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Impaired declarative memory in depressed patients is slow to recover: clinical experience.

Authors :
Deuschle M
Kniest A
Niemann H
Erb-Bies M
Colla N
Hamann B
Heuser I
Source :
Pharmacopsychiatry [Pharmacopsychiatry] 2004 Jul; Vol. 37 (4), pp. 147-51.
Publication Year :
2004

Abstract

Introduction: The temporal course of recovery of depressed patients' cognitive impairment is not fully understood.<br />Methods: We used the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) to test declarative memory in 24 depressed patients before and after 35 days of antidepressive treatment as well as after long-term follow-up (> 12 months) in order to relate improvement of depression to recovery of cognitive impairment.<br />Results: Patients with complete remission after 35 days had generally been less impaired at baseline. The disturbance of declarative memory in treatment responders as well as in non-responders did not change from baseline to end of treatment (day 35). However, our results revealed normal values in the CVLT sum score as well as in measures of short- and long-delay free-recall measures in both groups after long-term full remission.<br />Discussion: We conclude that clinical response to antidepressive treatment precedes improvement of declarative memory. A low degree of impairment of declarative memory is associated with early complete remission of depression.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0176-3679
Volume :
37
Issue :
4
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Pharmacopsychiatry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
15467969
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-827168