title: Sustained cognitive impairments after clinical recovery of severe depression.
abstract: Neuropsychological impairment is prominent in patients with depression, but it is unclear whether deficits persist after clinical response. This study aimed to investigate neuropsychological functions in the course of the illness. Depressive patients were investigated in the acute state and after clinical response using an extensive neuropsychological test battery. After clinical response, there was only a partial improvement in learning and memory and there were no changes regarding working memory, executive functions, and attention. Transient impairments in visual learning and memory suggest a depression-related state effect. The continuing deficits in attention, working memory, and executive function might be considered a trait marker.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospital, Lenggstrasse 31, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boeker
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikisch
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schuepbach
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grimm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests