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Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
Neuropsychological functioning in depressed adolescent girls
Keith Matthews1, David Coghill, Sinead Rhodes
1Section of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Division of Pathology and Neuroscience, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. k.matthews@dundee.ac.uk
Journal of Affective Disorders
|March 28, 2008
Summary
Adolescent girls with depression show cognitive deficits in memory and spatial working memory, similar to adults. These impairments are detectable before medication use, highlighting a key clinical feature.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Neuropsychological impairment is known in adult depression.
- Adolescent depression's impact on cognition is less understood.
- This study examines medication-naïve adolescent girls with depressive episodes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neuropsychological functioning in adolescent girls diagnosed with depression.
- To compare cognitive performance between depressed and healthy adolescent girls.
- To identify potential neurocognitive deficits associated with early-onset depression.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 28 girls (ages 12-16).
- 14 participants diagnosed with depression, 14 healthy controls.
- Neuropsychological testing using the CANTAB automated battery.
Main Results:
- Depressed girls exhibited deficits in visual memory tasks (Pattern Recognition, Delayed Matching to Sample, Paired Associates Learning).
- Impairments were observed in motor speed and Spatial Working Memory.
- Cognitive deficits were detected in medication-naïve participants.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent depression is linked to neurocognitive deficits comparable to adult depression.
- These impairments are detectable prior to psychotropic medication exposure.
- Neuropsychological deficits may be a significant, overlooked aspect of adolescent depression.
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