0219 Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Vigilant Attention in High School Students

Abstract Introduction Depressive symptoms during adolescence may impair vigilant attention, yet the association has not been fully explored. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and vigilant attention in Japanese high school students. Methods We recruited a total of 426 high school students (ages 15–17) from two high schools in Japan. Each participant completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and underwent the Brief Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT-B) to measure vigilant attention. Two primary indicators were derived from the PVT-B: response speed (reciprocal reaction time) and lapse (number of reaction times ≥355 ms). For the analysis, the worst 20% of students on each PVT-B metrics (response speed and lapse) were defined as having impaired vigilant attention. Gender-stratified analyses were conducted to examine potential differences between male and female students. Logistic regression was used to compare students with CES-D ≥20 to those with CES-D < 20, adjusting for age, BMI, sleep duration, caffeine intake, and time from awakening to conducting PVT. Results In the total participants, depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥20) were associated with slower response speed (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97–2.67) with marginal statistical significance (p=0.08). Lapse was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.16–3.28, p=0.01), suggesting that students experiencing depressive symptoms showed reduced vigilant attention on the PVT-B. Gender-stratified analyses revealed no significant associations between response speed and lapse among male students. However, depressive symptoms were significantly associated with slower response speed (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.14–4.52, p=0.02) and higher lapse (OR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.34–5.55, p=0.01) among female students. Conclusion The present study showed that depressive symptoms are associated with impaired vigilant attention in female high school students, but not in male one. Support (if any) This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant JP22H00496, JP23K19780.