Recent Advances in Psychological Interventions Targeting Cognitive Dysfunction in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a frequently occurring and impairing mental health condition marked by cognitive deficits in several areas, such as attention, executive functions, information processing speed, and memory. It is noteworthy that while affective symptoms of MDD tend to subside when the depressive episode is resolved, cognitive impairment frequently persists and increases the risk of relapse. The present study systematically collected and assessed evidence from the past 10 years of randomized controlled clinical trials targeting cognitive deficiencies in adults with MDD through the implementation of psychological interventions, specifically cognitive remediation therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed and Web of Science databases from January 1, 2013, to July 31, 2023. A total of 520 studies were initially identified, and six of them met the inclusion criteria, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Participants in the intervention groups were 187, and 125 in the control groups. Most studies showed significant improvements in attention and self-assessed everyday performance. Findings pertaining to executive function and verbal learning and memory varied, with some studies conveying significant improvements in those domains post-intervention, and others failing to demonstrate any statistically significant effects. The results showcased the need to conduct larger, meticulously designed, double-blind randomized controlled trials with standardized measurement tools to more accurately evaluate the efficacy of those non-pharmaceutical interventions. Future research is warranted to investigate deficits in verbal memory, verbal learning, and executive function, since these domains seem to be the most resistant to change.