P-535 - Cognitive functioning may predict treatment response of escitalopram in major depression: an eight weeks open label study

Abstract

Introduction Major depressive disorder is a prevalent mental disorder. Although several interventions are effective, treatment response (TR) remains difficult to predict. Objectives This study aimed a) to investigate whether cognitive functioning improved after treatment with escitalopram, b) to evaluate if baseline cognitive functioning predicted TR and c) to detect the biological processes underlying TR. Methods Thirty-seven patients and 32 healthy controls were included. Patients were treated with escitalopram flexible dose regime. Patients were assessed before treatment, 2 and 8 weeks after the start of escitalopram. Cognitive functioning was investigated using the STROOP colour word test, the verbal fluency test, future thinking task and the emotional STROOP test. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the BDI-II. Metabolism PET (18F-FDG) was performed at baseline and week 8. Results All patients significantly differed from controls on cognitive (p Conclusion Escitalopram improved depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning in depression. Poor treatment response of escitalopram may be associated with pre-treatment worse cognitive functioning and lower activity in the prefrontal cortex.