title: Melancholic versus non-melancholic depression: differences on cognitive function. A longitudinal study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive dysfunction is common among depressed patients. However, the pattern and magnitude of impairment during episodes of major depressive disorder (MDD) through to clinical remission remains unclear. Heterogeneity of depressive patients and the lack of longitudinal studies may account for contradictory results in previous research.
  
  
  METHODS
  This longitudinal study will analyze cognitive differences between CORE-defined melancholic depressed patients (n = 60) and non-melancholic depressed patients (n = 60). A comprehensive clinical and cognitive assessment will be performed at admission and after 6 months. Cognitive dysfunction in both groups will be longitudinally compared, and the persistence of cognitive impairment after clinical remission will be determined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study of neuropsychological dysfunction and the cognitive changes through the different phases of depression arise a wide variety of difficulties. Several confounding variables must be controlled to determine if the presence of depression could be considered the only factor accounting for group differences.
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigacions en Ciències de la Salut, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. saraymp46@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Saray
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monzón
authors.forename: Margalida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gili
authors.forename: Margalida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vives
authors.forename: Maria Jesus
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bauza
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Toro
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salvà
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llobera
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index