[Anxiety-depressive disorders and cognitive impairment in patients of the primary level of health care].

An objective of the study was to compare cognitive and anxiety-depressive disorders in patients of the primary level of health care. Authors studied 103 patients, mean age 51.2±15.9 years, of a psychotherapeutic setting in a polyclinic. Patients were stratified into three groups: patients with anxiety-depressive disorders (ADD), with mild organic mental disorders (MOMD) and with the combination of ADD and MOMD. Patients were assessed using a form for assessment of anxiety and depressive symptoms and psychometric scales HADS, MMSE, FAB, ACE-R. High positive correlations between the total score on the subscale "depression" of the HADS and some ACE-R items (total score, orientation/attention, verbal fluency) and total score on the FAB were identified in patients with ADD and MOMD compared to other groups. In patients with ADD, the correlations between some measures of cognitive style and language disturbances measured with the ACE-R were found. The results indicate that it is necessary to evaluate cognitive impairment (deficit symptoms and distortions in cognitive styles) in patients with anxiety-depressive disorders at the primary level of health care and to take it in account in choosing treatment options and predicting outcome.