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Cognitive deficits are a core feature of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, there are no previous studies that directly compare cognitive performance between first-episode drug-naive depressive patients (FDDP) and medicated depressive patients (MDP). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether there were the differences in cognitive functions between FDDP and MDP. Sixty-two FDDP, 111 MDP and 90 healthy controls were enrolled in a Chinese population. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). There were the differences in the RBANS total score (F = 26.55, p < 0.001), subscales of immediate memory (F = 3.95, p = 0.02), language (F = 54.11, p < 0.001) and delayed memory (F = 11.19, p = 0.001) among the three groups after controlling for gender, education, smoking and body mass index (BMI). These differences in the RBANS total score, subscales of language and delayed memory passed the Bonferroni corrections (all, p < 0.05). Compared to healthy controls, FDDP and MDP had poorer cognitive performance including the RBANS total score, and subscales of language and delayed memory (all, p < 0.05) after controlling for the variables. FDDP experienced greater language deficits than MDP (p < 0.05) after controlling for the variables. Education was correlated with the language score in FDDP (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that education was an independent contributor to the language score in FDDP (ß = 3.11, t = 5.48, p < 0.001). Our findings indicated that FDDP had poorer language performance than MDP. Moreover, education could influence the language performance in FDDP.

Long-term antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia is associated with the development of tardive dyskinesia (TD), which is involved in increased cognitive impairment. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) gene associated with dopamine and norepinephrine systems influences cognition. Schizophrenia with TD have higher DBH activity than those without TD. This study examined whether DBH5'-insertion/deletion (-Ins/Del) polymorphism could influence cognitive function in schizophrenia with and without TD. The presence of DBH5'-Ins/Del polymorphism was determined in 345 schizophrenia with TD and 397 schizophrenia without TD. The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale and Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) were used to assess TD severity and cognition. The allele and genotype frequencies of DBH5'-Ins/Del polymorphism did not differ between patients with and without TD (both p>0.05). RBANS total score and subscales did not differ by DBH5'-Ins/Del genotype groups in patients with TD (all p>0.05). However, attention score significantly differed by DBH5'-Ins/Del genotype groups in those without TD (p<0.05). Patients without TD who were Del homozygous had significantly lower attention score than those without TD who were Ins alleles (p<0.05). Immediate memory and attention scores were lower in patients with TD than without TD (both p<0.05). This study indicated that DBH5'-Ins/Del polymorphism may not play a role in the susceptibility to TD and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia with TD, but it may influence cognitive function in schizophrenia with non-TD. Moreover, schizophrenia with TD experienced greater cognitive deficits than those with non-TD, especially in immediate memory and attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]