LAUSR

Evaluate the relation between depression and performance on eight widely used tests: Revised Category Test, Trail Making Test, Part B Tactual Performance Test, TPT Memory, TPT Location, Aphasia Screening Test, Seashore Rhythm Test and Speech Perception Test. Participants: 116 women, 71 men referred for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation in an outpatient memory disorders clinic as part of a broader neurodiagnostic workup for memory complaints and cognitive decline. Referral sources: neurologists (78%), primary care physicians (21%). Patients’ mean age: 59.0 (SD =13.8); education: 14.9 (SD = 2.6) years. They were screened from a larger sample (N = 214) for brain disorder or positive neurodiagnostic findings. All participants satisfied performance and symptom validity criteria. Diagnostically, 62% had mood disorders. Based on Scale D scores, 65 middle-range scorers were excluded and 122 patients were classified into High and Low Depressive Symptom groups (ns = 61). The two groups were no different on age, education, Average Impairment Rating or predicted level of intelligence (Test of Premorbid Function). On all eight of the neuropsychological tests, scores were compared across the two groups. There was no main effect (MANOVA) for group, F(8,98) = 1.56, p = .147. Univariate comparisons revealed a trend on TPT Location but no statistically significant effects of depression severity on any of these tests. Results suggest that severity of depressive symptoms is unrelated to performance on these neuropsychological tests. In cooperative examinees, these tests are valid for assessing brain-based abilities independent of depressive symptom severity.