ArticleEuropean journal of pain (London, England)2026
Sustained Attention Instability as a Cognitive Biomarker in Chronic Spine Pain: A 90-second Visual Attention Test.
Article in European journal of pain (London, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Cognitive Changes in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Cognitive Assessments in Decision-Making Matters.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
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15 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundChronic spine pain is linked to self-reported cognitive complaints. However, objective markers are lacking. The 90-s Continuous Visual Attention Test (CVAT) quantifies key attention subdomains: reaction time (RT, alertness), RT variability (VRT, sustained attention), omission errors (focused attention) and commission errors (impulsivity).
objectiveThis study aimed to identify which specific attentional subdomains, measured by the CVAT, are impaired in adults with chronic spine pain.
methodsThis prospective case-control study included 84 adults with chronic lumbar/cervical pain (≥ 3 months) and 118 healthy controls. A MANCOVA tested group differences on CVAT variables, controlling for age and sex, followed by Bonferroni-corrected ANCOVAs. To isolate cognitive variability from general processing speed, the coefficient of variability (VRT/RT) was also analysed. Logistic regression assessed the predictive power of CVAT indices for pain status.
resultsThe MANCOVA showed a significant group effect (Pillai's Trace = 0.46, F(4,195) = 41.43, p < 0.001). Patients exhibited impairments in all measures p < 0.001 (η
conclusionsPatients with chronic spine pain demonstrate attentional deficits, with sustained attention instability (VRT and VRT/RT) as the most robust marker. The CVAT detects this impairment, offering a practical tool for clinical assessment to inform treatment and monitor cognitive function in pain management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III (prospective case-control). SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: A brief, 90-s computerized attention test provides an objective, clinic-ready screen for sustained-attention instability in spine pain patients. Identifying cognitive vulnerability at the point of care can inform perioperative counselling, driving/work-safety guidance and rehabilitation planning, and it may help monitor treatment response alongside pain metrics, offering a noninvasive, nonpharmacologic complement to standard pain assessment.
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