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Changes in the Episodic Memory and Executive Functions of Abstinent and Relapsed Alcoholics Over a 6-Month Period
- Source :
- Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, Wiley, 2009, 33 (3), pp.490-498. ⟨10.1111/j.1530-0277.2008.00859.x⟩
- Publication Year :
- 2009
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 2009.
-
Abstract
- Background: It is still unclear whether episodic memory and executive functions capacities can return to normal in abstinent patients over a 6-month period. Furthermore, the role of interim drinking in cognitive recovery is still not well known. Finally, further research is required to specify the predictive value of cognitive abilities at initial testing in the treatment outcome (abstinence or relapse). The aims of the present study were therefore to measure changes in episodic memory and executive functions over a 6-month period in abstinent and relapsed alcoholics and to ascertain whether neuropsychological results at treatment entry can predict treatment outcome at follow-up. Methods: Fifty-four alcoholic patients and 54 matched control subjects performed baseline neuropsychological tasks assessing episodic memory, executive functions, the slave systems of working memory and attentional abilities. At the follow-up session (i.e., 6 months later), episodic memory and 3 executive functions (inhibition, flexibility, and updating) were re-examined in the alcoholic patients. Results: Results showed that over the 6-month interval, the abstainers’ episodic memory and executive performances had returned to normal, whereas the relapsers performed lower than before in the flexibility task. Episodic memory and executive functions recovery was correlated, in abstainers, with drinking history and age respectively. Finally, there was no significant difference regarding neuropsychological scores at baseline between abstainers and relapsers. Discussion: Over the 6-month interval, abstainers normalized episodic memory and executive performances whereas relapsers obtained executive results which were more severely impaired, emphasizing the influence of interim drinking on cognitive changes. Episodic memory, executive functions, the slave systems of working memory and attentional abilities did not appear to be reliable predictors of treatment outcome over a 6-month interval.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Alcohol Drinking
media_common.quotation_subject
[SDV.MHEP.PSM] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Psychiatrics and mental health
Treatment outcome
[SDV.NEU.PC] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Psychology and behavior
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Toxicology
Developmental psychology
03 medical and health sciences
Cognition
0302 clinical medicine
Memory
Recurrence
Humans
Episodic memory
ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
media_common
[SDV.NEU.PC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Psychology and behavior
Working memory
[SCCO.NEUR]Cognitive science/Neuroscience
[SCCO.NEUR] Cognitive science/Neuroscience
Age Factors
Neuropsychology
Flexibility (personality)
Middle Aged
Abstinence
Executive functions
030227 psychiatry
Alcoholism
Psychiatry and Mental health
Treatment Outcome
Case-Control Studies
[SDV.MHEP.PSM]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Psychiatrics and mental health
[SCCO.PSYC] Cognitive science/Psychology
[SCCO.PSYC]Cognitive science/Psychology
Female
Psychology
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Follow-Up Studies
Clinical psychology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15300277 and 01456008
- Volume :
- 33
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....67367756cdef11ec48f0f79d333a9d45