Orygen, Australia; and Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
Caroline Gao
Orygen; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne; and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia
Sarah E. Hetrick
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Kate M. Filia
Orygen; and Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
Jana M. Menssink
Orygen; and Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
Caroline Fisher
Department of Psychology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne Health; and The Melbourne Clinic, Australia
Ian B. Hickie
Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia
Helen E. Herrman
Orygen; and Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
Debra J. Rickwood
headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation; and Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Australia
Alexandra G. Parker
Orygen; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne; and Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Australia
Patrick D. Mcgorry
Orygen; and Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
Sue M. Cotton
Orygen; and Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
BackgroundSubjective cognitive difficulties are common in mental illness and have a negative impact on role functioning. Little is understood about subjective cognition and the longitudinal relationship with depression and anxiety symptoms in young people.AimsTo examine the relationship between changes in levels of depression and anxiety and changes in subjective cognitive functioning over 3 months in help-seeking youth.MethodThis was a cohort study of 656 youth aged 12–25 years attending Australian headspace primary mental health services. Subjective changes in cognitive functioning (rated as better, same, worse) reported after 3 months of treatment was assessed using the Neuropsychological Symptom Self-Report. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of baseline levels of and changes in depression (nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ9) and anxiety symptoms (seven-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale; GAD7) on changes in subjective cognitive function at follow-up while controlling for covariates.ResultsWith a one-point reduction in PHQ9 at follow-up, there was an estimated 11–18% increase in ratings of better subjective cognitive functioning at follow-up, relative to stable cognitive functioning. A one-point increase in PHQ9 from baseline to follow-up was associated with 7–14% increase in ratings of worse subjective cognitive functioning over 3 months, relative to stable cognitive functioning. A similar attenuated pattern of findings was observed for the GAD7.ConclusionsA clear association exists between subjective cognitive functioning outcomes and changes in self-reported severity of affective symptoms in young people over the first 3 months of treatment. Understanding the timing and mechanisms of these associations is needed to tailor treatment.
