Abstract
The patient with depressive disorder presents a cognitive impairment which does not disappear despite the fact that the depression is considered to be in remission. This study aims to assess the impact of training in the improvement of cognitive functions of patients with remitted depression (RD). Captain’s Log Computerized Cognitive-Training Program (CLCT) was used as a cognitive trainer in a group of patients with RD and with Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) as treatment; another group with RD was treated uniquely with SSRI. The treatment intervention’s impact was evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scales for Anxiety and Depression, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III), and the Integrated Program of Neuropsychological Examination-Revised Barcelona Test. CLCT was used in college students with RD, twice a week, for six months. Patients from both groups decreased depressive and anxious symptoms, however, patients who received CLCT substantially increased their intellectual performance; changes in the psychometric analysis of the Barcelona Test were consistent with the ones presented in WAIS-III. CLCT application is associated with an improvement of cognitive functions in patients with RD.
Highlights
The objective of this trial is to improve cognitive functions in individuals with remitted depression (RD), using Captain’s Log Computerized Cognitive-Training Program (CLCT) [1].The World Health Organization (WHO) points that 15% of the population of developed countries suffer from severe depression, and identified that 30% of women are depressed [2].In Mexico, 9 to 13% of the adult population suffers from depression, with a prevalence of 2 to 1 regarding women and men [3]
Participants of the experimental group showed significant differences after the treatment, since their Intellectual Quotient (IQ) increased 9 points, control group only increased 2. This pattern seems to be repeated in Verbal IQ as well as in Performance IQ, which may be because participants who received cognitive training had better performance and obtained a bonus time in some of the WAIS-III subtests; this was probably produced by the decreased in the delay of processing that depressed patients may show
Several trials have found that college education stressors may boost depressive symptomatology and intensify as the academic demands increase, affecting basic cognitive skills, such as attention, concentration, cognitive flexibility when solving problems, motivation, and functions related to shortterm memory
Summary
In Mexico, 9 to 13% of the adult population suffers from depression, with a prevalence of 2 to 1 regarding women and men [3]. This disorder is more frequent among 15-19- yearold individuals and above 65 years, where the recurrence rate is 59% [4]. In 2005, Manelic and Ortega-Soto [5], assessed the prevalence of depression in the Faculty of Superior Studies of Aragon of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 11.8%. Among the University of Colima, the prevalence of depression was about 21.8% in students of nursing school [6]
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