Degree Date

8-2026

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Academic Discipline

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Emese Vitalis

Second Advisor

Brad Olson

Third Advisor

Sarah Riccio

Abstract

Depression is a widely studied mood disorder, and understanding its effect on cognitive functioning has become an important area of research. While research has examined relationships among depression, working memory, and cognitive deficits, limited research has explored depressive symptoms and cognitive proficiency across biological sex. Depression manifests similarly in men and women, though men are more likely to experience irritability, impulsivity, and anger, while women tend to experience sadness, stress, and sleep disturbances (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2023). Women are also more likely to seek treatment and cope differently than men. This study examined the relationship between depression and cognitive proficiency across biological sex. Using the Cognitive Proficiency Index from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Personality Assessment Inventory Depression Index—which includes cognitive, affective, and physiological subscales—this research explored whether depressive symptoms relate to cognitive proficiency differently for men and women. Archival data were used from the Landstrom Center, a neuropsychological private practice in Schaumburg, Illinois. Results indicate that physiological depressive symptoms are significantly associated with lower working memory performance, even after accounting for biological sex, whereas cognitive and affective symptoms are not significant predictors. The study found no significant relationships between depressive symptoms and processing speed. Overall, these findings suggest that the relationship between depression and cognitive functioning may be domain-specific, with physiological symptoms more closely linked to deficits in effortful cognitive processes such as working memory.

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