This study examined naming abilities in three groups of older adults
with: I) major depression alone, II) major depression with reversible
cognitive dysfunction, and III) dementia with depression. Groups I and II
differed significantly from dementia patients in total correct responses to
a visual-confrontation naming task (Boston Naming Test). Qualitative
aspects of naming, specifically types of errors characterizing each patient
group, were examined, but no statistically significant differences among
groups were observed. The results support the contention that the presence
of dysnomia may be useful in discriminating cognitive abnormalities
secondary to dementia from cognitive dysfunction associated with
depression.Abstract Teaser