Effects of depression on interference suppression function in patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the level of depression on interference suppression function in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD). Methods 15 CHD patients with major depression, 21 CHD patients with mild depression and 24 CHD patients without depressive symptoms in the Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University from May 2013 to March 2015 were selected to complete the Emotional Stroop task and record their accuracy and reaction time according to the Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS) and Classification and Diagnostic Criteria of Mental Disorders in China-Third Edition(CCMD-3). Results ① The reaction time was longer (F(2, 57)= 71.97, P<0.01)and the accuracy was lower (F(2, 57)=8.78, P=0.04)in CHD with major depression group and CHD with mild depression group compared with CHD group.② The reaction time of negative words ((872.77±348.47)ms, (796.53±200.92)ms) was longer than positive words ((809.22±343.45)ms, (740.85±177.82)ms) in CHD with major depression group and CHD with mild depression group.③ The interference effect of negative words was bigger in CHD with major depression group and CHD with mild depression group ((35.48±181.97)ms, (7.16±200.06)ms) compared with CHD group((-19.86±177.82)ms). Conclusion Both CHD patients with major depression and CHD patients with mild depression have deficits in interference inhibition for negative information, which suggests that CHD with depressive individuals have impaired cognitive control function. Key words: Coronary heart disease; Depression; Negative information; Interference inhibition; Cognitive impairment