title: Italian psychiatrists' perception on cognitive symptoms in major depressive disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Differently than Schizophrenia, the investigation of cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (MDD) attracted the interest of research only recently. Therefore, it is worth understanding clinicians' perception about cognitive dysfunction in MDD and raising awareness about this issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2014 and January 2015, 128 Italian psychiatrists participated in an on-line survey aiming at understanding psychiatrists' perception about cognitive symptoms in MDD. The questionnaire comprised three sections: the first investigating psychiatrists' socio-demographic profile, the second assessing cognitive symptoms relevance without mentioning that they represented the study focus and the third explicitly investigating cognitive symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cognitive symptoms were considered as a relevant dimension of MDD and appeared among the most frequently cited residual symptoms influencing patients' work and relapse risk. About 70% of psychiatrists declared that cognitive symptoms significantly influence antidepressant choice. However, in the second questionnaire section cognitive symptoms appeared less frequently considered for antidepressant choice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results revealed a clear understanding of cognitive symptoms relevance in MDD. Nevertheless, the discrepancy between psychiatrists' perception and their therapeutical choices underlines the presence of an unmet-need that should be addressed increasing the awareness about the positive effects on cognitive symptoms of existing drugs, which could allow a more symptom-oriented therapeutical intervention. Key points Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder often associated with deficits in cognitive function. Psychiatrists considered cognitive symptoms among the most relevant residual symptoms in MDD patients that compromise patients working and influence the relapse risk. The importance given to residual cognitive symptoms seemed not to be reflected by psychiatrists' therapeutical choice. There is a gap between what psychiatrists know and what psychiatrists apply to their clinical practice reflecting the feeling of a therapeutical unmet need.
authors.affiliation: a Mood and Anxiety Disorders Unit, Rita Levi Montalcini Department of Neuroscience , University of Turin , Turin , Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: b Ne.S.M.O.S. Department , Sapienza University of Rome - Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brugnoli
authors.affiliation: c Department of Drug Sciences (DSF) , University of Catania , Catania , Italy.|d IRCCS Associazione Oasi Maria S.S., Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging , Troina , Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caraci
authors.affiliation: e Department of Medical-Surgical Pathophysiology and Transplant , University of Milan - Ospedale Policlinico , Milan , Italy.|f Bipolar Disorders Clinic, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University , Stanford , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dell'Osso
authors.affiliation: g Department of Psychiatry , Policlinico Hospital Bari , Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Sciascio
authors.affiliation: h Department of Mental Health , University of Naples , SUN, Caserta , Italy.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tortorella
authors.affiliation: i Department of Mental Health , Ospedale Civile Maggiore , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vampini
authors.affiliation: j IMS Health Information Solutions Medical Research srl , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Nazarena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cataldo
authors.affiliation: j IMS Health Information Solutions Medical Research srl , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pegoraro
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011570:Psychiatry; D012008:Recurrence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Brintellix; Major depressive disorder; Vortioxetine; cognitive symptoms; psychiatrists’ perception