title: Sertraline improves executive function in patients with vascular cognitive impairment.
abstract: The authors reviewed 35 open-label sertraline trials for executive impairment in ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Outcomes included clock-drawing, the Executive Interview (EXIT25), the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Mini-Mental State Examination. Clinically "meaningful" improvement was defined as a >3.0 EXIT25 point decline from baseline. "Remission" was defined as the achievement of an EXIT25 score <15/50. Only EXIT25 scores improved significantly. Twenty patients (57.1%) experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in executive control function. Twelve (34.3%) achieved remission. Our findings suggest that sertraline may have both statistical and clinically meaningful effects on executive control function in ischemic cerebrovascular disease. The authors discuss the implications for future clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. royall@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Royall
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cordes
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Román
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velez
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schillerstrom
authors.forename: Marsha J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Polk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D056687:Off-Label Use; D018579:Patient Selection; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D020280:Sertraline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline