Patients with Major Depression Show Intact Memory Performance—Given Optimal Conditions

Abstract

In the present study, verbal and visual memory functioning in a group of recurrent major depressive disorder patients were investigated. The study included 48 participants: 24 patients and 24 control subjects. Verbal and visual memory were investigated using the California Verbal Learning Test and the Rey Complex Figure Test. The results show that the depressed patients performed significantly worse compared with the controls on the very first trial in the verbal memory test. On all other conditions, the patients showed intact verbal memory, while visual memory was impaired. It is important to highlight the intact verbal memory performance in the acute phase of illness to detect cognitive strengths in this patient group.

Key words:

• cognitive functioning
• cognitive strengths
• depression
• memory
• optimal conditions

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to all participating patients and control subjects. The Research Council of Norway, Helse Vest, MoodNet, and the University of Bergen financially supported the study. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Notes

*There were no significant differences between groups on total IQ as measured by WASI.

**Patients were screened at testing.

***Healthy control group with no history of mental illness.

*Significant at p > .05.

See text for statistical analysis.