Inflammatory cytokines, cognition, and response to antidepressant treatment in patients with major depressive disorder.

• MDD patients with different treatment responses have different cytokine MPO expression and cognitive defects, especially in attention, speed of processing, and executive function. • Cognitive function in learning and memory is reported to be negatively associated with inflammatory cytokine IL-18. • Performance of speed of processing and executive function in MDD may be more relevant with the clinical state. • Performance in CPT and SCT may be of significance in suggesting the treatment response in MDD. Inflammation and cognition are related to major depressive disorder (MDD), but the role in treatment response remains unclear. In this study, we investigated correlation between inflammatory cytokines and cognition in MDD patients treated with antidepressant medication. The participants were 149 MDD patients. Cytokines before therapy, cognitive assessments and severity of depression before and after therapy were tested. Logistic regression was used to explore underlying risks treatment response. There were significant differences in smoking, alcohol drinking, and Stroop Color Test(SCT), Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT), and Continuous Performance Test(CPT) scores between response group (RG) and non-response group (NRG) at baseline. Performance of patients in RG improved more in Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), Color Trial Test-I (CTT-I), SCT and SCWT after treatment. Levels of baseline IL-18 were associated with baseline learning and memory, and executive function. Treatment response was associated with drinking, performance of CPT and SCT. MDD patients with different treatment responses have different cognitive defects, especially in speed of processing and executive function. Expression of cytokines is associated with cognition and may influence treatment response. Better speed of processing and executive function, and poorer attention at baseline may respond better to antidepressant treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]