The authors examined differences between the verbal memory performance
of older patients with major depression (MD) alone; major depression with
reversible depression-related cognitive dysfunction (MD/DRCD); and primary
dementia and major depression (DEM/MD). Patients were evaluated before
antidepressant treatment and 6 and 15 months after treatment. Of the three
groups, patients with MD alone acquired significantly more information on
the California Verbal Learning Test and showed a more pronounced primacy
effect. Patients with DEM/MD were more likely to commit errors of
intrusion. Although older depressed patients with MD/DRCD may resemble
patients with DEM/MD on some aspects of verbal memory performance,
differences may be observed in the types of learning errors they commit.
Diagnostic implications are discussed.Abstract Teaser