A-099 Depression as a Factor in Neuropsychological Test Performance

Abstract

Abstract Objective Evaluate the relation between depression and performance on six widely used tests: the Boston Naming Test, Category Fluency Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Corsi Block Tapping Test, Mazes and Trail Making Test (TMT), Parts Speed, A and B. Method Participants: 77 women and 33 men referred for a comprehensive neuropsychological examination in an outpatient memory disorders clinic as part of a broader neurodiagnostic workup for memory complaints and possible cognitive decline. Referral sources: neurologists (78%), primary care physicians (21%). Patients’ mean age: 59.3 (SD =12.1); education: 15.1 (SD = 2.7) years. They were screened from a larger sample (N = 175) for any known history of brain disorder or positive neurodiagnostic findings. They met performance and symptom validity criteria (Reliable Digit Span and scores on MMPI-2 validity scales). Diagnostically, 62% of the sample had mood disorders. Using their median score on the Depression scale of the MMPI-2 (T = 70), patients were classified into High and Low Depression groups (ns = 55). The two groups were no different on age, education, or predicted level of intelligence (Test of Premorbid Function). Results On all six of the neuropsychological tests (eight measures), scores were compared across the two groups. There was no main effect (MANOVA) for group, F(8,101) = 1.03, p = .427. Univariate comparisons revealed no intergroup differences across tests. Conclusion Results suggest that severity of depressive symptoms is not related to performance on these neuropsychological tests. In cooperative examinees, these tests are valid for assessing brain-based abilities independent of the examinees’ emotional status.