Cognitive functions in depression - current perspectives

The review summarizes the knowledge and specific findings about cognitive functioning in depression. Although decades of research on depressive disorder have pointed out cognitive impairment might be linked to depression, a number of meta-analyses indicated that cognitive impairment is not necessarily present in all individuals suffering from this disorder. On the other hand, apart from classical neuropsychological studies there is a growing body of research calling attention to the improvement of some cognitive processes linked to the negative affect with the overreach to depressive affect. The review focuses on these inconsistencies and discusses the methodology of the research on depression, which lacks unity. Last but not the least, attention is drawn to the role of cognition in the course of depression with considerations of how the methodology of research can help to identify it. Furthermore, suggestions for future research are proposed to bring more clarity into this complex matter.