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Neuropsychological Clustering Highlights Cognitive Differences In Young People Presenting With Depressive Symptoms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2011

Daniel F. Hermens ,
M. Antoinette Redoblado Hodge ,
Sharon L. Naismith ,
Manreena Kaur ,
Elizabeth Scott  and
Ian B. Hickie
Daniel F. Hermens*
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
M. Antoinette Redoblado Hodge
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Sharon L. Naismith
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Manreena Kaur
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Elizabeth Scott
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Ian B. Hickie
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Daniel F. Hermens, Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, 100 Mallet Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia. E-mail: daniel.hermens@sydney.edu.au
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Abstract

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. (JINS, 2011, 17, 267–276)

Keywords

Affective disorderPsychotic disorderMemoryAttentionExecutive functionAdolescentYoung adult
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , 28 February 2011 , pp. 267 - 276
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2010

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