[Neurocognitive screening in substance addicts: the Montreal Cognitive Assessment].
BACKGROUND
The detection of neurocognitive disorders in addicts would allow subjects with functional impairment to be assigned to cognitive rehabilitation programmes. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a screening test that can be a valuable aid with this kind of patient.


OBJECTIVE
To use the MoCA with a sample of subjects with addictions who are receiving treatment and to compare the results with the criteria proposed for the general population, mild cognitive impairment and early dementias. It also intends to examine the concurrent validity with global execution tests and the relationship with socio-demographic variables and others related to addiction.


METHODS
The MoCA and the Allen Cognitive Level Screen-5 (ACLS-5) test were administered to a sample of 79 patients with addiction who were beginning treatment in a specific centre.


RESULTS
Only 29.1% of the participants presented normal performance in terms of the criteria proposed by the authors. The others achieved scores below the cut-off point, many of them displaying an alarmingly low score, even when compared with criteria for mild cognitive impairment and early dementias. The MoCA showed concurrent validity with the ACLS-5 and correlation with academic level, but not with variables related to addiction.


CONCLUSIONS
The MoCA is a test that is quick and simple to administer and correct. It allows the detection of subjects with extremely low cognitive performance that require neuropsychological and occupational interventions for cognitive rehabilitation, which increases treatment compliance and the benefits to be gained from other interventions with important cognitive demands, such as relapse prevention psychotherapy.
Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Espana. gloriaroj@yahoo.es
G
G
Rojo-Mota
E J
EJ
Pedrero-Perez
J M
JM
Ruiz-Sanchez de Leon
M
M
Llanero-Luque
C
C
Puerta-Garcia
D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011897:Random Allocation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*