Neuropsychological Evaluation of Attention Skills in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Authors

  • Natália Gomes dos Reis Dutra Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória – CAV/UFPE
  • Sony Cléa de Souza Santos Faculdades Integradas da Vitória de Santo Antão (FAINTVISA)
  • Márlison José Lima de Aguiar Faculdades Integradas da Vitória de Santo Antão (FAINTVISA)
  • Cilene Rejane Ramos Alves de Aguiar Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Keywords:

Depression, neuropsychological evaluation, Sustained attention, Divided attention.

Abstract

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder that evolves to cognitive impairment. Studies have shown that cognitive deficits persist even after an improvement or total remission of depressive symptoms. However, little is known about the functioning of sustained and divided attention after the acute phase of the disorder. The aim of this study was to perform a neuropsychological evaluation of these attentional skills in MDD outpatients, in continuation or maintenance phases of treatment, comparing two groups: 1 – MDD Group (GD), consisting of outpatients with a MDD diagnosis, and 2 – Control Group (GC), consisting of individuals with no diagnosis of MDD. Participants included 26 (GD, n=12 and GC, n=14) individuals of both sex whose ages were between 20 and 55 years, assessed by the Battery General Mental Functions 1 and 2. Results showed loss of sustained and divided attention among the members of the MDD group. These findings suggest alteration of the fronto-parietal neural network.

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Author Biographies

Natália Gomes dos Reis Dutra, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória – CAV/UFPE

Psicóloga e Bacharel em Psicologia pela UFPE Centro Acadêmico de Vitória – CAV/UFPE, Núcleo de Assistência estudantil e Apoio Psicossocial – NAEPS.

Sony Cléa de Souza Santos, Faculdades Integradas da Vitória de Santo Antão (FAINTVISA)

Psicóloga e Especialista em Psicodiagnóstico, Faculdades Integradas da Vitória de Santo Antão (FAINTVISA), Departamento de Psicologia

Márlison José Lima de Aguiar, Faculdades Integradas da Vitória de Santo Antão (FAINTVISA)

Biomédico e Doutor em Nutrição pela UFPE, Faculdades Integradas da Vitória de Santo Antão (FAINTVISA), Departamento de Psicologia e Farmácia

Cilene Rejane Ramos Alves de Aguiar, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Departamento de Psicologia Área: Psicologia Experimental, Neurociências e Comportamento e Neuropsicologia

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Published

2014-02-11

How to Cite

dos Reis Dutra, N. G., de Souza Santos, S. C., Lima de Aguiar, M. J., & Ramos Alves de Aguiar, C. R. (2014). Neuropsychological Evaluation of Attention Skills in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder. Psico, 44(4), 552–559. Retrieved from https://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/revistapsico/article/view/12513

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 4 (2013)

Section

Articles

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