Effects of pharmacological therapy on gait and cognitive function in depressed patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship among affective status, cognitive function, and gait in depressed patients and to evaluate the effects of treatment of depression on gait and cognitive function.


METHODS
Nineteen patients recently diagnosed with clinical depression (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria) were recruited from a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Evaluation included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Mini-Mental State Examination, a computerized neuropsychological battery (Mindstreams, NeuroTrax Corp, New York, NY), and Barthel's Index of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Temporal parameters of gait were quantified using a stopwatch and force-sensitive insoles. All assessments were performed at baseline and after approximately 10 weeks of treatment with antidepressants.


RESULTS
The patients' mean age was 68.6 +/- 9.1 years (15 women). Therapy significantly (P < 0.001) improved the affective state (HAM-D scores). There were small but significant improvements in gait speed (P = 0.033), stride time variability (P = 0.036), and gait asymmetry (P = 0.038). With the exception of the hand-eye coordination index, all tested cognitive domains also improved significantly. Baseline depression scores correlated with changes in depression: patients with higher HAM-D scores at baseline had more significant improvement in their affect (P < 0.001). Changes in HAM-D were not significantly correlated with changes in gait or changes on computerized tests of cognitive function (P > 0.10).


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms are associated with gait and cognitive impairment. Moreover, the present results suggest that these domains improve in response to antidepressant medication.
Paleacu
Diana
D
Neurology Service and Memory Clinic, Abarbanel Mental Health Center, Bat-Yam, Israel. paleacu@post.tau.ac.il
Shutzman
Agatha
A
Giladi
Nir
N
Herman
Talia
T
Simon
Ely S
ES
Hausdorff
Jeffrey M
JM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents