ObjectiveTo explore the differences of
cognitive function in
patients with
treatment-resistant
depression and
drug-naive first-episode
major depressive disorder, and to examine the relationship between severity of clinical symptoms and
cognitive function, so as to provide references for
prognosis improvement. MethodsFrom November 2016 to December 2019, 119
patients with
drug-naive first-episode
major depressive disorder and 82
patients with
treatment-resistant
depression in a
hospital in Guangzhou were enrolled, meantime, another 71 healthy individuals recruited from the
community were set as healthy
control group. Clinical symptoms were assessed using Hamilton
Depression Scale-17 item (HAMD-17) and Hamilton
Anxiety Scale (HAMA). Cognitive domains, including speed of processing,
working memory,
verbal learning and
memory, and visual
learning and
memory were measured with the MATRICS
Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Multiple covariance
analysis was used to compare the differences in
cognitive function among three groups. Thereafter, partial correlation
analysis was performed within
patient groups to explore the relationship of HAMD-17/HAMA score with the four dimensions of MCCB. ResultsThe speed of processing, visual
learning and
memory scores of
treatment-resistant
depression group and
drug-naive first-episode
depression group were lower than those of healthy
control group, and the
working memory score of the
treatment-resistant
depression group was lower than that of the healthy
control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05 or 0.01). The speed of processing, visual
learning and
memory scores of
treatment-resistant
depression group were significantly lower than those of
drug-naive first-episode
depression group (P<0.05 or 0.01). Partial correlation
analysis within
patient groups found that HAMD-17/HAMA total score had no correlation with the four dimensions of MCCB (P>0.05). ConclusionCompared with
drug-naive first-episode
major depressive disorder patients and healthy controls, the impairments of speed of processing, visual
learning and
memory are more severe in
patients with
treatment-resistant
depression. Moreover, the
cognitive function impairment in
patients with
drug-naive first-episode
major depressive disorder and
treatment-resistant
depression has no correlation with the severity of depressive and anxious symptoms.