Neuropsychological assessment of impulsive behavior in abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Poor impulse control is thought to be one of the characteristics of alcohol addiction. The capacity to remain abstinent may be linked to cognitive bias related to three dimensions of impulsivity: motor, non-planning, and attentional impulsivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuropsychological profile related to these impulsivity dimensions in alcohol-dependent patients within 15 -120 days of abstinence.


METHODS
We compared 31 alcohol-dependent patients to 30 matched healthy controls regarding their performances on the Continuous Performance Task, the Iowa Gambling Test, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, each of which is thought to tax primarily one of the three dimensions of impulsivity just outlined.


RESULTS
When compared to controls, alcohol-dependent patients presented more commission errors on the Continuous Performance Task; made more disadvantageous choices on the Iowa Gambling Test; and made more perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. There was no significant correlation between performance on these tests and the length of abstinence.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that deficits related to motor, non-planning and attentional components of impulsivity exist in alcohol-dependent patients, in the period immediately after acute alcohol withdrawal. These results may help guide interventions designed to prevent the risk of relapse in alcohol-abstinent patients.
Salgado
João Vinicius
JV
Department of Psychiatry, Raul Soares Institute, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. jvisal@gmail.com
Malloy-Diniz
Leandro Fernandes
LF
Campos
Valdir Ribeiro
VR
Abrantes
Suzana Silva Costa
SS
Fuentes
Daniel
D
Bechara
Antoine
A
Correa
Humberto
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult