title: Executive control in long-term abstinent alcoholics with mild to borderline intellectual disability: the relationship with IQ and severity of alcohol use-related problems.
abstract: Deficits in executive control might be related to alcohol abuse in individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID). The goal of the present study was to test the relationship between executive control (i.e., working memory capacity, inhibitory control and delay discounting), IQ and chronic alcohol use. Participants (N=40) were divided into four groups based on IQ and severity of alcohol use-related problems (heavy and light drinkers with and without MBID). They were all admitted to a psychiatric treatment facility and long-term abstinent at the time of testing. Contrary to the expectations, executive control was not consistently impaired among individuals with MBID. Results showed that working memory capacity did seem to be impaired, whereas inhibitory control and delay discounting did not. Moreover, there were no differences between heavy and light drinkers on any of the parameters and having a dual diagnosis (heavy drinkers with MBID) did not result in additive negative effects on executive control. It is suggested that alcohol-related cognitive impairment is temporary and decreases over time after cessation of drinking.
authors: Radboud University Nijmegen, Behavioural Science Institute, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: n.vanduijvenbode@pwo.ru.nl.
authors: Neomi
authors: N
authors: van Duijvenbode
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Didden
authors: Hubert P L M
authors: HP
authors: Korzilius
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Trentelman
authors: Rutger C M E
authors: RC
authors: Engels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064829:Alcohol Abstinence / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Alcohol addiction; Dual process models; Executive control; Mild to borderline intellectual disability