Modafinil's Effects on Cognition in Remitted MDD

Cognitive difficulties such as indecisiveness or inability to concentrate are core symptoms of depression with up to 90% of untreated depressed individuals experiencing these symptoms. As many as half of those who remit from a major depressive episode continue to experience residual cognitive deficits, but these symptoms are frequently overlooked in clinical practice. This leads to persistent cognitive deficits which can cause reduced level of functioning and loss of productivity. As standard antidepressants have an inadequate impact on these residual cognitive symptoms, further treatment options are required. Modafinil is a wakefulness agent with evidence that it improves some domains in cognition such as memory in those whose non-cognitive depressive symptoms have been treated over a short term period. This medication may have favourable lasting effects on cognition, such as the ability to plan and execute tasks in those who receive modafinil for a longer time period. The aim of this study is to investigate whether modafinil can enhance cognition and have additional effects on functioning and work productivity in a sample of participants who were treated for depression but who continue to experience cognitive deficits.