Attention and executive functions in remitted major depression patients.
BACKGROUND
Although deficits in attention and executive functions in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are well confirmed [Veiel, H.O.F., 1997. A preliminary profile of neuropsychological deficits associated with major depression. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology 19, 587-603.]. The database regarding the relationship between impairments and the duration of disease or the number of episodes is inconsistent. Furthermore, the role of long-term cognitive impairments in MDD during remitted state is not well understood [Elliott, R., 2002. The neuropsychological profile in primary depression. Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 273-293.]. There is consequently a lack of studies accounting for different courses of illness in the euthymic state and considering the influence of possible attentional deficits on executive performance.


METHODS
40 euthymic patients with MDD diagnosis according to DSM-IV (20 patients with 1-2 episodes and 20 severe depressives with at least three episodes) as well as 20 healthy controls matched for education and age were administered three tests for attention (attentional shift, Stroop task, sustained attention) and three for executive functions (BADS, word fluency, memory span). The methods selected were theory based with regard to an involvement of frontal-subcortical networks in MDD, attention, and executive functions, respectively.


RESULTS
Euthymic patients with MDD showed deficits in all tests related to attentional and executive functions compared to healthy controls. The patient groups did not differ with regard to attentional performance. Executive functions in severe depressives were more impaired than in mild depressives.


CONCLUSIONS
Differing performances of the patient groups in the subtests of the executive test battery (BADS) can only be interpreted to a limited extent.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the assumption that deficits in attention and executive functions in MDD show an increase in trait character and executive function during chronic course. Implications for differential diagnosis and cognitive psychotherapy are discussed.
Paelecke-Habermann
Yvonne
Y
Department of Psychology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06114, Germany. y.paelecke-habermann@psych.uni-halle.de
Pohl
Johannes
J
Leplow
Bernd
B
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents