TY - JOUR
TI - Episodic Visual Learning/Memory and Attentional Flexibility in Patients
With Major Depressive Disorder After Clinically Effective
Electroconvulsive Therapy
AU - Kalogerakou, Stamatina
AU - Oulis, Panagiotis
AU - Anyfandi, Eleni and
AU - Konstantakopoulos, George
AU - Papakosta, Vasiliki-Maria
AU - Kontis,
AU - Dimitrios
AU - Theochari, Eirini
AU - Angelopoulos, Elias
AU - Zervas,
AU - Ioannis M.
AU - Mellon, Robert C.
AU - Papageorgiou, Charalambos C. and
AU - Tsaltas, Eleftheria
JO - The Journal of ECT
PY - 2015
VL - 31
TODO - 4
SP - 246-252
PB - Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
SN - 1095-0680, 1533-4112
TODO - 10.1097/YCT.0000000000000238
TODO - pharmacoresistant depression; CANTAB; ECT; visual memory; executive
function
TODO - Objectives This study is a follow-up of a previous one reporting that
the neuropsychological profile of pharmacoresistant patients with major
depressive disorder referred for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT, ECT
group) contrasted with that of their pharmacorespondent counterparts
(NECT group). The NECT group exhibited severe visuospatial memory and
minor executive deficits; the ECT group presented the reverse pattern.
In that same ECT group, the current follow-up study examined the effects
of clinically effective ECT on both cognitive domains 2 months later.
Methods Fifteen ECT patients were administered Hamilton Depression
(HAMD-24), Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA), Mini-Mental State Examination Scales
and 5 tests of Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery at
intake (pre-ECT), end of ECT course (post-ECT), and 2 months thereafter
(follow-up).
Results Electroconvulsive therapy was effective in relieving clinical
depression. After a post-ECT decline, the patients exhibited significant
improvement in both Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery,
paired associate learning, and Stockings of Cambridge. By contrast,
their major pre-ECT deficit in intra/extradimensional set shifting
remained virtually unaffected.
Conclusions Our findings suggest that attentional flexibility deficits
may constitute a neuropsychological trait-like feature of
pharmacoresistant, ECT-referred major depressive disorder patients.
However, this deficit does not seem generalized, given patient
improvement in episodic visual learning/memory and some indication of
improvement in spatial planning after ECT.
ER -