Cognitive tolerability following successful long term treatment of major depression and anxiety disorders with SSRi antidepressants.
Abstract
Background The present study aims to evaluate cognitive tolerability profile of SSRIs in long-term treatment. The secondary aim is to explore differences of side effects profile between patients with major depression (MD) and anxiety disorders (AD).Methods Sixty-seven consecutive patients, successfully treated with SSRIs in monotherapy for at least six months for MD or AD, were assessed for side effects, with a special focus on cognition.Results Over 20% of MD and AD patients in long term treatment with SSRIs reported cognitive symptoms including fatigue, inattentiveness, lack of concentration, memory impairment and apathy. Recall memory impairment, attention deficit and somnolence were most frequently rated as moderate or severe. There were no significant differences in SSRI cognitive side effects profile between MD and AD patients.Limitations Subjective measure of cognitive functioning, limited sample size, lack of a control group.Conclusions A large proportion of depressed and anxious patients treated successfully with SSRIs for over six months reported cognitive, affective, motivational symptoms. These symptoms are likely to represent SSRI side effects rather than residual depressive symptomatology.
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Long-term antidepressant treatment (generally lasting more than 6 months) can have a detrimental impact on executive function, memory, attention, and motivation in patients with MDD.
“Some studies have suggested that long-term antidepressant treatment (generally lasting more than 6 months) can have a detrimental impact on executive function, memory, attention, and motivation in patients with MDD (Fava et al., 2006; Popovic et al., 2015; Bortolato et al., 2016).”
From Aerobic Exercise as a Tool to Improve Hippocampal Plasticity and Function in Humans: Practical Implications for Mental Health Treatment (2016) · cites this paper as Popovic et al., 2015
There is currently a distinct lack of longitudinal studies that systematically evaluate the impact of long-term treatment with widely used antidepressants like SSRIs on brain and behavior.
“There is currently a distinct lack of longitudinal studies that systematically evaluate the impact of long-term treatment with widely used antidepressants like SSRI’s on brain and behavior (Popovic et al., 2015).”
From Aerobic Exercise as a Tool to Improve Hippocampal Plasticity and Function in Humans: Practical Implications for Mental Health Treatment (2016) · cites this paper as Popovic et al., 2015
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Anxiety disorders and executive functions: A three-level meta-analysis of reaction time and accuracyPreprint
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- Authors
- Popovic, D., Vieta, E., Fornaro, M., & Perugi, G.
- Affiliations
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (ES)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Pisa (IT)
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-03
- Volume
- 173
- Pages
- 211-215
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2166399477
- Semantic Scholar
- b81e594ab5ee5189829f59c761cd58a36b1659a3
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5
- FWCI
- 4.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (University of Pisa) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CD13/00149)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Keywords
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, cognitive side effects, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, long-term antidepressant treatment, memory impairment, attention deficits, sleepiness, fatigue, apathy, residual depressive symptoms
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Anxiety Disorders, Cognition, Major Depressive Disorder, Fatigue, Female, Humans, Male, Memory Disorders, Middle Aged, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Apathy
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