title: Cognitive tolerability following successful long term treatment of major depression and anxiety disorders with SSRi antidepressants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aims to evaluate cognitive tolerability profile of SSRIs in long-term treatment. The secondary aim is to explore differences of side effects profile between patients with major depression (MD) and anxiety disorders (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven consecutive patients, successfully treated with SSRIs in monotherapy for at least six months for MD or AD, were assessed for side effects, with a special focus on cognition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 20% of MD and AD patients in long term treatment with SSRIs reported cognitive symptoms including fatigue, inattentiveness, lack of concentration, memory impairment and apathy. Recall memory impairment, attention deficit and somnolence were most frequently rated as moderate or severe. There were no significant differences in SSRI cognitive side effects profile between MD and AD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjective measure of cognitive functioning, limited sample size, lack of a control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large proportion of depressed and anxious patients treated successfully with SSRIs for over six months reported cognitive, affective, motivational symptoms. These symptoms are likely to represent SSRI side effects rather than residual depressive symptomatology.
authors.affiliation: Bipolar Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, University of Barcelona, 170 Villarroel st., 08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: popovic.dina@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Popovic
authors.affiliation: Bipolar Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, University of Barcelona, 170 Villarroel st., 08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vieta
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fornaro
authors.affiliation: Clinica Psichiatrica, Dipartmento di Medicina Sperimentale, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perugi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D057565:Apathy / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: Antidepressant; Cognitive side effects; Long-term; SSRI; Tolerability