Evaluation of cognitive impairment in patients with major depressive disorder in remission

• Published in: Middle East Current Psychiatry Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Ali, Mustafa, Fahmy, Magda, Haggag, Wafaa, El-Tantawy, Ashraf, Hassan, Haydy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 18.11.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Age; Care and treatment; Cognitive ability; Cognitive impairments; Comparative analysis; Decision-making; Diagnosis; Drug use; Executive function; Flexibility; Major depressive disorder; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Medicine, Experimental; Memory; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Patients; Psychiatry; Remission (Medicine); Sociodemographics; Substance use disorder; Wisconsin; Suez Canal; United States > US; Cognitive impairments; Major depressive disorder
• ISSN: 2090-5416; 2090-5408; 2090-5416
• DOI: 10.1186/s43045-021-00149-x

Background Cognitive symptoms are one of the core symptoms of depressive disorders with a bearing effect on functional outcomes. Cognitive symptoms, including poor concentration and difficulty making decisions, are one of the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. This study was designed to evaluate cognitive deficits in a sample of adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in remission. A cross-sectional study was done on 60 patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of MDD in remission state. In addition, 60 normal subjects with matched age, sex, and educational level were compared with the patients group. Participants in both patients and control groups were subjected to clinical assessment using Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview plus (MINI-plus), assessment of cognitive functions using Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) short form, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Results There were statistically significant differences between patients and control groups regarding cognitive function. The patients group scored less in visual memory, verbal memory, attention/concentration, and psychomotor speed. They also performed poorly regarding executive functions. But there was no statistically significant difference between the patients and control groups regarding sustained attention and visuospatial function. No significant correlations did exist between age at onset of MDD and the duration of illness with different domains of cognitive function except for figural memory of WMS-R and categories completed of Wisconsin card sorting test. Conclusion Patients with MDD in remission experienced deficits in several cognitive functions when compared to matched control subjects. The cognitive functions do not reach normal levels of performance, particularly in visual memory and executive functioning with remission of depressive symptoms.