PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING OF CEREBRAL MALARIA PATIENTS

Abstract

The performance of nine patients with cerebral malaria on a battery of psychological tests, administered while they were ill and again when they recovered, was contrasted with the performance (while ill and recovered) of a matched group of nine patients with malaria alone. Results indicated that the cerebral malaria patients while ill suffered characteristic impairments in several aspects of cognition (e.g., in recent memory, visual motor functioning and psychomotor speed) suggestive of organic dysfunctioning, which were not present in patients with malaria alone. Upon recovery, no measurable organic residual was found.