Networks of Depression and Cognition in Elderly Psychiatric Patients

Objective: Applying the network approach to explore connections between depression and cognition in dependency on cognitive status. Methods: 264 patients from a ward for geriatric psychiatry with depressive symptoms and/or cognitive impairment were included in the study. Assessments of neuropsychological functioning (CERAD, TMT, Clock) and depression (Geriatric Depression Scale) were used. Results: “Hopelessness” and “loss of energy” are the most pivotal nodes in the depression network. Various connections were found when cognitive status differed. “Social withdrawal” connects depression and cognition in the noncognitively impaired group and “subjective memory complaints” and “anxiety” in the cognitively impaired group. Conclusions: Network analyses provide new insights into the complexity of associations. Practical implications for targeted clinical interventions on the connection points are discussed.