title: Cognitive functioning in depression: a review of theory and research.
abstract: This paper reviews recent research into cognitive functioning in depression, with particular reference to the theories of Lewinsohn, Beck, Seligman and Klein. The major cognitive changes in depression are a decrease in the ability to maintain concentration and effort, and an increase in the relative salience of aversive events and memories, with a corresponding decrease in the salience of pleasant events. There is as yet little evidence to support the view that depressions arise out of pre-existing depressive attitudes. Attention is drawn to the heterogeneity of depressive disorders, and the significance of the endogenous/non-endogenous distinction is discussed.
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D006380:Helplessness, Learned / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D011939:Mental Recall; D009042:Motivation; D010990:Pleasure-Pain Principle; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011930:Reaction Time; D012106:Research; D012649:Self Concept; D012718:Set, Psychology