The differential impact of depressive symptom clusters on cognition in a rural multi-ethnic cohort: a Project FRONTIER study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the differential impact of depressive symptom clusters on neuropsychological functioning in a rural-dwelling, multi-ethnic cohort.


METHODS
Data were analyzed for 184 participants (70% female, 46% Hispanic) who are part of an ongoing rural healthcare study, Project FRONTIER. Previously published factor scores of dysphoria, meaninglessness, apathy, and cognitive impairment from the GDS-30 were entered as predictor variables in linear regression models with RBANS Index raw scores as outcome variables.


RESULTS
In the total sample, Dysphoria, Meaninglessness, and Cognitive Impairment were significantly associated with Immediate Memory, Language, Attention and Delayed Memory; Dysphoria was also significantly related to Visuospatial skills. When examined by gender and ethnicity, however, the findings varied with dysphoria being most related to cognitive status among men and dysphoria, meaninglessness, and cognitive impairment being most significantly related to cognitive status among women. When examined by ethnicity, dysphoria, meaninglessness, and cognitive impairment were most strongly associated with immediate and delayed memory in Hispanics.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study of rural-dwelling adults and elders, depressive symptom clusters were differentially associated with poorer cognition with the most consistent findings being between depressive symptoms of dysphoria and meaninglessness and the cognitive domains of immediate and delayed memory.
O'Bryant
Sid E
SE
F. Marie Hall Institute for Rural & Community Health, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA. sid.obryant@ttuhsc.edu
Hall
James R
JR
Cukrowicz
Kelly C
KC
Edwards
Melissa
M
Johnson
Leigh A
LA
Lefforge
David
D
Jenkins
Marjorie
M
Dentino
Andrew
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057565:Apathy; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology