Neurocognitive Characteristics According to Depression Severity in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated associations between symptom severity and neurocognitive functions in patients with major depressive disorder using comprehensive neuropsychological tests. METHODS: Ten patients with low depression (LD) and 22 patients with high depression (HD) participated. Symptom severity was determined by both the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Additionally, anxiety was measured by the Korean version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-KYZ). Ten subtests of the Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale (K-WAIS), Stroop test, the word/design fluency tests were administered to assess cognition. RESULTS: The LD and HD groups did not differ in any of cognitive measures but anxiety level. Namely, the HD group obtained significantly higher scores on the state (U = 29.50, p < 0.01) and trait (U = 28.50, p < 0.001) anxiety scales than the LD group. A significant interaction effect between trait anxiety and depression severity was observed on the picture arrangement subtest of the K-WAIS [F (1, 27) = 5.09, p < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive deficits observed in patients with major depressive disorder may be related to other factors rather than current symptom severity. Trait anxiety possibly moderates the effect of current symptom severity on social judgment in these patients.

Características neuropsicológicas en adolescentes infractores de la ciudad de sincelejo-sucre / Neuropsychological features in adolescent offenders the city of sincelejo-sucre

Se da a conocer en este artículo, los resultados de una investigación que tuvo como objetivo caracterizar las alteraciones neuropsicológicas en adolescentes infractores institucionalizados en un programa del Sistema de Responsabilidad Penal para Adolescentes de Sincelejo. Estos menores presentaban un rango de edad de 12 a 17. Como instrumento se utilizó un protocolo de neurociencias estandarizado en población colombiana que mide diversas funciones cognitivas. Los resultados indicaron que estos menores poseen déficit leve en procesos como velocidad del procesamiento de información, procesos viso-perceptivos, atención dirigida, dividida y lento aprendizaje. Por otro lado no mostraron alteraciones significativas en memoria, función ejecutiva y fluidez verbal; igualmente tampoco se observaron características predominantes hacia el consumo de drogas y alcohol; pero sí mostraron porcentajes significativos hacia la deserción escolar y el ocio.

This paper reports the results of an investigation aimed to characterize the neuropsychological disorders in institutionalized adolescent offenders in a program of Criminal Responsibility System for Adolescents of Sincelejo. These children had an age range of 12-17. Instrument as a standardized protocol neuroscience Colombian population that measure diversus cognitive functions was used. The results indicated that these children have mild deficits in processes such as information processing speed, visual-perceptual processes, directed attention, divided and slow learners. On the other hand showed no significant alterations in memory, executive function and verbal fluency; likewise also predominant features were observed towards the consumption of drugs and alcohol; but showed significant percentages to dropout and leisure.

Neurocognitive Functions in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

OBJECTIVE: The differences of various neurocognitive functions, including attention, memory, motor function, and higher cognitive function were compared between PTSD patients and normal control subjects. Also, correlation with PTSD symptom severity and neurocognitive functions were evaluated between PTSD patients and normal control subjects. METHOD: We assessed the neurocognitive functions by computerized neurocognitive test(CNT) batteries. The visual continuous performance test(CPT) and digit span test, finger tapping test and Wisconsin card sorting test(WCST) were executed. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised(IES-R) was used in the evaluation of the severity of PTSD. RESULT: The PTSD patients showed significantly impaired neurocognitive performance in all of the items, compared with normal control subjects. The relation between impairment in neurocognitive functions and symptom severity showed significant correlations. CONCLUSION: These results imply that PTSD patients have impaired neurocognitive functions concerning with specific brain areas, especially the frontal area. For the thorough evaluation of further neurocognitive functions, more detailed evaluation items of neurocognitive functions and brain imaging studies are necessary in the future study.

The Comparison of the Neurocognitive Functions between Dysthymic Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder

Neurocognitive research focusing on cognitive deficits in Depression has resulted in several important but yet potentially contradictory findings. Much literature documents the presence of significant neurocognitive impairments in depressive patients. Studies have shown that dysthymic disorder patients demonstrate a diffuse pattern of cognitive impairment which is frequently indistinguishable from that of focal braindamaged patients. Some reports have suggested that there is a focal pattern of deficit, such as anterior cingulate dysfunction, frontal lobe impairment, or dysfunction of the temporal-limbic cortex. The aim of this study is to evaluate the neurocognitive functions in dysthymic disorder patients, and to compare the functions with those of major depressive disorder patients. The subjects are 17 dysthymic disorder patients. And their neurocognitive functions are compared with those of 23 major depressive episode patients. Patients with a history of neurologic disease, alcohol dependence, substance abuse and mental retardation are excluded. They are assessed with a part of Vienna Test System which is computerized neurocognitive function tests and can evaluate attention, eductive ability, reproductive ability, visuoperceptual analysis, vigilance, visual immediate memory, the speed of information-processing, judgement, and fine motor coordinations. There are no other specific difference between two groups, except the result of cognitrone test. This study provides information about the neurocognitive functions and some difference between major depressive disorder patients and carefully diagnosed dysthymic disorder patients.

Neurocognitive Functioning in Treatment:resistant Schizophrenics / 신경정신의학

Neurocognitive research focusing on cognitive deficits in schizophrenia resulted in several important yet potentially contradictory findings. Studies have shown that chronic patients have a diffuse pattern of cognitive impairment which is frequently indistinguishable from that of focal brain-damaged patients. Some reports have suggested that there is a focal pattern of deficit, such as left hemisphere dysfunction, frontal lobe impairment, or the dysfunction of the temporal-limbic cortex. The aim of this study is to evaluate neurocognitive functions in treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients. The subjects are 33 treatment-resistant schizophrenics. And their neurocognitive functions are compared with those of 37 treatment-reactive schizophrenic patients and 35 normal control subjects. Patients with a history of neurological disease, alcohol dependence, substance abuse and mental retardation are excluded. The diagnosis of specific subtypes are made after a review of all available information including medical records, historical data from informants, and by the confirmation of 2 board-certified psychiatrists. To control potential neurocognitive effects of medications, all patients had drug-free period of 1 week. The following tests are administered to each subjects; Mini Mental State Examination-Korean(MMSE- K), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS), Clinical Global Impression(CGI), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), and Neurological Rating Scale for Extrapyramidal Symptoms(EPS scale). And they are assessed with a part of Vienna Test System which is computerized neurocognitive function tests which evaluate attention, eductive ability, reproductive ability, visuoperceptual analysis, vigilance, visual immediate memory, the speed of information-processing, judgement, and fine motor coordinations. The results indicated that treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients have deficits in eductive ability, visuoperceptual analysis, sustained attention, information-processing, reaction time and motor coordination. The study provides useful information about neurocognitive functions of carefully diagnosed subgroups of chronic schizophrenic pateints, especially treatment-resistant patients.