Cognition as a treatment target in depression
Open accessAbstract
Cognitive dysfunction in depression is associated with poorer clinical outcomes and impaired psychosocial functioning. However, most treatments for depression do not specifically target cognition. Neurocognitive deficits such as memory and concentration problems tend to persist after mood symptoms recover. Improving cognition in depression requires a better understanding of brain systems implicated in depression. A comprehensive approach is warranted for refined methods of assessing and treating cognitive dysfunction in depression.
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Taken together, these findings highlight the need for neurocognitive functioning to be a key target of treatment for depression.
“Taken together, these findings highlight the need for neurocognitive functioning to be a key target of treatment for depression (Gonda et al., 2015;Kaser et al., 2017).”
From Neurocognitive effects of theta burst stimulation for treatment-resistant depression in adults: A systematic review and recommendations for future research (2025) · cites this paper as Kaser et al., 2017
Cognitive dysfunction is a core symptom of depression that can persist during the remitted state, worsens with increasing numbers of depressive episodes, and results in disrupted psychosocial functioning.
“As cognitive dysfunction is a core symptom of depression that can persist during the remitted state (Bora et al., 2013;Hasselbalch et al., 2011;Kaser et al., 2017), worsens with increasing numbers of depressive episodes (Hasselbalch et al., 2013), and results in disrupted psychosocial functioning (Hasselbalch et al., 2011;Kaser et al., 2017;McCall and Dunn, 2003)”
From Neurocognitive effects of theta burst stimulation for treatment-resistant depression in adults: A systematic review and recommendations for future research (2025) · cites this paper as Kaser et al., 2017
Cognitive deficits affect an estimated 20-90% of patients with major depressive disorder.
“it has been estimated that cognitive deficits affect 20-90% of MDD patients22-27.”
From Dysregulation of adult hippocampal neuroplasticity in major depression: Pathogenesis and therapeutic implications (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
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Cites
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- Authors
- Kaser, M., Zaman, R., & Sahakian, B. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Sahakian, B. J.
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2016-12-12
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 987-989
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2560030205
- Cited by
- 96
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11
- FWCI
- 4.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion)
- Apollo
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (CL-2016-14-003)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- depression, cognitive impairment, memory impairment, concentration difficulties, treatment goals, neurocognitive impairment, psychosocial functioning, brain systems, cognitive assessment, cognitive rehabilitation
- MeSH terms
- Depressive Disorder, Humans, Cognitive Dysfunction
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