Article Version of Record

The influence of planning and response inhibition on cognitive functioning of non-psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attempters

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Moniz, Marco
de Jesus, Saul Neves
Pacheco, Andreia
Gonçalves, Eduardo
Viseu, João
Brás, Marta
Silva, Dina
Batista, Sílvia

Abstract / Description

Depression is one of the main risk factors for suicide. However, little is known about the intricate relationships among depressive symptomatology in unipolar depression, suicide risk, and the characteristics of executive dysfunction in depressed patients. We compared 20 non-psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attempters to 20 matching depressed non-attempters and to 20 healthy controls to further investigate the possible differences in neuropsychological performance. Depressed subjects were controlled for current suicidal ideation, and their neuropsychological profile was assessed using a range of measures of executive functioning, attention, verbal memory, processing speed, and psychomotor speed. Depressed groups were outperformed by healthy controls. Depressed attempters presented more cognitive impairment than depressed non-attempters on a simple Go/No-go response inhibition task and performed better than non-attempters on the Tower of London planning task. Depressed attempters were clearly distinguished by a deficit in response inhibition (Go/No-go commission errors). The normative planning performance (Tower of London extra moves) of the suicide attempters was unexpected, and this unanticipated finding calls for further research. Normative planning may indicate an increased risk of suicidal behavior.

Keyword(s)

unipolar depression cognitive functioning executive dysfunction planning response inhibition suicide attempts

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2017-11-30

Journal title

Europe's Journal of Psychology

Volume

13

Issue

4

Page numbers

717–732

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Moniz, M., de Jesus, S. N., Pacheco, A., Gonçalves, E., Viseu, J., Brás, M., Silva, D., & Batista, S. (2017). The influence of planning and response inhibition on cognitive functioning of non-psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attempters. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 13(4), 717–732. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v13i4.1385
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Moniz, Marco
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    de Jesus, Saul Neves
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Pacheco, Andreia
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Gonçalves, Eduardo
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Viseu, João
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Brás, Marta
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Silva, Dina
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Batista, Sílvia
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-21T10:00:09Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-21T10:00:09Z
  • Date of first publication
    2017-11-30
  • Abstract / Description
    Depression is one of the main risk factors for suicide. However, little is known about the intricate relationships among depressive symptomatology in unipolar depression, suicide risk, and the characteristics of executive dysfunction in depressed patients. We compared 20 non-psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attempters to 20 matching depressed non-attempters and to 20 healthy controls to further investigate the possible differences in neuropsychological performance. Depressed subjects were controlled for current suicidal ideation, and their neuropsychological profile was assessed using a range of measures of executive functioning, attention, verbal memory, processing speed, and psychomotor speed. Depressed groups were outperformed by healthy controls. Depressed attempters presented more cognitive impairment than depressed non-attempters on a simple Go/No-go response inhibition task and performed better than non-attempters on the Tower of London planning task. Depressed attempters were clearly distinguished by a deficit in response inhibition (Go/No-go commission errors). The normative planning performance (Tower of London extra moves) of the suicide attempters was unexpected, and this unanticipated finding calls for further research. Normative planning may indicate an increased risk of suicidal behavior.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Moniz, M., de Jesus, S. N., Pacheco, A., Gonçalves, E., Viseu, J., Brás, M., Silva, D., & Batista, S. (2017). The influence of planning and response inhibition on cognitive functioning of non-psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attempters. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 13(4), 717–732. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v13i4.1385
  • ISSN
    1841-0413
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1075
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1267
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v13i4.1385
  • Keyword(s)
    unipolar depression
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    cognitive functioning
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    executive dysfunction
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    planning
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    response inhibition
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    suicide attempts
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    The influence of planning and response inhibition on cognitive functioning of non-psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attempters
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    4
  • Journal title
    Europe's Journal of Psychology
  • Page numbers
    717–732
  • Volume
    13
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record