Aims: The study of cognitive functioning in large epidemiological settings is hampered by a lack of instruments for the remote assessment of cognitive performance, especially when targeting variability across the full range of adult functioning. The present study examined the practicability of such investigations using a recently developed telephone interview (Cognitive Telephone Screening Instrument, COGTEL). Methods: A subcohort of an ongoing epidemiological study in the elderly German population (ESTHER) was interviewed via telephone by trained personnel. These data were combined with sociodemographic information obtained by standardized self-administered questionnaires, and analysed by tabulation, histograms and regression models. Results: A total of 1,697 interviews could be analysed. The eligible participants had a mean age ± standard deviation of 74.0 ± 2.8 years. The COGTEL total scores closely followed a normal distribution with no evidence of a ceiling effect. In adjusted regression models, COGTEL total and subcomponent scores were negatively associated with age and strongly positively with higher education, whereas the association with sex was less consistent. Conclusions: The results suggest that the COGTEL can readily be administered to large study populations and produces plausible and informative results. Education should be considered in all investigations using this instrument and requires further in-depth analyses. Future studies will need to elucidate its associations with risk factors and its prognostic potential for cognitive decline and dementia. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

L’électroconvulsivothérapie (ECT), anciennement connue sous le nom «d’électrochoc», est utilisée dans le traitement de plusieurs pathologies psychiatriques, notamment la dépression majeure réfractaire au traitement. La crainte d’effets secondaires cognitifs en limite l’utilisation, malgré les nombreuses améliorations qui ont eu lieu depuis son invention en 1938. Le choix des tests cognitifs à inclure dans le suivi clinique demeure sujet de discussion, peu de données étant disponibles sur les impacts cognitifs des techniques modernes d’ECT. La présente étude a donc pour but de faire une revue systématique des effets secondaires cognitifs des pratiques modernes de l’ECT, et de faire la revue des tests cognitifs utilisés dans le suivi clinique. En ce sens, 91 études ont été sélectionnées selon les standards PRISMA et incluses pour méta-analyse, pour un total de 3762 patients; les tests cognitifs ont été séparés en 11 différents domaines; les résultats aux tests cognitifs pré-ECT ont été comparés aux résultats post-ECT à 3 différents temps, soit immédiatement post-ECT (moins de 24h), court terme (moins d’un mois) et long terme (plus d’un mois). Malgré une hétérogénéité élevée, les données montrent un impact à court terme négatif léger à modéré, surtout sur la mémoire autobiographique, la mémoire verbale et la fluidité verbale; au contraire, les fonctions exécutives sont améliorées rapidement après l’ECT. On observe à long terme une amélioration sur presque tous les domaines cognitifs. Certaines populations sont davantage à risque d’effets secondaires, montrant par exemple une atteinte de la fluidité verbale inversement proportionnelle à l’âge. Le Mini-Mental (MMSE), bien qu’il soit le plus utilisé dans la littérature, semble limité pour le suivi des effets secondaires cognitifs de l’ECT. / Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains one of the most effective treatments for major depressive disorder but remains highly stigmatised. Fear of cognitive side effects limit its use, even after numerous improvements of the ECT techniques since its discovery in 1938. Uncertainties persist regarding the best cognitive tests to be included in ECT clinical follow-up, as there are only few systematised data of the cognitive impact of modern ECT techniques. The current study is a systematic review of the most frequent cognitive side effects following ECT and a review of the cognitive tests used in clinical follow up. A total of 91 studies published from 2000, with an aggregated sample of 3762 individuals were included. Standardized cognitive tests were separated into 10 different cognitive domains for analysis. Comparisons between cognitive measures included pre-ECT baseline with post-ECT cognitive measures at three times: immediate effects (within 24h post-ECT), subacute (within one month post-ECT), and long-term (more than one month post-ECT). Although studies showed high heterogeneity, Hedges’ g revealed small to medium effect sizes for short-term effects post-ECT, with individuals presenting a decrease in autobiographical memory, verbal fluency, and verbal memory. The impact on verbal fluency showed an inverse correlation with age, being significantly greater in younger adults. Conversely, executive functions improved significantly post-ECT. Long-term effects showed an improvement on almost all cognitive domains. According to the literature, the Mini-Mental State Examination is the most common screening test used in ECT, but its clinical utility is extremely limited to track post-ECT cognitive changes.