Psychomotor retardation in elderly depressed patients.
BACKGROUND
The results of previous studies on psychomotor retardation (PR) in elderly depressed patients are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was (1) to try and establish whether elderly depressed patients show PR, and (2) if so, which process (cognitive/motor or both) is mainly slowed?


METHODS
Twelve elderly depressed patients and healthy controls (age: 70) were compared on figure copying tasks in which the cognitive task difficulty was manipulated.


RESULTS
Both initiation time (IT) and movement time (MT) were prolonged in the patient group. The effects of the cognitive manipulations were not larger in the patient group.


CONCLUSIONS
The sample size was small. Furthermore, patients were not medication free.


CONCLUSIONS
A cognitive and a more pronounced motor retardation was found. Clinicians should be aware of this at least additive effect of aging and depression on PR in elderly patients.
Pier
M P B I
MP
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre, Reinier Postlaan 10, Nijmegen 6525 GC, The Netherlands. m.pier@psy.umcn.nl
Hulstijn
W
W
Sabbe
B G C
BG
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011930:Reaction Time; D012016:Reference Values