Table 3. Verbal Memory Assessed with the RAVLT at Baseline (Week 1), Upon Treatment Completion (Week 9), and at 6-Week Follow-Up After Treatment Completion (Week 14).

	Week 1 baseline, M (SD)	Week 9, M (SD)	Week 14, M (SD)	Time (weeks 1, 9) Time (weeks 1, 9)a by group, P-value	Time (weeks 1–14) Time (weeks 1–14)a by group, P-value
Total recall across the five learning trials (trials I–V)
EPO (N=17)	44.1 (10.9)	50.3 (9.2)	51.6 (9.2)	0.17	0.52
Saline (N=20)	43.5 (9.4)	45.4 (10.8)	44.7 (9.5)	0.02 (df=1,32)	0.03 (df=2,64)
Immediate recall following interference (trial VI)
EPO (N=17)	8.9 (2.8)	10.4 (2.4)	10.5 (3.0)	0.001	0.003
Saline (N=20)	8.9 (3.7)	8.9 (3.7)	9.0 (3.5)	0.11 (df=1,32)	0.23 (df=2,64)
Delayed recall (30 min)
EPO (N=17)	8.8 (3.2)	10.1 (3.5)	10.0 (3.0)	0.01	0.02
Saline (N=20)	9.0 (3.1)	8.5 (3.6)	8.6 (3.4)	0.08 (df=1,32)	0.16 (df=2,64)
Recognition
EPO (N=17)	11.8 (2.9)	13.5 (1.6)	12.8 (1.8)	0.69	0.92
Saline (N=19)	12.7 (2.4)	12.6 (2.1)	12.1 (2.4)	0.03 (df=1,31)	0.04 (df=2,62)
Composite score
EPO (N=17)	−0.2 (3.5)	1.0 (3.0)	1.1 (3.1)	0.11	0.24
Saline (N=19)	0.4 (3.5)	−0.5 (3.4)	−0.7 (3.8)	0.003 (df=1,31)	0.004 (df=2,62)

Abbreviations: EPO, erythropoietin; M, mean; RAVLT, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; SD, standard deviation.

RAVLT data were missing for two patients (one EPO, one saline), hence analyses included: N=37 patients; an additional patient (saline) had no baseline recognition data, hence analysis: N=36 for this subtest. Composite score: sum of total learning, immediate and delayed recall, and recognition scores. Note that there may be slight differences in these numbers to the ‘change scores' reported in the text because of rounding up/down to round numbers.

Note: There may be slight differences in these numbers to the ‘change scores' reported in the text because of rounding up/down to round numbers.

Covariates for repeated-measures ANCOVA: age, gender, and depression severity (HDRS-17 score) at week 9.

^aDegrees of freedom (df) are identical for time and time by group.