…Mental fatigue and lack of mental energy may be related to other symptoms of depression, such as apathy (absence in feeling, emotion, interest) and lack of motivation. Cortical brain regions, especially the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, are more likely to be involved in mental fatigue (MacHale et al, 2000). Consequently, antidepressants that increase DA and 5-HT, or both, may be preferable for patients with predominant symptoms of fatigue and loss of energy (Stahl et al, 2008).…”