[Cognitive impact of antidepressants]

Abstract

This review aims to synthesize informations about the cognitive effects of antidepressants, eg memory, attention and psychomotor functions. The specific cognitive profile of each compound relies on its biochemical action, particularly with its anticholinergic or noradrenergic properties. Some of these treatments can produce sedative or dysmnesic impact while on the other hand others can have no cognitive impact or even produce a stimulating effect. This analysis tends to facilitate a good clinical prescription by summarizing all the different cognitive effects of antidepressants, regarding the type of the population selected (healthy volunteers or depressed patients), their age and the duration of the prescription (acute dose or long-term treatment). Finally general advices are preconized to avoid a decrease in cognitive efficiency when an antidepressant treatment is introduced.