title: Childhood physical neglect associated with executive functions impairments in crack cocaine-dependent women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies that have investigated the executive functions (EFs) in crack cocaine-dependence have focused on differences between groups of drug users and non-user controls. In this study, however, we employ a promising additional approach that considers individual differences, such as exposure to childhood neglect that might be related to the degree of cognitive impairment associated with addiction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated EFs in crack cocaine-dependent women who have reported a history of childhood physical neglect (CPN) and compared these measures with those of crack cocaine-dependent women who do not reported CPN.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were divided into 2 groups: those with a history of CPN (CPN+) (n=37) and those without a history of CPN (CPN-) (n=48). Cold EFs were assessed with the Stroop Task, the Trail Making Test B, the Verbal Fluency Task, the N-Back Task and the Letter and Number Sequencing task. Hot EFs were assessed with the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CPN+ group exhibited lower performance in all of the tasks except the IGT. A multivariate analysis of covariance indicated significant group differences in EFs (F(6,63)=2.51, p=0.030), regardless of craving severity and premorbid IQ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CPN is associated with cognitive impairments in crack cocaine-dependent women specifically regarding EFs and working memory tasks.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Studies and Research in Traumatic Stress, Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, prédio 11, sala 936, Zipcode 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Wendt
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.forename: Saulo Gantes
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Tractenberg
authors.forename: Júlio Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pezzi
authors.forename: Christian Haag
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grassi-Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D057190:Stroop Test; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014145:Trail Making Test; D014705:Verbal Behavior
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine
keywords: Child abuse; Cocaine; Cognition; Early life stress; Executive functions; Neuropsychology; Psychological; Stress; Substance-related disorders