Effects of symptom reduction and psychotropic medication on cognitive impairment in depression.
BACKGROUND
Depression is related to cognitive performance. This follow-up study examines the influence of depression symptoms and psychopharmacological treatment on change in the cognitive performance of patients with depressive episodes over a 2-year period.


METHODS
Sixty-two in- and outpatients with depression of varying severity (ICD-10: F31-F33) were examined in an open prospective naturalistic observational study with 3 points of measurement and tested by use of 3 computerized cognitive performance tests [Visual Attentiveness Test (VAT), Continuous Attention Test (CAT), Word Recognition Test (WRT)], while the psychotropic medication was classified by subclass and dosage. Statistical analysis was performed by random-effects regression models.


RESULTS
The raw values of VAT speed, CAT speed and WRT quality improved over time. However, the positive time trend disappeared after the patients' clinical and personal characteristics were controlled for. The processing speed of the VAT was found to be negatively influenced by depressive symptoms. That of the CAT developed favorably with increasing level of education. The performance qualities of the VAT, WRT and CAT were positively related to the participants' educational level. The patients who received antipsychotic treatment performed worse on WRT quality than those who were not treated with antipsychotics.


CONCLUSIONS
The cognitive performance was relatively stable during the treatment process and not affected by clinical characteristics or type of medication. Cognitive deficits in patients with depression could be a trait rather than a state marker.
Frasch
K
K
Department of Psychiatry II, University of Ulm, Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg, Günzburg, Germany. karel.frasch@bkh-guenzburg.de
Bullacher
C
C
Jäger
M
M
Kilian
R
R
Rink
M
M
Wittek
R
R
Becker
T
T
Neumann
N U
NU
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs