J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2012 Sep;51(5):306-311.

Clinical Characteristics of Vascular Depression in Korean Elderly People

• Huh HJ
• Hahn C
• Won WY
• Hong SC
• Lee CU
• Lim HK
• Jun TY

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.

Keyword

Geriatric depression; Vascular depression; White matter hyperintensity; Executive function

MeSH Terms

Aged
Boston
Brain
Depression
Executive Function
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Stroop Test
Trail Making Test
Treatment Outcome

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