Performance feedback deficit in geriatric depression.
BACKGROUND
The orbital frontal cortex is involved with processing of performance feedback. This study tests the hypothesis that older depressed subjects, compared with elderly control subjects, commit more subsequent errors after receiving feedback from an initial error.


METHODS
We administered 116 older depressed patients and 139 control subjects the Trail Making Test Part B (TRAILS-B). Subjects who committed an error on TRAILS-B were immediately given feedback on performance. We then measured the frequency of making an error on the subsequent three tries. The likelihood of making any subsequent error was examined.


RESULTS
After controlling for the overall initial error rate, more depressed patients than control subjects made subsequent errors. This association remained significant in later regression models. When the depressed group was examined in additional models, severity of depression was not associated with increased subsequent errors.


CONCLUSIONS
These results extend previous findings suggesting a performance feedback deficit in geriatric depression. The findings support previous studies linking the orbital frontal cortex and depression.
Steffens
D C
DC
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Wagner
H R
HR
Levy
R M
RM
Horn
K A
KA
Krishnan
K R
KR
D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology