Similarities and differences in memory deficits in patients with primary dementia and depression-related cognitive dysfunction.
The authors examined differences between the verbal memory performance of older patients with major depression (MD) alone; major depression with reversible depression-related cognitive dysfunction (MD/DRCD); and primary dementia and major depression (DEM/MD). Patients were evaluated before antidepressant treatment and 6 and 15 months after treatment. Of the three groups, patients with MD alone acquired significantly more information on the California Verbal Learning Test and showed a more pronounced primacy effect. Patients with DEM/MD were more likely to commit errors of intrusion. Although older depressed patients with MD/DRCD may resemble patients with DEM/MD on some aspects of verbal memory performance, differences may be observed in the types of learning errors they commit. Diagnostic implications are discussed.
Hill
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CD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Stoudemire
A
A
Morris
R
R
Martino-Saltzman
D
D
Markwalter
H R
HR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D014705:Verbal Behavior