Abstract
Depression is not only a disorder of mood and affect but also a form of cognitive impairment. Patients with depression are shown to be impaired in a range of cognitive domains, including psychomotor speed, memory, attention, and executive function. Cognitive dysfunction also reportedly remains unresolved even after remission of depressive symptoms. Recent studies have found that cognitive impairments in depression predict treatment responsiveness, recurrence, and relapse. Furthermore, cognitive impairment may be a key factor affecting the patientʼs occupational and social functioning. Given that some antidepressants may cause drug - induced cognitive impairment, clinicians should be cautious in their use. Further investigations of these issues are needed because there is still a lack of good- quality studies.
