title: The neural network basis for abnormalities of attention and executive function in major depressive disorder: implications for application of the medical disease model to psychiatric disorders.
abstract: The deficits in attention and executive function characteristic of major depressive disorder (MDD) are reviewed. The networks underlying attention and executive function, the neuropsychological tests commonly used to evaluate these domains, and the neuroanatomy of MDD are also discussed. A neural network approach to the attentional and executive function deficits of MDD has ramifications for hypothesis-guided research, the cognitive model of depression, and application of the medical disease model to psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Neuroscience Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Mass 02129, USA. ottowitz@psych.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Ottowitz
authors.forename: Darin D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: Cary R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*