Frequency of Cognitive Decline in Major Depressive Illness

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of cognitive decline among patients with major depressive illness and analyze the associated socio-demographic factors.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Psychiatry Department of Tertiary Care Hospital in Islamabad, from Jan to Jun 2018.

Methodology: The sample population comprised 190 patients with major depressive illness presenting at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. A consultant psychiatrist diagnosed depression using the ICD-10 criteria for a depressive episode. Cognitive decline was assessed by using the British Columbia cognitive complaints inventory (BC-CCI).

Results: Out of 190 patients with depressive illness screened through BC-CCI, 133 (70%) showed the presence of cognitive decline, while 57 (30%) patients had no cognitive decline. We found that the female gender had a significant association with cognitive decline among the patients with depression (p<0.001).

Conclusion: This study showed a high frequency of cognitive decline among patients with depressive illness in Pakistan. Routine screening for cognitive decline should be done at the psychiatric clinics for the patients with depression, and special attention should be paid to the female patients suffering from this illness.