Psychomotor retardation in elderly depressed patients

Background: The results of previous studies on psychomotor retardation (PR) in elderly depressed patients are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was (1) to try and establish whether elderly depressed patients show PR, and (2) if so, which process (cognitive/motor or both) is mainly slowed? Methods: Twelve elderly depressed patients and healthy controls (age: 70) were compared on figure copying tasks in which the cognitive task difficulty was manipulated. Results: Both initiation time (IT) and movement time (MT) were prolonged in the patient group. The effects of the cognitive manipulations were not larger in the patient group. Limitations: The sample size was small. Furthermore, patients were not medication free. Conclusions: A cognitive and a more pronounced motor retardation was found. Clinicians should be aware of this at least additive effect of aging and depression on PR in elderly patients.