PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN PATIENTS WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE DEPRESSION: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Almost all depressive disorder patients have cognitive impairments to a certain extend. Depression and cognitive dysfunction share a common neuropathological platform in cortical and sub-cortical brain areas. The current study was designed to explore the prevalence of cognitive impairment in severe depression and to examine the correlates of cognitive impairment and depression with other sociodemographic variables. Methods: A hospital based crosssectional study on the prevalence of cognitive impairment in moderate to severe depression. Total 100 patients were evaluated using Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D),Addenbrooke's cognitive examination (ACE-III). Results: The mean age of study sample was 31.92±7.62 (SD) years.The mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score for severe depression was 21.70±1.34 (SD: 1.34). 56(56.0%) patients suffering from depression found to have mild cognitive impairment followed by 28 (28.0%) having major neurocognitive disorder. The mean neurocognitive functions in Mild cognitive impairment was 66.84±2.41, and major neurocognitive disorder was 54.96±4.83. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment and depression were well known in elderly population. Present study suggests that more than one fourth of youngagepatients havingseveredepression reportedcognitive impairmentwhich is moreprevalentin the females than in themales.Hence,psychiatrist shouldpayspecialattentionforearlydetectionandtreatmentofcognitiveimpairment.