Abstract: Objective To estimate attention networks in patients with depression and the effects of venlafaxine (selective noradrenergic and serotonin reuptake inhibition) on them. Method 32 Patients met CCMD-3 criteria for major depression were treated with venlafaxine and were tested with Attention networks test, SDS, HAMD before and after 6 weeks. Results Compared with control, the alerting and executive control attention networks effects were significantly changed while the orienting network effects were not differences. The alerting network effects were negatively correlated with the factor 6 (sleep disturbance) in HAMD. After treatmeant, the alerting effects were significantly increased, these changes were positive correlated with the improvement of factor 6. The executive control network effects, SDS and HAMD were significantly reduced. The orienting effects were not changed. Conclusion Depression patients suffered alerting and executive control networks deficits which were correlated with symptoms. Venlafaxine selectively impacted the alerting and executive control attention networks in depression, but had no effects on orienting network

Key words: depression, attention networks test, Venlafaxine