Comparative study of cognitive impairment between medicated and medication-free patients with remitted major depression: Class-specific influence by tricyclic antidepressants and newer antidepressants
Abstract
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are known to present with cognitive deficits; however, the presence of these deficits in the remitted state have been inconsistent. One of the most important factors potentially contributing to inconsistencies between studies may be the influence of medications. To explore the influence of antidepressants on cognitive performance in remitted MDD, we evaluated memory and executive functions using Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised and Stroop Color and Word Test, and compared performance among 50 medicated (29 treated with tricyclic antidepressants [TCA], 21 treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors) and 19 medication-free MDD patients and 31 controls. The results showed that all 3 MDD groups had significantly lower performance for verbal memory compared with controls. Both medicated groups showed significantly lower performance for visual memory compared with controls; however, the medication-free group did not differ from controls. For the executive function, only the TCA group showed a significantly lower performance compared with controls. These results suggest that cognitive impairment remained even in remitted patients with MDD, however, part of this impairment may be influenced by class-specific antidepressant side effects.
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Regarding executive function, only subjects in the tricyclic antidepressant group showed worse performance than the controls.
“Regarding executive function, only subjects in the TCA group showed worse performance than the controls.”
From Cognitive remission: a novel objective for the treatment of major depression? (2016) · cites this paper as [81]
Class-specific side effects may account, at least in part, for the long-lasting cognitive deficits observed in subjects with major depressive disorder in remission.
“Accordingly, another cross-sectional study that investigated the effects of different antidepressants on cognitive performance suggested that class-specific side effects may account, at least in part, for the long-lasting cognitive deficits observed in subjects with MDD in remission [81].”
From Cognitive remission: a novel objective for the treatment of major depression? (2016) · cites this paper as [81]
Individuals from both antidepressant groups, but not from the medication-free group, showed poorer performance in visual memory with respect to healthy controls.
“Individuals from both antidepressant groups, but not from the medication-free group, showed poorer performance in visual memory with respect to healthy controls.”
From Cognitive remission: a novel objective for the treatment of major depression? (2016) · cites this paper as [81]
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- Authors
- Nagane, A., Baba, H., Nakano, Y., Maeshima, H., Hukatsu, M., Ozawa, K., Suzuki, T., & Arai, H.
- Affiliations
- Juntendo University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Baba, Hajime
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-08
- Volume
- 218
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 101-105
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2033708300
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 5.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Research Support Foundation of the Juntendo Institute of Mental Health
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- major depressive disorder, remitted depression, cognitive impairment, antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, verbal memory, visual memory, executive function, Stroop task, adverse drug reactions
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Antidepressive Agents, Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Major, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Executive Function
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