title: Persistence of neuropsychologic deficits in the remitted state of late-life depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive impairment in late-life depression (LLD) is prevalent, disabling, and persists despite the remission of depressive symptoms. This article characterizes neuropsychologic functioning during remission in LLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors examined longitudinal performance on a comprehensive neuropsychologic battery in 56 nondemented subjects age 60 or older who initially presented with an episode of nonpsychotic unipolar major depression and 40 nondemented, age- and education-equated comparison subjects with no history of depression. Subjects were assessed at baseline (in a depressed state) and one year later (when remitted).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After one year, 45% of the LLD subjects were cognitively impaired despite remission of depression. Visuospatial ability, information-processing speed, and delayed memory were most frequently impaired; 94% of the patients who were impaired at baseline remained impaired one year later. Twenty-three percent of the patients who were cognitively normal while depressed developed impairment one year later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most older individuals who are cognitively impaired during a depressive episode remain impaired when their depression remits. In addition, a substantial proportion of older depressed individuals who are cognitively intact when depressed are likely to be impaired one year later, although their depression has remitted.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Rishi K
authors: RK
authors: Bhalla
authors: Meryl A
authors: MA
authors: Butters
authors: Benoit H
authors: BH
authors: Mulsant
authors: Amy E
authors: AE
authors: Begley
authors: Michelle D
authors: MD
authors: Zmuda
authors: Beth
authors: B
authors: Schoderbek
authors: Bruce G
authors: BG
authors: Pollock
authors: Charles F
authors: CF
authors: Reynolds
authors: James T
authors: JT
authors: Becker