Brain fog in chronic pain: A concept analysis of social media postings

Abstract Introduction Brain fog is an experiential phenomenon, often described by persons with chronic pain. The term “brain fog” emerged from discussions among persons with lived experiences (PWLE) and clinicians. Despite several patient-guided sources describing the profound impact of this experience, its legitimacy remains debated in the medical literature. Methods To explore the public understanding of this phenomenon, we performed a concept analysis of text-based postings on two popular social media platforms. Results were examined using descriptive content analysis. Findings A total of 247 social media posts were identified. Posts were primarily written by PWLE. Brain fog was described as a fluctuating experience, with some participants feeling cloudiness, mental heaviness, or dissociation. The antecedents of brain fog could be attributed to pain, cognitive overload, environmental factors, or random occurrences. Brain fog could cause cognitive (e.g., thinking and remembering) and bodily (e.g., exhaustion and emotional challenges) impacts that affect meaningful participation and perception of self. Challenges to managing symptoms included not knowing where to start, misleading information, or not feeling comfortable discussing brain fog with others. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate the (1) impacts of brain fog on the well-being and perception of self in PWLE and (2) importance of bridging a possible disconnect between clinicians and PWLE of chronic pain.