Semantic organizational strategy predicts verbal memory and remission rate of geriatric depression

Objective This study tests the hypothesis that the use of semantic organizational strategy during the free‐recall phase of a verbal memory task predicts remission of geriatric depression. Methods Sixty‐five older patients with major depression participated in a 12‐week escitalopram treatment trial. Neuropsychological performance was assessed at baseline after a 2‐week drug washout period. The Hopkins Verbal Learning Test‐Revised was used to assess verbal learning and memory. Remission was defined as a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of ≤7 for 2 consecutive weeks and no longer meeting the DSM‐IV‐TR criteria for major depression. The association between the number of clusters used at the final learning trial (trial 3) and remission was examined using Cox's proportional hazards survival analysis. The relationship between the number of clusters utilized in the final learning trial and the number of words recalled after a 25‐min delay was examined in a regression with age and education as covariates. Results Higher number of clusters utilized predicted remission rates (hazard ratio, 1.26 (95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.54); χ2 = 4.23, df = 3, p = 0.04). There was a positive relationship between the total number of clusters used by the end of the third learning trial and the total number of words recalled at the delayed recall trial (F(3,58) = 7.93; p