Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Lay title: Does Subjective or Objective Cognitive Impairment Better Predict Daily Life Functioning in Individuals with Depression? Major depressive disorder (MDD) is currently a leading cause of disability worldwide. Individuals with depression commonly experience a pronounced change in mood and/or have difficulties feeling pleasure. Other common symptoms include changes in appetite, disturbed sleep, fatigue and a diminished ability to think or concentrate. Importantly, up to two-thirds of individuals with MDD experience cognitive impairment which encompasses deficits in attention, learning, memory and other cognitive domains important for daily functioning. However, individuals' subjective and objective cognitive functioning often differ from one another, and it is not entirely known which type of cognitive impairment (subjective or objective) better predicts daily life functioning in individuals with depression. Therefore, the goal of the present study is to determine which type of cognitive impairment predicts overall functioning in patients with MDD. To do this, participants with MDD will complete a series of questionnaires and cognitive tasks to assess their subjective and objective cognitive functioning, respectively. They will then complete a questionnaire to assess overall daily life functioning. Performance on these questionnaires and tasks will allow us to determine which cognitive impairments lead to problems in daily functioning. In turn, this will provide practical information regarding the need for treatments that are specifically directed at improving subjective or objective cognitive impairment.