title: Decision-making deficits linked to real-life social dysfunction in crack cocaine-dependent individuals.
abstract: Crack cocaine-dependent individuals (CCDI) present abnormalities in both social adjustment and decision making, but few studies have examined this association. This study investigated cognitive and social performance of 30 subjects (CCDI × controls); CCDI were abstinent for 2 weeks. We used the Social Adjustment Scale (SAS), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Disadvantageous choices on the IGT were associated with higher levels of social dysfunction in CCDI, suggesting the ecological validity of the IGT. Social dysfunction and decision making may be linked to the same underlying prefrontal dysfunction, but the nature of this association should be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo College of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. pjcunha@usp.br
authors.forename: Paulo Jannuzzi
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bechara
authors.forename: Arthur Guerra
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicastri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects*; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine