Cognitive Reserve Attenuates the Effect of Disability on Depression in Multiple Sclerosis
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The current study explored the moderating role of cognitive reserve on the relationship between disability and depression in a sample of individuals in which brain pathology is thought to contribute to depression (multiple sclerosis; MS). METHOD: Fifty-four individuals with MS were examined. Depression was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS). In addition to collecting demographic (education) and disease burden (Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS) related variables, participants completed a neuropsychological test battery and psychosocial questionnaires. Cognitive reserve (CR) was conceptualized in two ways: Fixed CR and Malleable CR. Fixed CR was measured using years of education and crystallized intelligence (Shipley Vocabulary). Malleable CR was operationalized as a composite of measures from the Cognitive Heath Questionnaire (CHQ). Two regressions on depression (BDI-FS) examining either type of cognitive reserve, EDSS, and their interactions were explored. Results: The interaction between EDSS and both conceptualizations of cognitive reserve were significant, t(50) = -2.60, p = .013, PRE = .12 (Fixed CR); t(47) = -2.02, p = .049, PRE = .08 (Malleable CR). Simple effects testing revealed the same pattern regardless of the type of cognitive reserve examined; EDSS predicted depression only in those with low cognitive reserve. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive reserve moderates the relationship between disability and depression in MS; disability does not appear to influence depression in those with high cognitive reserve.
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In a study in which participants with multiple sclerosis also had low cognitive reserve, disability was shown to increase the risk for depression.
“For example, in a study in which participants with multiple sclerosis also had low cognitive reserve, disability was shown to increase the risk for depression [63].”
From Biological, Psychological, and Social Determinants of Depression: A Review of Recent Literature (2021) · cites this paper as [63]
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- Authors
- Cadden, M. H., Guty, E. T., & Arnett, P. A.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cadden, Margaret H
- Venue
- Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2018-06
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 495-502
- ISSN
- 0887-6177 (ISSN-L)
- 1873-5843
- OpenAlex
- W2888899428
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 0.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National MS Society (PP1829)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- cognitive reserve, multiple sclerosis, depression, disability, Expanded Disability Status Scale, crystallized intelligence, moderating effect, neuropathology
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Depression, Disability Evaluation, Female, Persons with Disabilities, Disabled Persons, Humans, Intelligence, Male, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Cognitive Reserve
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