A Study On The Cognitive Function And The Effect Of Antidepressants In The Patients With First-Episode Depression

Objective:A growing body of evidences suggest that cognitive dysfunction is common in Major Depressive Disorder(MDD),and it is one of the core symptoms of MDD,however,the results about the effect of antidepressants on cognitive function in related researches are not consistent.This article aimed to explore the characteristics of cognition impairment and the effect of antidepressants therapy on cognitive function in MDD patients.Methods:The first-episode MDD patients and the normal controls were recruited in the department of psychiatry of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from November 2015 to January 2018.All the participants were asked to complete the neuropsychological tests to collect the information.Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD-24)was used to assess depressive symptoms;Trail Making Test A(TAMA),Digit Symbol Coding Subtest(DSCT),Stroop Color-Word Test(SCWT),Hopkins Verbal Learning and Memory Test Revision(HVLT-R)and Simple Visual Learning and Memory Revision(BVWT-R)were used to assess neurocognitive function.After cases of depression patients completed antidepressants treatment with SSRIs or SNRIs for 8 weeks,they were asked to completed those tests again,HAMD-24,TAMA,DSCT,SCWT,HVLT-R and SVWT-R.SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results:1.The baseline scores of TAMA in the depression patients group(n=34)were significantly higher than that of the control group(n=25);The scores of DSCT,SCWT,SCWT,SCWT and HVLT-R were significantly lower than the control group.2.After 8 weeks of drug therapy,the patients group were assessed the cognitive function again,and compared with the baseline,there was no significant difference in HVLT-R,and scores of TAMA were significantly below baseline,and the others were significantly higher than baseline.3.Regarding to SSRI and SNRI subgroups,there were no significant differences in tests of TAMA,DSCT,SCWT,SCWT color,SCWT color,HVLT-R and SVWT-R.4.After 8 weeks,the total scores of HAMD and the scores of each factors in patients group were significantly decreased more than 50%compared with baseline,except for the factor of the change of day and night.Conclusion:1.Patients with the first episode of depression have significant impairment in mental motor speed,executive function,verbal learning and memory and visual memory and learning.2.Antidepressants(SSRI/SNRI)treatment can significantly improve patients with first episode depression psychomotor speed,executive function and visual learning and memory,however,the improvement in verbal learning and memory was not obvious.3.There were no significant differences between SNRI and SSRI antidepressants in improving mental motor speed,executive function,verbal learning and memory,visual memory and learning.