Neurocognitive function following remission in major depressive disorder: potential objective marker of response?
OBJECTIVE
Neurocognitive deficits have been widely reported in patients with mood disorders. However, relatively little is known of the short-term trajectory of neurocognitive improvement once treatment has been initiated.


METHODS
A neurocognitive test battery was administered to unipolar depressed (major depressive disorder, MDD) patients (aged 18-65 years) who had been medication-free for at least 6 weeks, and to healthy controls. Patients were then treated according to clinical need, predominantly with standard pharmacotherapy, and all participants were followed up within 6 months.


RESULTS
Of the 25 MDD patients who returned at follow up, 11 were defined as remitted and 14 as not remitted. Significantly less baseline psychomotor dysfunction was observed in patients who remitted compared to those who did not (effect size, d =0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) =0.07-1.44). Analysis of the change scores between assessments revealed a significantly greater improvement in verbal memory in patients who remitted compared to those who did not (d =0.73, 95%CI =0.03-1.39).


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary report suggests that there may be distinct temporal trajectories of neurocognitive improvement following remission in MDD. Aspects of neurocognitive functioning should be examined further as a means of providing a useful objective marker of treatment response.
Gallagher
Peter
P
School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Newcastle University, Leazes Wing (Psychiatry), Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK. peter.gallagher@ncl.ac.uk
Robinson
Lucy J
LJ
Gray
John M
JM
Porter
Richard J
RJ
Young
Allan H
AH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning; D011594:Psychometrics; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index