Comparative study of cognitive impairment between medicated and medication-free patients with remitted major depression: class-specific influence by tricyclic antidepressants and newer antidepressants.
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are known to present with cognitive deficits; however, the presence of these deficits in the remitted state have been inconsistent. One of the most important factors potentially contributing to inconsistencies between studies may be the influence of medications. To explore the influence of antidepressants on cognitive performance in remitted MDD, we evaluated memory and executive functions using Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised and Stroop Color and Word Test, and compared performance among 50 medicated (29 treated with tricyclic antidepressants [TCA], 21 treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors) and 19 medication-free MDD patients and 31 controls. The results showed that all 3 MDD groups had significantly lower performance for verbal memory compared with controls. Both medicated groups showed significantly lower performance for visual memory compared with controls; however, the medication-free group did not differ from controls. For the executive function, only the TCA group showed a significantly lower performance compared with controls. These results suggest that cognitive impairment remained even in remitted patients with MDD, however, part of this impairment may be influenced by class-specific antidepressant side effects.
Juntendo University Mood Disorder Project (JUMP), Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan; Shumeikai Minami-saitama Hospital, Saitama, Japan; Shumeikai Izumi Clinic, Saitama, Japan.
Akiko
A
Nagane
Juntendo University Mood Disorder Project (JUMP), Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: hbaba@juntendo.ac.jp.
Hajime
H
Baba
Juntendo University Mood Disorder Project (JUMP), Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshiyuki
Y
Nakano
Juntendo University Mood Disorder Project (JUMP), Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Hitoshi
H
Maeshima
Shumeikai Izumi Clinic, Saitama, Japan.
Mana
M
Hukatsu
Juntendo University Mood Disorder Project (JUMP), Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan.
Kazuhiro
K
Ozawa
Juntendo University Mood Disorder Project (JUMP), Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Toshihito
T
Suzuki
Juntendo University Mood Disorder Project (JUMP), Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Heii
H
Arai
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Antidepressant; Cognition; Depression; Executive function; Medication; Memory; Remission