Neurocognitive Disorders and Their Relationship with Major Depressive Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Psychiatric Hospital in Maracaibo, Venezuela

Berrocal Hoyos T.M.; Prieto de Rincón D.; Garizábalo Dávila C.M.; Visconti-Lopez F.J. · Gaceta Medica de Caracas (2026) · DOI: 10.47307/gmc.2026.134.s2.17

Resumen

Background: Neurocognitive disorders and major depressive disorders (MDD) frequently co-occur in older adults and complicate diagnosis and management in psychiatric settings. Objective: To assess the association between depression severity, cognitive impairment, and cognitive distortion patterns in patients treated at the Psychiatric Hospital of Maracaibo, Venezuela. Material and methods. Cross-sectional correlational study (November 2023 to October 2024) including 100 patients aged 54 to 82 years with depressive disorder (DSM-5-TR). Depression severity was measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), cognition with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and cognitive distortions with the Ruiz and Luján Automatic Thoughts Inventory. Key associations are reported with effect estimates and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Depression severity was moderate in 55 % (55/100), severe in 35 % (35/100), and mild in 10 % (10/100). Cognitive impairment (MMSE < 24) was present in 63 % (63/100; 95 % CI 52.8 to 72.4). Cognitive impairment was more frequent in severe than non-severe depression (94.3 % vs 46.2 %), with PR 2.04 (95 % CI 1.55 to 2.69). MMSE scores decreased with increasing depression severity. In cognitive distortions, severe depression showed higher scores across multiple domains; for example, “fallacy of change” was higher in severe versus moderate depression (standardized mean difference, Hedges g 2.07; 95 % CI 1.55 to 2.60). Conclusion: In this hospital-based sample, greater depression severity was associated with higher prevalence of cognitive impairment and higher cognitive distortion scores. These findings support integrated assessment of mood and cognition and motivate longitudinal studies to clarify temporal trajectories.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur