HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bhalla, R. K. Articles by Becker, J. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bhalla, R. K. Articles by Becker, J. T.

Persistence of Neuropsychologic Deficits in the Remitted State of Late-Life Depression

From the Departments of Psychiatry (RKB, MAB, BHM, AEB, MDZ, BS, BGP, CFR, JTB) and Neurology (JTB), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and the Geriatrics Research Education Clinical Center of the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System (BHM), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Objective: Cognitive impairment in late-life depression (LLD) is prevalent, disabling, and persists despite the remission of depressive symptoms. This article characterizes neuropsychologic functioning during remission in LLD.

Methods: The authors examined longitudinal performance on a comprehensive neuropsychologic battery in 56 nondemented subjects age 60 or older who initially presented with an episode of nonpsychotic unipolar major depression and 40 nondemented, age- and education-equated comparison subjects with no history of depression. Subjects were assessed at baseline (in a depressed state) and one year later (when remitted).

Results: After one year, 45% of the LLD subjects were cognitively impaired despite remission of depression. Visuospatial ability, information-processing speed, and delayed memory were most frequently impaired; 94% of the patients who were impaired at baseline remained impaired one year later. Twenty-three percent of the patients who were cognitively normal while depressed developed impairment one year later.

Conclusions: Most older individuals who are cognitively impaired during a depressive episode remain impaired when their depression remits. In addition, a substantial proportion of older depressed individuals who are cognitively intact when depressed are likely to be impaired one year later, although their depression has remitted.

Key Words: Late-life depression • cognitive impairments • remission • neuropsychology

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. C. Mantella, M. A. Butters, M. A. Dew, B. H. Mulsant, A. E. Begley, B. Tracey, M. K. Shear, C. F. Reynolds III, and E. J. Lenze Cognitive Impairment in Late-Life Generalized Anxiety Disorder Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, August 1, 2007; 15(8): 673 - 679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. W. Twamley and P. D. Harvey The Importance of Cognition in the Conceptualization of both Dementia and Severe Mental Illness in Older People. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, May 1, 2006; 14(5): 387 - 390. [Full Text] [PDF]