Association between cognitive deficits and suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder

Shenghong Pu,Shiori Setoyama,Takamasa Noda

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-12142-8

Abstract

The role of cognitive function in suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) has not been adequately explored. This research sought to measure the relationship between suicidal ideation and cognitive function. Therefore, in this study, the association between cognitive function and suicidal ideation in patients with MDD was assessed. Cognitive function was evaluated in 233 patients with MDD using the Japanese version of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Suicidal ideation was assessed using item 3 of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Approximately 59.2% of the patients (138/233) expressed suicidal ideation. Among the BACS subtests, only the executive function scores were significantly lower in patients with MDD with than in those without (p < 0.005). In addition, the executive function, motor speed function, and composite scores correlated negatively with the severity of suicidal ideation in these patients. These results suggest that executive function, motor speed function, and global neuropsychological function are associated with suicidal ideation in patients with MDD and that the BACS neuropsychological battery is an efficient instrument for monitoring these characteristics. Moreover, specific BACS scores can potentially serve as cognitive biomarkers of suicide risk in patients with MDD.

Highlights

Suicidal ideation is a major public health concern
The present study primarily aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive function and suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in a precise manner, using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS)
The current study found significant differences in cognitive deficit levels in the executive function domain between patients with MDD, with and without suicidal ideation

Summary

Introduction

Suicidal ideation is a major public health concern. Approximately one million suicides and ten million suicide attempts have been recorded worldwide each year; in 2012, suicide was the 15th leading cause of death worldwide[1, 2]. Several studies have suggested that impaired cognitive control abilities[16, 19] may underlie the high suicide rate found in individuals with depression[20]. With respect to the neuropsychological correlates of suicidal ideation in patients with MDD, Marzuk et al.[28] found that patients with current suicidal ideation performed significantly worse than patients without suicidal ideation on several executive tasks, such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test This led the authors to conclude that current suicidal ideation, regardless of the history of suicide attempts, is associated with impaired executive function. Gujral et al.[30] reported that depressed older individuals with current suicidal ideation, with or without a history of suicide attempts, are impaired in executive function. Owing to the significant risk of suicidal ideation in patients with MDD31, 32, it is important to elucidate the relationship between executive function and suicidal ideation in patients with MDD

Methods

Results

Conclusion