White-matter integrity predicts stroop performance in patients with geriatric depression.

Background: This study tested the hypothesis that microstructural white matter abnormalities in frontostriatal-limbic tracts are associated with poor response inhibition on the Stroop task in depressed elders.

Method: Fifty-one elders with major depression participated in a 12-week escitalopram trial. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to determine fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter regions.

Executive dysfunction and the course of geriatric depression.

Background: Executive dysfunction is common in geriatric depression and persists after improvement of depressive symptoms. This study examined the relationship of executive impairment to the course of depressive symptoms among elderly patients with major depression.

Methods: A total of 112 nondemented elderly patients with major depression participated in an 8-week citalopram trial at a target daily dose of 40 mg.