Abstract
To characterize the attention deficits in one-hundred-fifteen participants, comprising two types of clinical profiles (affective and anxiety disorder), through a test of continuous VR execution. Method: Three tests (i.e., Nesplora Aquarium, BDI, and STAI) were used to obtain a standardized measure of attention, as well as the existence and severity of depression and anxiety, respectively. Results: Significant differences (CI = 95%) were found between the control group and the group with depression, in variables related to the speed of visual processing (p = 0.008) in the absence of distractors (p = 0.041) and during the first dual execution task (p = 0.011). For scores related to sustained attention, patients with depression and those with anxiety did not differ from controls. Our results suggest attentional deficits in both clinical populations when performing a continuous performance test that involved the participation of the central executive system of working memory.
Highlights
About 10–20% of patients seek primary care medical consultation for an episode of depression or anxiety, and more than 50% of these patients suffer from a second depressive disorder or comorbid anxiety [1,2]
Based on the information extracted from the interview, self-report, observation, and the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5, a diagnosis of anxious and depressive subtypes was confirmed
The results obtained in this study show the attentional deficits of two clinical populations when performing a continuous performance test with dual execution components, which involved the participation of the central executive system of the working memory
Summary
About 10–20% of patients seek primary care medical consultation for an episode of depression or anxiety, and more than 50% of these patients suffer from a second depressive disorder or comorbid anxiety [1,2]. In addition to affective symptoms, it has been found that people with major depression have a decrease in various cognitive processes [7], such as processing speed [8,9,10], sustained attention [11], executive functions [12,13,14,15,16], visual memory [17], working memory [18], verbal fluency [19], episodic memory [20], visuospatial memory [19], selective attention or inhibitory control [11,21], and attentional arousal [22], among others. The existence of two different patterns of attention-deficit in clinical depression has been suggested: some depressives have a disorder of inhibitor distraction, and others show abnormalities in the processing of resources [23]
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