| Poster | Poster Session 05 Program Schedule
02/15/2024
02:30 pm - 03:45 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)
Poster Session 05: Neuropsychiatry | Addiction/Dependence | Stress/Coping | Emotional/Social Processes
Final Abstract #85
Self-Report and Caregiver Report Insight of Depressive Symptoms and Relationship with Cognitive Functioning
Christopher Reeves, Hoag, Newport Beach, United States
Ruth Morin, Hoag Memorial Hospital, Newport Beach, United States
Lauren Bennett, Hoag Memorial Hospital, Newport Beach, United States
Category: Emotional and Social Processes
Keyword 1: cognitive functioning
Keyword 2: depression
Keyword 3: caregiver burden
Objective:
Previous research with older adults (aged 65 and over) has found a strong association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning. As such, this study analyzed the effect between insight levels of depressive symptoms, comparing self-report and caregiver reports, and its impact on various aspects of cognitive functioning (i.e., executive functioning, processing speed, memory, and verbal and nonverbal learning). Based on self-report and caregiver ratings of depressive symptoms and performance on measures of various cognitive domains, it was hypothesized that higher levels of depression (both by self-report and caregiver report) would have an effect on lower levels of cognitive functioning.
Participants and Methods:
This study cohort consisted of individuals who presented to a community outpatient neuropsychology clinic with cognitive concerns and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. In order to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning, only participants who completed the Geriatric Depressive Scale (GDS), had a caregiver complete the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), and completed various neuropsychological tests of executive functioning, attention, tests of basic health and safety judgment, and processing speed were included in the final sample. Descriptive stats and one-way ANOVA were completed between patient depressive symptoms, caregiver assessment of depressive symptoms, and measures of cognitive functioning.
Results:
Of the patients who completed a neuropsychological assessment, 171 met the criteria of having completed the GDS and had a caregiver complete the NPI-Q and were included in the study. In assessing depressive symptoms, the average depression scores for included participants fell in the minimal range (M = 7.78, s = 6.70). The NPI-Q's assessment of depressive symptom severity also fell in the minimal range (M = 1.16, SD = 1.71). A patient's higher endorsement of depressive symptoms was associated with poorer performance on measures of auditory and visual attention (WAIS-IV -Digit Span Forward [F (25,135) = 1.61, p = 0.05] and DKEFS – Trail Making Test, Trial 1 [F(25, 135) = 1.01, p = 0.46]), processing speed (symbol digit coding [F(25, 133) = 1.49, p = 0.08]), and executive functioning (DKEFS – Trail Making Test, Trial 4 [F(25,125) = 1.67, p = 0.04] and DKEFS – Verbal Fluency, Category Switching [F (25, 135) = 1.67, p = 0.03]). While higher levels of a caregiver's endorsement of depressive symptoms were associated with poorer performance on measures of visual attention (DKEFS – Trail Making Test, Trial 1 [F(6, 150 = 2.30, p = 0.04]), motor speed ([F(6,150) = 1.18, p = 0.32]), and executive functioning (DKEFS – Trail Making Test, Trial 4 [F(6,140) = 2.04, p = 0.06]).
Conclusions:
Depressive symptoms are known to have a cognitive impact, and insight into the symptoms from a caregiver and patient's perspective can play an important role, including or precluding a cognitive diagnosis. The presence of depressive symptoms and insight from the patient and caregiver can increase awareness of its cognitive impact. These uniquely associated aspects of cognitive and mood functioning can lead clinicians to understand the different impacts of cognition and effective treatment planning.
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