Grant: Operating Grant

Major depressive disorder is the number one cause of disability worldwide. Evidence regarding the effectiveness of various treatments for patients with severe depression is still lacking. Although many patients achieve treatment response, only a minority of patients achieve full remission and even fewer sustain it. In fact, within one month 10% will be re-hospitalized and the rate climbs to 30% within a year. Further, remission from depressive symptoms is a surprisingly poor predictor of recovery of community functioning following discharge. It is clear that the traditional focus on diagnostic symptoms is insufficient for promoting a full return to everyday functioning. In this proposal, we aim to examine the efficacy and effectiveness of treating neurocognition, a symptom that explains persistent deficits in community functioning for those with depression. We present a novel study design that maps on to the contemporary clinical setting, in order to reflect the changing landscape of inpatient and community treatment.