[Do cognitive deficits in depressive disorders remit?].
OBJECTIVE
The importance of cognitive deficits concerning schizophrenics is well-known. Much less material of that kind has been collected from patients with affective disorders, which was the aim of this clinical study.


METHODS
Inclusion criterions were in- and outpatients with affective disorders (ICD-10: F31-F33) aged < 61. The clinical status was determined by use of the HAMD-21, the subjects were examined by means of standardised computerised cognitive performance tests (CGT-[M], DAUF). The results were correlated with the HAMD and the psychiatric pharmacotherapy.


RESULTS
In each of the three subtests the heavily depressive group (HAMD > 24, n = 14) came off significantly (Mann-Whitney-U-Test, p < 0.05) worse than the remitted group (HAMD < or = 8, n = 18) while 8 of the 18 remitted patients showed pathological results in the CGT-(M). Only patients who took tranquilizers performed significantly worse than patients without such medication (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In some cases of affective disorders, a "cognitive residual syndrome" persists which is rather part of the disease than pharmacotherapy-associated.
Frasch
K
K
Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg.
Bretschneider
S
S
Bullacher
C
C
Hess
R
R
Wittek
R
R
Neumann
N U
NU
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents