Background: Significant differences between psychotic and
non-psychotic major depression have been noted along many axes. Objective:
To find out and assess the different cognitive deficits in major depressed
patients psychotic and non-psychotic. Methods: A 40 patients aged 20-50
years diagnosed as major depressive disorder with psychotic features selected
from the psychiatric outpatient clinic and 40 age matched patients, diagnosed
as major depressive disorder without psychotic features according to the DSM-IV
TR. All patients were subjected to the following procedures: 1-Full clinical
psychiatric sheet. 2-HRSD. 3-WAIS-R. 4-WCST. 5-Cortisol level at 8.00 am and at 8.00 pm in the same day. Results: There was a statistically
significant difference in level of cortisol at both am and pm and there was a
significant difference between both groups regarding the percentage of change
of cortisol level during the day. There was no statistical significant
difference between both groups as regard HRSD, however there was a significant
difference on a number of cognitive abilities, verbal and performance IQ, and
deterioration index. Conclusions: Cognitive deficits showed qualitative
and quantitative differences as well as different correlation with cortisol
levels and percent of change over a day. [Egypt
J Neurol Psychiat Neurosurg. 2012; 49(1): 13-22]
Key Words:
Psychotic major depression, Non-psychotic major depression, Cortisol level,
Cognitive functions, Executive functions.
Correspondence to Mohamed Ezzat Amin Arafa,
Department of Psychiatry, Cairo
University, Egypt.
Tel.: +201001509201 E-mail: mezat65@hotmail.com