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Verbal and non-verbal recall by depressed and euthymic affective patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Avraham Calev ,
Yaacov Korin ,
Baruch Shapira ,
Sol Kugelmass  and
Bernard Lerer
Avraham Calev*
Affiliation:
Jerusalem Mental Health Center–Ezrath Nashim, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Yaacov Korin
Affiliation:
Jerusalem Mental Health Center–Ezrath Nashim, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Baruch Shapira
Affiliation:
Jerusalem Mental Health Center–Ezrath Nashim, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Sol Kugelmass
Affiliation:
Jerusalem Mental Health Center–Ezrath Nashim, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Bernard Lerer
Affiliation:
Jerusalem Mental Health Center–Ezrath Nashim, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr A. Calev, Jerusalem Mental Health Center–Ezrath Nashim, P.O. Box 140, Jerusalem, Israel
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Synopsis

This study uses matched-tasks methodology in order to test memory function in depressed and euthymic patients with major affective disorder. Neither drug-free depressed patients nor lithium-treated euthymic patients show a differential deficit in verbal versus non-verbal recall. However, while euthymic patients show no memory impairment, drug-free depressives do show poor memory functioning. The results support the view that memory deficits observed in affective patients in the depressed state are transient, secondary manifestations of depression and are neither indicative of underlying organic pathology, nor of abnormal hemispheric laterality. This suggests that memory impairment in depression can be treated by treating depressive symptoms, both chemically and behaviourally. The results also support the view that prophylactic lithium treatment has no adverse effects on these memory tasks.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , November 1986 , pp. 789 - 794
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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