Executive Functioning and Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms Within an Adolescent Inpatient Population

Abstract

Although the relationship between executive dysfunction and depressive disorders has been well established in the adult population, research within the adolescent population has produced mixed results. The present study examined executive-functioning subdomains in varying levels of self-reported depression within an adolescent inpatient sample diagnosed with primary mood disorders. Via retrospective chart review, the sample consisted of those adolescents (ages 13–18 years) who completed a combined psychological/neuropsychological assessment during hospitalization (N = 105). When the sample was divided into adolescents with mood disorders with self-reported depressive symptoms and adolescents with mood disorders without self-reported depressive symptoms, no differences in various executive functions were identified. There were also no correlations between overall self-reported depressive symptoms and overall executive functioning. However, there were negative correlations between select executive subdomains (e.g., problem solving and response inhibition) and certain depressive symptom subdomains (e.g., negative mood and interpersonal problems). Based on these findings, there was no difference in executive functions between mood disorders with depressive symptoms and mood disorders without depressive symptoms, although there may be select executive subdomains that are particularly involved in certain depressive symptoms, providing important information for the treatment of adolescent depression.

Key words:

• adolescents
• depression
• executive functioning
• inpatient
• mood disorder

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank George Tremblay at Antioch University New England for his statistical guidance and the entire neuropsychology team at Butler Hospital.

Notes

Comorbidity = comorbid psychiatric diagnoses at hospital discharge; Anxiety = anxiety disorders; Behavioral = behavioral disorders; ADHD = attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

# #**p < .01.

Note. None significant at p < .05.

CDI Mood = CDI Negative Mood; CDI Inter. = CDI Interpersonal Problems; CDI Ineff. = CDI Ineffectiveness; CDI Anhed. = CDI Anhedonia; CDI S-E = CDI Negative Self-Esteem; MMPI Sc2 = MMPI-A Scale 2.

*p < .05. **p < .01.