Pre-surgical mood predicts memory decline after anterior temporal lobe resection for epilepsy

Robyn M. Busch, Mario F. Dulay, Kevin H. Kim, Jessica S. Chapin, Lara Jehi, Colleen C. Kalman, Richard I. Naugle, Imad M. Najm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined pre-surgical depressed mood as a predictor of post-surgical memory change in adults who underwent temporal lobe resections (TLRs; n = 211). Patients completed the Wechsler Memory Scale-III and Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) before and after TLR (left = 110, right = 101) and were divided into two groups (clinically elevated depressive symptoms or not depressed) based on BDI-II score. Left-TLR patients with poorer pre-surgical mood had greater verbal memory declines after surgery compared with nondepressed left- or right-TLR patients and right-TLR patients with poor mood. Further, pre-surgical BDI-II score demonstrated incremental validity in predicting post-surgical memory change in left-TLR patients beyond pre-surgical memory scores. Differences in seizure outcome and post-surgical mood change could not account for memory decline. Results suggest that elevated pre-surgical depressive symptomatology is a risk factor for post-surgical memory decline and indicate that mood should be considered when advising patients about cognitive risks associated with temporal lobectomy. Results are discussed in terms of poor pre-surgical mood as an indicator of reduced cognitive reserve.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)739-745
Number of pages7
JournalArchives of Clinical Neuropsychology
Volume26
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2011

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Epilepsy
  • Learning and memory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

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