Neuropsychological assessment of chronic fatigue (exhaustion)

What Is Fatigue?

Fatigue is a common change in well-being that people often describe as general weakness or a lack of energy. It may be either a temporary condition or a symptom of an underlying disease.

Possible Causes

Fatigue may be caused by:

• intensive work, stress, and nutritional disorders;
• exposure to chemical substances;
• physical factors in everyday life, such as noise, temperature fluctuations, an uncomfortable workplace, excessive workload, or insufficient lighting.

Fatigue occurs in both healthy individuals and people with medical conditions, making it important to determine its underlying cause.

Types of Fatigue

Patients may experience different types of fatigue:

• physical fatigue,
• mental fatigue,
• general fatigue.

Objectively assessing the severity of fatigue can be challenging.

Diagnostic Assessments

The following assessments are performed at our center to evaluate fatigue:

1. MFI-20 Questionnaire (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory) – helps assess:
2. • general, physical, and mental fatigue,
   • reduced activity and motivation.
3. 24-Hour Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Monitoring – evaluates the activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and identifies signs of prolonged fatigue.
4. Additional Assessments Performed During the Examination:
5. • 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring,
   • ECG recording,
   • assessment of the risk of cardiovascular events (stroke, myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death),
   • evaluation of medication effectiveness (e.g., in the treatment of arterial hypertension).

Benefits of the Assessment

The assessment provides valuable information about:

• neuropsychophysiological status,
• potential diseases and health disorders,
• cardiovascular risk factors.

Who Is This Assessment For?

• Young people engaged in intellectual or sedentary work;
• Older adults with comorbidities.