title: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors Improve Cognitive Function in Partial Responders Depressed Patients: Results from a Prospective Observational Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Major Depressive disorder (MDD) is often accompanied by cognitive deficits, involving attention, learning, memory and executive functioning. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) show efficacy on affective symptoms, but it is unclear whether or not they improve cognitive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a 12 week-prospective observational study in two cohorts of recurrent moderate-severe partial responder MDD patients, to test the hypothesis that SSRIs and/or SNRIs may affect cognitive symptoms and assess whether or not such an effect was correlated to their effect on affective symptoms. All patients underwent cognitive and neuropsychiatric assessment at baseline, 4- and 12-week follow-up. Thirty-three patients in the SSRI- and sixteen patients in the SNRI-cohort completed the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both SSRIs and SNRIs reduced affective symptoms and improved global cognitive function. Both SSRIs and SNRIs improved executive function and verbal memory. Global cognitive function, verbal memory and executive function improved both in full and partial responder patients. Finally, there was no correlation between baseline Mini Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Frontal Assessment Battery scores and the mean change in Hamilton Psychiatric Rating scale for Depression or Beck Depression Inventory at the end of the 12 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present data show that SSRIs and SNRIs improve cognitive symptoms in MDD independently from their efficacy on affective symptoms. Affective and cognitive symptoms may represent distinct psychopathological dimensions of MDD with different response to antidepressant drugs.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventimiglia
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salomone
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventimiglia
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Vivo
authors.forename: Maria Salvina
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Signorelli
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellelli
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santagati
authors.forename: Rita Anna
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cantarella
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aguglia
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Nuovo
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy. filippo.caraci@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caraci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068760:Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000068760:Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors