Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.51(5) > 1017596

Huh, Hahn, Won, Hong, Lee, Lim, and Jun: Clinical Characteristics of Vascular Depression in Korean Elderly People

Abstract

Objectives

This study was done in Korean elderly people in order to examine the relationship of white matter hyperintensity with clinical neuropsychological function and depression symptom severity.

Methods

A total of 148 subjects diagnosed first major depressive episode after age of 60 years were included. Brain magnetic resonance imaging scan was rated with the modified Fazekas White Matter Rating Scale by researcher blinded to clinical information. Cognitive function was evaluated with a comprehensive neurological battery and depression severity was assessed by Hamilton Depression Scale. Subjects were divided into vascular depression group and non vascular group according to the degree of white matter hyperintensity. Independent t-test was used to compare clinical difference between two groups and correlation analysis was used to identify whether white matter hyperintensity severity is correlated with neuropsychological function and depressive symptom.

Results

Vascular depression group was significantly poorer performance in verbal fluency, Boston naming test, Mini-Mental State Examination, trail making test B and stroop test (p<0.05). Furthermore, trail making test B and stroop test performance was correlated with white matter hyperintensity severity. However, Hamilton Depression Scale score was not significantly different between two groups.

Conclusion

Several findings from our study suggest that white matter hyperintensity is associated with neuropsychological performance, especially executive function. Moreover, executive dysfunction might contribute to poor treatment outcome of vascular depression group.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Demographic data and white matter scale of the subjects
jkna-51-306-i001

* : Hypertension defined according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committe on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7), : Diabetes mellitus defined according to International Diabetes Federation Epidemiology Task Force Concensus Group, : Dyslipidemia defined according to Revised The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Criteria (NCEP ATP III). SD : Standard deviation

Table 2
Clinical characteristics of non vascular depression group versus vascular depression group
jkna-51-306-i002

* : p<0.05. MMSE : Mini-Mental State Examination, SD : Standard deviation

Table 3
Correlation analysis of white matter hyperintensity, neuropsychological function, depression severity
jkna-51-306-i003

* : p<0.05. MMSE : Mini-Mental State Examination, HAM-D : Hamilton Depression Scale

Notes

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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