A - 123 Depression and Negative Symptoms Predicting Memory and Verbal Fluency in Psychotic Major Depression

Although substantial research exists regarding negative symptoms and depression impacting cognitive functioning in schizophrenia, research in major depression with psychotic features (psychotic major depression; PMD) is limited (Calderon-Mediavilla et al., 2021). This study investigates if negative symptoms can predict delayed verbal memory and verbal fluency in individuals with PMD, after controlling for depression severity.As part of a larger study, 49 adults with PMD (57% female; Mage = 37.7 years) were administered the following measures. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale measured depression severity. A negative symptoms composite score was made with items from the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. The California Verbal Learning Test-II measured verbal memory. The Controlled Oral Word Association Test measured verbal fluency.Depression and negative symptoms were not significantly correlated (r = 0.08, p > 0.05). After controlling for depression severity, negative symptoms explained an additional 8.5% of the variance in long-delay free recall (Adjusted R2 = 12%, p < 0.05). Depression and negative symptoms were significant unique predictors (β = 0.302, β = -0.29, respectively; ps < 0.05). After controlling for depression severity (which was not a significant predictor), negative symptoms explained 14.9% of the variance in verbal fluency (p < 0.05).Negative psychotic symptoms are just as important or more important than depression severity in predicting verbal fluency and memory for individuals with depression who experience psychotic symptoms during a depressive episode. These findings improve the understanding of cognitive functioning in individuals with PMD, which can impact treatment planning.