Affective and cognitive decision making in major depression: influence of the prefrontal cortex, serotonin transporter genotype and personality traits
Must, A.; Horváth, S.ár.; Janka, Z.án.
Ideggyogyaszati Szemle 61(5-6): 175-179
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-1442 PMID: 18567393 Document Number: 623895
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) show neuropsychological impairments, including deficient executive functions and suboptimal decision-making strategies, which are mediated by several brain regions. In the development of these symptoms the pathology of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), including the dorsolateral, ventromedial and orbitofrontal regions, may also play an important role. Neuropsychological assessment is a useful tool in detecting and measuring these deficiencies, showing that patients with MDD exhibit altered sensitivity to reward and punishment. However, impairment of emotional decision-making strategies in MDD is influenced by genetic variations (5-HTTLPR polymorphism) and personality traits, which seem to have a higher predictive value on decision making performance than the clinical symptoms.