Fernández-Quirós, Judith, Lacasa-Cazcarra, Marcos, Alegre-Martín, Jose et al. · Frontiers in psychology · 2023 · DOI
This study tested whether a computer-based attention test called CPT3™ can reliably detect thinking and concentration problems in ME/CFS patients. Researchers compared 158 ME/CFS patients with 67 healthy people and found that ME/CFS patients performed significantly worse on measures of attention, focus, and reaction speed. The test successfully identified differences between the two groups, suggesting it could be a useful tool for doctors to help diagnose or monitor ME/CFS.
ME/CFS patients often experience cognitive dysfunction ("brain fog") that is difficult to measure objectively. This study provides evidence that CPT3™ is a standardized, computerized tool that can reliably detect attention and processing speed problems, potentially helping clinicians diagnose ME/CFS and track disease severity over time. Objective cognitive testing could improve recognition of ME/CFS and support patients seeking medical validation.
This study does not prove that CPT3™ is specific to ME/CFS—similar attention problems occur in ADHD, post-COVID syndrome, and other conditions. The cross-sectional design cannot determine whether cognitive impairment causes ME/CFS symptoms or results from them. Results may not generalize to all ME/CFS populations, as participants were recruited from a specialized center and may represent a more severe subset of patients.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Fernández-Quirós, Judith, Lacasa-Cazcarra, Marcos, Alegre-Martín, Jose, Sanmartín-Sentañes, Ramón, Almirall, Miriam, Launois-Obregón, Patricia, et al. (2023). The Conners Continuous Performance Test CPT3<sup>™</sup>: Is it a reliable marker to predict neurocognitive dysfunction in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome?. Frontiers in psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1127193
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-fernndez-quirs-2023-conners-continuous,
author = {Fernández-Quirós, Judith and Lacasa-Cazcarra, Marcos and Alegre-Martín, Jose and Sanmartín-Sentañes, Ramón and Almirall, Miriam and Launois-Obregón, Patricia and Castro-Marrero, Jesús and Rodríguez-Urrutia, Amanda and Navarro-Sanchis, Jose A and Ramos-Quiroga, J Antoni},
title = {The Conners Continuous Performance Test CPT3<sup>™</sup>: Is it a reliable marker to predict neurocognitive dysfunction in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome?},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1127193},
note = {PubMed: 36923151},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/fernndez-quirs-2023-conners-continuous},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/fernndez-quirs-2023-conners-continuous
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