Relationship between work functioning and self-reported cognitive complaints in patients with major depressive disorder treated with desvenlafaxine. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alonso-Prieto, Esther; Rubino, Cristina; Lucey, Megan; Evans, Vanessa C.; Tam, Edwin M.; Woo, Cindy; Iverson, Grant L.; Chakrabarty, Trisha; Yatham, Lakshmi N.; Lam, Raymond W.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 272(2019)
• Page Start: 144
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Major depressive disorder -- Functional outcomes -- Cognitive dysfunction -- Cognitive deficits -- Work functioning; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.062
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Patients showed significant improvements in clinical, cognitive, and work functioning measures following treatment with desvenlafaxine. Pre- to post-treatment changes in BC-CCI scores significantly predicted functional outcomes as measured using SDS and LEAPS after treatment with desvenlafaxine. Pre- to post-treatment changes in MADRS scores also played a role in predicting functional outcomes as measured using SDS. Abstract: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) often report that cognitive difficulties, such as memory problems or poor concentration, interfere with their work functioning. We examined the association between self-reported cognitive complaints and work functioning in employed patients with MDD treated with desvenlafaxine. A sample of 36 adult outpatients with MDD completed subjective cognition (British Columbia Cognitive Complaints Inventory [BC-CCI]) and functioning scales (Sheehan Disability Scale [SDS]; Lam Employment Absence and Productivity Scale [LEAPS]; and Health and Work Performance Questionnaire [HPQ]) before and after 8 weeks of open-label treatment with flexibly-dosed desvenlafaxine (50–100 mg/day). Multiple regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between subjective cognitive measures and work functioning scales. Patients showed significant improvements in clinical, cognitive, and work functioning measures following treatment with desvenlafaxine. A predictive association was found between the BC-CCI and both the SDS and LEAPS, but not with the HPQ, when adjusted for depression severity. Self-report cognitive questionnaires can provide useful information to monitor changes in cognitive functioning over time and to predict improvement in work functioning outcomes.