Neuroticism levels in severe depression may reveal association with higher levels of intelligence

Abstract

AbstractThe anxious-misery spectrum of disorders encompasses some of the most debilitating mental disorders that effect the population at-large. In addition, neuroticism is a trait that has been shown to correlate with higher levels of reported symptomatology for individuals diagnosed with anxious-misery disorders. However, it is less understood which of these might be more predictive of the cognitive impairments typically associated with mental illness. Therefore, we selected a group of participants with high trait neuroticism and comorbid anxious-misery symptoms. Using confirmatory factor analysis, we loaded the results of seventeen neuropsychological measures from each participant onto five distinct factors that exists on the anxious-misery spectrum: Depression, Anxiety, Impulsivity, Insomnia, and Somatizing. These factors were then compared to the results that participants had on to neurocognitive batteries: the University of Pennsylvania Computerized Neurocognitive Test Battery as well and the National Institute of Health Toolbox. Contrary to our expectations, we found that those in the top quartile of depressive symptom severity performed better than controls on working memory measures. These results are thought to be the result of correlations that have been shown previously between high levels of neuroticism and higher levels of intelligence.