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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Cross-Modal Multivariate Pattern Analysis
Published on: November 9, 2011
The link between depression and performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test: Mechanisms and clinical significance
Viral P Patel1, Anthony Feinstein2
1Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Objective:
To determine the mechanism and clinical significance of depression-related differences in performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT).
Methods:
The influence of depression on two versions of a computerized SDMT (i.e. fixed versus variable code) was assessed. Both versions involve processing speed, but the fixed c-SDMT also encompasses incidental visual memory.
Results:
Depression was associated with a 19.06% slowing on the variable ( p = 0.002) and an 8.10% slowing on the fixed ( p = 0.219) c-SDMT.
Conclusion:
Depression-associated differences in performance on the SDMT appear linked more to a reduction in processing speed than a decline in incidental visual memory and exceed the 10% threshold considered clinically significant.
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