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Most of the available evidence on neuropsychological functioning in anxiety disorders is based on clinical samples, investigating persons affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder. Knowledge is sparse regarding cognitive functions in other types of anxiety disorders. The aim of this study was to examine whether persons diagnosed with an anxiety disorder show neuropsychological impairments relative to healthy controls in tasks tapping episodic memory, verbal fluency, psychomotor speed, and executive functioning. Population-based samples comprising individuals affected by panic disorder with and without agoraphobia or agoraphobia (n=33), social phobia (n=32), generalised anxiety disorder (n=7), obsessive-compulsive disorder (n=16), and specific phobia (n=24) were compared with healthy controls (n=175) in test performance. Overall, the total anxiety disorder group exhibited significant impairments in episodic memory and executive functioning. Separate analyses on the respective anxiety subgroup indicated that panic disorder with and without agoraphobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder were related to impairments in both episodic memory and executive functioning. In addition, social phobia was associated with episodic memory dysfunction. Verbal fluency and psychomotor speed were not affected by anxiety. Specific phobia and generalised anxiety disorder did not affect neuropsychological functioning.

The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was developed in the USA. The adequacy of its use in Uganda to guarantee its reliability and validity has not been ascertained.Thus the aim of the present study was to adapt the MSPSS scale by testing the validity and reliability of the scale in a Ugandan setting.A cross-sectional design was employed and 240 respondents were consecutively recruited from postnatal clinics in Mulago hospital. Analysis of reliability and validity of the adapted MSPSS was done. Cronbach alpha and principal component analyses were respectively generated.Three subscales of the MSPSS that had been identified in other populations were evident in the Ugandan population. Using the Cronbach's alpha, the MSPSS demonstrated good internal consistency at .83. A dendrogram indicated that all sub items of the MSPSS were inter-linked. Exploratory Factor analysis derived three components. Principal Component analysis using rotated varimax generated high loadings on all subscales.The adapted MSPSS can reliably be used in Uganda.

To examine low episodic memory scores as a potential risk factor for depression.A population-based sample of non-depressed individuals (20-64 years) were re-examined 3 years after an initial screening (n = 708). At baseline, information on episodic memory scores, demographic and socioeconomic factors, alcohol use and anxiety diagnoses was collected. The data for depression diagnoses were collected at both baseline and follow-up.Logistic regressions, conducted on three separate study groups that were defined according to three assessments of episodic memory (i.e. free + cued recall, free recall, cued recall) among individuals who scored in the 25 lowest or highest percentiles in the memory tests, revealed that low episodic memory performance defined as the sum of free and cued recalls of organizable words constitutes a risk of depression diagnosis 3 years later.Low episodic memory performance predated depressive diagnosis and might be considered as a premorbid marker of depression.

This study prospectively examined cognitive and social functioning in recovery from depression using participants sampled from the general population.Seventy-six depressed persons fulfilling (n=41) and not fulfilling (n=35) the criteria for DSM-IV depression at a three-year follow-up were compared with respect to episodic memory performance and social functioning at baseline (T1), at follow-up (T2) and change across time.The groups did not differ in episodic memory performance either at T1, T2 or in residual change. However, the groups differed in social functioning at T2 and in residual change indicating improved social functioning in the recovered group.The absence of a healthy control group at follow-up.Despite the symptomatic improvement and improved social functioning, cognitive functioning does not follow this general recovery trend, at least not in the three-year interval examined.

Background. Most of the available evidence on the effects of depression is based on in- and out-patient samples focusing on individuals suffering from major depression. The aims of this study were to examine cognitive functioning in population-based samples and to determine whether cognitive performance varies as a function of depression subgroup.Method. Population-based samples (aged 20–64 years) with major depression (N=68), dysthymia (N=28), mixed anxiety-depressive disorder (N=25) and minor depression (N=66) were examined on a variety of cognitive tasks (i.e. episodic memory, verbal fluency, perceptual-motor speed and mental flexibility). One hundred and seventy-five non-depressed individuals served as controls.Results. The total group of depressed individuals showed impairments in tasks tapping episodic memory and mental flexibility. Of more interest, however, was the observation that the pattern of impairments varied as a function of depression subgroup: the major depression and mixed anxiety-depressive disorder groups exhibited significant memory dysfunction, whereas individuals with dysthymia showed pronounced difficulties in mental flexibility. Minor depression did not affect cognitive performance. Verbal fluency and perceptual-motor speed were not affected by depression.Conclusions. These results indicate that persons with depressive disorders in the population exhibit cognitive impairments in tasks tapping episodic memory and mental flexibility and that cognitive impairment varies as a function of depressive disorder.