The Impact of Antidepressant Treatment on Cognitive Functioning in Depressed Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Depression is associated with more rapid cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease. The goal of this study was to examine the impact of the acute (8-week) and longer-term (24-week) antidepressant treatment on cognition in Parkinson's disease and to detail cognitive predictors of treatment response. Fifty-two depressed Parkinson's disease patients were enrolled in an NIH-funded randomized, controlled trial of nortriptyline, paroxetine, and placebo. Neuropsychological testing was performed at baseline and weeks 8 and 24. Higher baseline scores on measures of executive functioning, speed of processing, and verbal memory were associated with antidepressant response. Treatment responders did not exhibit larger gains in cognition than nonresponders. Findings warrant replication. (The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 2010; 22: 188-195)