Memory Functioning and Antidepressant Treatment

Purpose of the Present Study: The purpose of the present study is to comprehensively evaluate memory functioning of MDD patients before and after 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment with bupropion-XL or escitalopram. A neuropsychological test battery will incorporate multiple aspects of memory functioning including: short-term \& working memory; verbal, non-verbal, spatial and prospective memory. Major Research Questions: 1. Which subtypes of memory at baseline are more impaired? 2. What is the relationship between memory impairment and symptom severity and previous number of episodes or duration of illness? 3. Is successful AD treatment associated with improvement in memory functioning? 4. Is there a main effect by AD type? 5. On which subtypes of memory do patients improve, worsen, or remain neutral in the 2 different AD groups? (Main effect of memory type?) 6. What is the relationship between change in memory function and symptomatic outcome? Study Design: This is a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy trial comparing the memory functioning of depressed subjects before and after 8 weeks of treatment with bupropion-XL as compared to escitalopram. All consenting, eligible subjects will receive either active bupropion-XL or active escitalopram following the baseline visit. Doses will be fixed with an opportunity for dose reduction if subjects are unable to tolerate fixed dose.