Perceived cognitive functioning difficulties in individuals living with endometriosis

Mary Horn, Sherman, Kerry, Melissa Pehlivan, Michelle Basson, Zixin Lin, Lin Zhong, Tanya J Duckworth, Tanya Duckworth
Journal of health psychology · 2025 · vol. 30(14) , pp. 4314–4332 · doi:10.1177/13591053251331826 · PMID:40270357 · W4409773192
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This study found that 80% of individuals with endometriosis reported cognitive impairments, which were associated with pain, fatigue, and depression, with treatments having mixed effects.

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Abstract

Difficulties in cognitive functioning (e.g., memory, attention) are common in chronic conditions characterized by physical pain, fatigue and depression. Yet investigations in endometriosis are lacking. We aimed to assess: (1) perceived cognitive functioning, (2) the association of cognitive functioning with fatigue, pain and depressive symptoms, and (3) whether endometriosis treatments moderated these relationships. Participants ( n = 1239) with diagnosed endometriosis completed an online survey assessing perceived cognitive functioning [Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog)], pain, fatigue and depression. FACT-Cog scores indicated cognitive impairments in 80% of participants. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that greater pain, fatigue, and depressive symptoms were associated with poorer perceived cognitive functioning. Moderation analyses indicated that taking hormonal treatments or pain medications diminished the adverse effects of depression, but exacerbated the adverse effects of pain, on cognitive functioning. The extensive perceived cognitive difficulties evident in this sample suggests that supportive interventions to enhance cognitive functioning may be warranted.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognition Cognitive Dysfunction Cognitive Dysfunction

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (71)

Cited by (3)

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