Screening for Executive Dysfunction in Late-Life Depression: Utility of Trail Making Test and Self-Report Measures.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Prior work suggests executive dysfunction (ED) on the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) and the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-2 Initiation/Perseveration subscale (DRS IP) predicts poor antidepressant response in late-life depression. This study examined if either patient perception of ED or the Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B) could identify patients with impairment on the SCWT or DRS IP.

METHODS:

Patients were 65 or older and had a diagnosis of major depression without dementia. Cognition was assessed with the TMT-B, the SCWT, and the DRS IP. A self-reported Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ) subscale assessed patients' perceptions of ED.

RESULTS:

In 247 participants (mean age 71.3 years), the PDQ subscale was not associated with test performance. The sensitivity of the TMT-B in identifying impairment on the SCWT or DRS IP was low (35% and 23%, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

Neither the TMT-B nor self-reports are useful screening tools for ED on the SCWT or DRS IP.

• Authors: David Bickford, Ruth T Morin, Dan Catalinotto, R Scott Mackin, J Craig Nelson
• Journal: The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry) Vol. 26 Issue 10 Pg. 1091-1094 (10 2018) ISSN: 1545-7214 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30072308 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aging (physiology)
• Cognitive Dysfunction (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Comorbidity
• Depressive Disorder, Major (epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Executive Function (physiology)
• Female
• Geriatric Assessment
• Humans
• Male
• Self Report (standards)
• Trail Making Test (standards)