INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 04 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 12:00 pm - 01:15 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging \| Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation \| Teleneuropsychology/Technology Final Abstract #9 Comparison of Subjective and Objective Performance in Executive Functioning in Veterans with Major Depressive Disorder Linden Aly, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States Nicole Walker, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States Robert Hickson, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, United States Sonia Rehman, Chesapeake Center, Bethesda, United States Tanvi Tomar, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India Michelle Wong, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States Michelle Madore, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States Category: Cognitive Neuroscience Keyword 1: self-report Keyword 2: executive functions Keyword 3: depression Objective: Veterans with major depressive disorder (MDD) often report executive functioning (EF) difficulties in relation to their abilities for everyday functioning. There is significant variability in the literature regarding how well their reported concerns correspond to performance on objective neuropsychological tests. The most common cognitive concerns are attention and memory. In this study, we explored the relationship between self-reported executive functioning abilities and objectively measured abilities in veterans with MDD. Participants and Methods: Participants consisted of 44 Veterans (11.4% female; age M = 46.14, SD = 13.57; years education M = 14.61, SD = 1.82) that completed a Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) assessment and a Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II; M = 13.96, SD = 12.85). Participants were given neurocognitive assessments measuring aspects of executive functioning [Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (DKEFS) subtests: Verbal Fluency: Category Switching) and [Trail Making Test – Part B (TMT-B)]. Results: Linear regression analysis demonstrated that depression symptoms statistically significantly predicted self-reported concerns of executive functioning on the BRIEF – Set-Shifting Index scores (F (1,41) = 52.32, p ≤ 0.00). There was not a statistically significant relationship between depression and object measures of set-shifting (F (1,42) = 0.217, p ≤ 0.64 for Verbal Fluency Switching Condition; (F (1,42) = 1.971, p ≤ 0.17 for Trail Making Test B). Conclusions: Among Veterans with a history of MDD, those with higher scores of self-reported depressive symptoms, as demonstrated by BDI-II, were associated with increased cognitive complaints of set-shifting ability as measured by the BRIEF – Set-Shifting Index. These results suggest that although subjective complaints were not equivalent to performance on objective measures of executive functioning, Veterans with more severe MDD symptoms underestimate their cognitive abilities evidenced by their performance on DFEFS-Category Fluency and TMT-B. This suggests that MDD symptoms likely negatively affects one’s perception of their abilities, however, the impact on objective measures of set-shifting performance is minimal. Limitations to this study included a relatively unequal gender representation, as well as using only neuropsychological measures of set-shifting. It may be that other domains of functioning may be more impacted than those assessed in this study. Furthermore, the measures used in this study may not have been able to assess some of the subtle changes these individuals may be experiencing. Lastly, 50% of the individuals within the current study reported minimal depressive symptoms, while the other 50% had symptoms ranging from mild to severe. For future studies, it is recommended to have a larger sample size, increased diversity of race/ethnicity, balanced gender representation, and assessment of other cognitive domains.

Poster

02/15/2024
12:00 pm - 01:15 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging | Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation | Teleneuropsychology/Technology

Final Abstract #9

Comparison of Subjective and Objective Performance in Executive Functioning in Veterans with Major Depressive Disorder

Linden Aly, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States
Nicole Walker, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States
Robert Hickson, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, United States
Sonia Rehman, Chesapeake Center, Bethesda, United States
Tanvi Tomar, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
Michelle Wong, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States
Michelle Madore, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States

Category: Cognitive Neuroscience

Keyword 1: self-report
Keyword 2: executive functions
Keyword 3: depression

Objective:

Veterans with major depressive disorder (MDD) often report executive functioning (EF) difficulties in relation to their abilities for everyday functioning. There is significant variability in the literature regarding how well their reported concerns correspond to performance on objective neuropsychological tests. The most common cognitive concerns are attention and memory. In this study, we explored the relationship between self-reported executive functioning abilities and objectively measured abilities in veterans with MDD.

Participants and Methods:

Participants consisted of 44 Veterans (11.4% female; age M = 46.14, SD = 13.57; years education M = 14.61, SD = 1.82) that completed a Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) assessment and a Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II; M = 13.96, SD = 12.85). Participants were given neurocognitive assessments measuring aspects of executive functioning [Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (DKEFS) subtests: Verbal Fluency: Category Switching) and [Trail Making Test – Part B (TMT-B)].

Results:

Linear regression analysis demonstrated that depression symptoms statistically significantly predicted self-reported concerns of executive functioning on the BRIEF – Set-Shifting Index scores (F (1,41) = 52.32, p ≤ 0.00). There was not a statistically significant relationship between depression and object measures of set-shifting (F (1,42) = 0.217, p ≤ 0.64 for Verbal Fluency Switching Condition; (F (1,42) = 1.971, p ≤ 0.17 for Trail Making Test B).

Conclusions:

Among Veterans with a history of MDD, those with higher scores of self-reported depressive symptoms, as demonstrated by BDI-II, were associated with increased cognitive complaints of set-shifting ability as measured by the BRIEF – Set-Shifting Index. These results suggest that although subjective complaints were not equivalent to performance on objective measures of executive functioning, Veterans with more severe MDD symptoms underestimate their cognitive abilities evidenced by their performance on DFEFS-Category Fluency and TMT-B. This suggests that MDD symptoms likely negatively affects one’s perception of their abilities, however, the impact on objective measures of set-shifting performance is minimal. Limitations to this study included a relatively unequal gender representation, as well as using only neuropsychological measures of set-shifting. It may be that other domains of functioning may be more impacted than those assessed in this study. Furthermore, the measures used in this study may not have been able to assess some of the subtle changes these individuals may be experiencing. Lastly, 50% of the individuals within the current study reported minimal depressive symptoms, while the other 50% had symptoms ranging from mild to severe. For future studies, it is recommended to have a larger sample size, increased diversity of race/ethnicity, balanced gender representation, and assessment of other cognitive domains.