title: Modafinil Improves Episodic Memory and Working Memory Cognition in Patients With Remitted Depression: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive dysfunction is a core feature of depression and tends to persist even after mood symptoms recover, leading to detrimental effects on clinical and functional outcomes. However, most currently available treatments have not typically addressed cognition. Modafinil has been shown to have beneficial effects on cognitive function and therefore has the potential to improve cognition in depression. The objective of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to investigate the effects of modafinil on cognitive functions in patients with remitted depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 60 patients with remitted depression participated in the study. Cognitive functions were evaluated with tests of working memory, planning, attention, and episodic memory from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery at the baseline session and after treatment. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel groups design was used to assess the effects of single-dose (200 mg) modafinil (n= 30) or placebo (n= 30) on cognition and fatigue. The main outcome measures were neurocognitive test scores from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Visual analogue scales for subjective feelings and fatigue were used as secondary measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The modafinil group had significantly better performance on tests of episodic memory (p= .01, ηp2= .10) and working memory (p= .04, ηp2= .06). Modafinil did not improve planning or sustained attention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggested that modafinil (200 mg) could improve episodic memory and working memory performance in patients with remitted depression. Modafinil may have potential as a therapeutic agent to help remitted depressed patients with persistent cognitive difficulties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge; Department of Psychiatry (MK), Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaser
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Julia B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Deakin
authors.affiliation: Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.affiliation: Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich.
authors.forename: Camilo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Essex, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rachna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Cognition, Cambridge.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cormack
authors.affiliation: Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge; MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge.
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge.
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sahakian
keywords: Cognition; Cognitive enhancer; Depression; Memory; Modafinil; Treatment