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Atypical cognitive profile in patients with depression after myocardial infarction
Jeanette B Dijkstra1, Jacqueline J M H Strik, Richel Lousberg
1Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Hospital, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Background:
We evaluated the cognitive profile of 48 patients with major depression following their first myocardial infarction (MI).
Methods:
The cognitive performance of the patients was compared with the performance of 48 non-depressed MI patients and 48 healthy controls.
Results:
Depressed MI patients performed slower on a simple cognitive speed related measure compared with non-depressed MI patients and healthy controls. Attention and speed-related aspects of cognitive functioning were not affected. Surprisingly, (depressed) MI patients showed even better performances with respect to memory function.
Limitation:
No patients with non-MI-related depression were included.
Conclusions:
The cognitive profile of major depression after MI differs from that of non-cardiac-related depressive disorder, as described in the literature. This may reflect a different etiology of post MI depression from non-cardiac-related depression.