Neuropsychological clustering highlights cognitive differences in young people presenting with depressive symptoms

Daniel F Hermens; M A Redoblado Hodge; S L Naismith; M Kaur; E Scott; I B Hickie

doi:10.1017/S1355617710001566

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Neuropsychological clustering highlights cognitive differences in young people presenting with depressive symptoms

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Neuropsychological clustering highlights cognitive differences in young people presenting with depressive symptoms

Daniel F Hermens, M A Redoblado Hodge, S L Naismith, M Kaur, E Scott and I B Hickie

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Vol.17(2), pp.267-276

2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617710001566

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Abstract

affective disorder

psychotic disorder

memory

attention

executive function

adolescent

young adult

Early stages of affective or psychotic disorders may be accompanied by neuropsychological changes that help to predict risk of developing more severe disorders. A comprehensive set of neuropsychological measures was collected in 109 help-seeking young people (16 to 30 years; 54 females), recently diagnosed with an affective or psychotic disorder and presenting with current depression. Hierarchical cluster analysis determined three clusters: one deemed to have a "poor memory" profile (n = 40); another with a "poor mental flexibility" profile (n = 38) and a third with widespread difficulties plus "impaired attention and memory" (n = 31). In general, the three clusters were comparable in demographic, functional and clinical factors suggesting some unique role for neurocognitive impairments. A discriminant function analysis confirmed that the clusters were best characterized by performance in "attentional" versus "learning/memory" measures. Furthermore, profiles of independent neuropsychological variables validated the original solution for two of the clusters, distinguishing all cluster-groups on an attentional measure. The findings of this study suggest that despite presenting with very similar levels of current depressive symptomatology, young help-seeking individuals in the early stages of illness have underlying neuropsychological heterogeneity. Distinct neuropsychological profiling may help to predict later psychiatric outcomes and enhance individually-tailored early intervention strategies. Copyright © 2010 The International Neuropsychological Society.

Details

Title: Neuropsychological clustering highlights cognitive differences in young people presenting with depressive symptoms
Authors: Daniel F Hermens (Author) - University of Sydney
M A Redoblado Hodge (Author) - University of Sydney
S L Naismith (Author) - University of Sydney
M Kaur (Author) - University of Sydney
E Scott (Author) - University of Sydney
I B Hickie (Author) - University of Sydney
Publication details: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Vol.17(2), pp.267-276
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date published: 2011
DOI: 10.1017/S1355617710001566
ISSN: 1355-6177
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451054602621
Output Type: Journal article

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