title: Similar profile of cognitive impairment and recovery for Aboriginal Australians in treatment for episodic or chronic alcohol use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The cognitive impairment and recovery associated with chronic alcohol abuse and subsequent abstinence is well understood. However, the recovery profile following heavy episodic or 'binge' use, which is common among some Australian Aboriginal users, has not been investigated thoroughly and no empirical studies have examined chronic use in this population. The aim of this study was to identify and compare cognitive impairment and recovery associated with chronic and episodic alcohol use among Aboriginal Australians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal case-control design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residential alcohol treatment programmes in northern Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty chronic alcohol users, 24 episodic users and 41 healthy controls [mean age = 34.24; standard deviation (SD) = 9.73].
  
  
  METHODS
  Cognitive assessments of visual motor, attention, memory, learning and executive functions at baseline (start of treatment), then 4 weeks and 8 weeks later. Reassessment of 31% of participants an average of 11 months later (SD = 4.4) comparing those who remained abstinent (n = 5), those who relapsed (n = 11) and healthy controls (n = 19).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, chronic and episodic alcohol users showed impaired visual motor, learning, memory and executive functions. With the exception of visual motor impairment, all deficits had improved to normal levels within 4 weeks. Visual motor deficits had normalized within 11 months. Performances did not differ at any time between chronic and episodic alcohol groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Aboriginal Australians, episodic drinking is associated with similar patterns of impairment and recovery as chronic alcohol use. Most cognitive deficits appear to recover within the first month of abstinence, while persisting visual motor problems recover within 1 year.
authors: Menzies School of Health Research, Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia. kylie.dingwall@menzies.edu.au
authors: Kylie M
authors: KM
authors: Dingwall
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Maruff
authors: Sheree
authors: S
authors: Cairney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001315:Australia; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012008:Recurrence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol