Atypical cognitive profile in patients with depression after myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND We evaluated the cognitive profile of 48 patients with major depression following their first myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS The cognitive performance of the patients was compared with the performance of 48 non-depressed MI patients and 48 healthy controls. RESULTS Depressed MI patients performed slower on a simple cognitive speed related measure compared with non-depressed MI patients and healthy controls. Attention and speed-related aspects of cognitive functioning were not affected. Surprisingly, (depressed) MI patients showed even better performances with respect to memory function. LIMITATION No patients with non-MI-related depression were included. CONCLUSIONS The cognitive profile of major depression after MI differs from that of non-cardiac-related depressive disorder, as described in the literature. This may reflect a different etiology of post MI depression from non-cardiac-related depression.