Effects of sertraline on cognitive function in patients with unipolar depressive disorders

Abstract

Cognitive disfunction in depressive disorders have become a relevant aim of research in recent years. At the same time, the question of the influence of psychopharmacological drugs on the cognitive functioning of patients with depression also retains its significance. The article presents the results of a prospective study of the effect of sertraline on cognitive functions in patients with nonpsychotic unipolar depressive disorders. The study included 36 patients who received sertraline monotherapy for at least 12 weeks. The dynamics of depressive symptoms was assessed by the MADRS and HAM-D scales. The study of cognitive functions included memory testing (memory for faces), attention (Landolt rings), reaction time (sensorimotor reaction), psychomotor (tapping test) and executive functions (Stroop test, stress test, reaction to a moving object) with the help of the computer psychodiagnostic complex «Multipsychometer-05». The cognitive profile of the studied patients was characterized mainly by deficit of executive and psychomotor functions. The index of psychomotor activity significantly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms. The use of sertraline contributed significantly to the reduction of depressive symptoms, as well as to the improvement of almost all the studied parameters of the cognitive profile, including memory, attention, reaction rate, psychomotor and performance functions.