The effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on cognitive impairment in patients with depression: A prospective, multicenter, observational study.

Abstract

Whether selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can improve cognitive function in depressed patients remains unclear. We aimed to explore the effect of SSRIs on cognitive function and the influencing factors in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) with impaired cognitive function. We used a neurocognitive test battery to assess five cognitive domains, namely, attention/vigilance, learning, memory, processing speed and executive functioning, and calculated the Global Deficit Score (GDS). A GDS≥0.5 indicated overall cognitive impairment. The changes in the cognitive domains and overall cognitive function were analyzed in MDD patients with a baseline GDS≥0.5 who completed 8 weeks of SSRI treatment. We divided the patients into the cognitive remission and nonremission groups to explore the associated factors. In total, 160 patients (mean age 37.6 ± 10.8 years, 30.6% male) were included in the final analysis. The median (quartiles) of baseline GDS and HRSD17 were 1.4 (0.8, 1.9) and 19.5 (17.0, 23.0), respectively. All five cognitive domains improved after the treatment, while only 41 (25.6%) patients achieved cognitive remission. Recurrence and a higher baseline GDS were risk factors for cognitive nonremission. More aggressive interventions may be needed to promote cognitive remission in clinical practice, especially for patients with severe cognitive impairment and recurrent episodes.

• Authors: Lijun Liu, Xiaozhen Lv, Shuzhe Zhou, Qi Liu, Jing Wang, Hongjun Tian, Kerang Zhang, Jing Wei, Chuanyue Wang, Qiaoling Chen, Gang Zhu, Xueyi Wang, Nan Zhang, Yu Huang, Tianmei Si, Xin Yu
• Journal: Journal of psychiatric research (J Psychiatr Res) Vol. 141 Pg. 26-33 (09 2021) ISSN: 1879-1379 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34171760 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Observational Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors

Topics

• Adult
• Cognitive Dysfunction (drug therapy, etiology)
• Depression
• Depressive Disorder, Major (complications, drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
• Treatment Outcome