title: Executive Dysfunction Predicts Treatment Response to Neuroplasticity-Based Computerized Cognitive Remediation (nCCR-GD) in Elderly Patients with Major Depression.
abstract: Executive dysfunction (ED) is a predictor of poor treatment response of late-life depression to pharmacotherapy. In response to the consistency of these findings, we designed neuroplasticity-based computerized cognitive remediation (nCCR-GD) intervention to target and improve ED in patients who failed to remit with antidepressant treatment. This study tests the hypothesis that ED at baseline will predict favorable treatment response to nCCR-GD.
  
  
  
  11 elderly patients with treatment-resistant major depression were treated with a 30-hour, 4-week, unblinded, nCCR-GD treatment trial. Neuropsychological performance was assessed at baseline and after treatment ceased.
  
  
  
  ED at baseline was associated with greater reduction in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale score over the 4-week treatment β = -0.74, F(2,8) = 10.85, p = 0.009, R(2) = 0.55.
  
  
  
  ED predicts favorable treatment response to nCCR-GD in older adults suffering from major depression resistant to antidepressants. This finding is opposed to studies testing pharmacotherapy where ED predicts poorer treatment response.
authors: Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY. Electronic address: ssm9006@med.cornell.edu.
authors: Sarah Shizuko
authors: SS
authors: Morimoto
authors: Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY.
authors: Faith M
authors: FM
authors: Gunning
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, CT.
authors: Bruce E
authors: BE
authors: Wexler
authors: Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY.
authors: Willie
authors: W
authors: Hu
authors: Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY.
authors: Irena
authors: I
authors: Ilieva
authors: Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Jiacheng
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY.
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Nitis
authors: Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY.
authors: George S
authors: GS
authors: Alexopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000072466:Cognitive Remediation; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D061218:Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Computerized cognitive remediation; depression; executive dysfunction; geriatric; treatment resistant