title: Neuropsychological assessment of decision making in alcohol-dependent commercial pilots.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this exploratory archival study was to discern the utility of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) in identifying adaptive decision-making capacities among pilots with a history of alcohol dependence both with and without Cluster B personality features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 18 male airmen at the rank of captain with a history of receiving alcohol dependence treatment and subsequent referral for a fitness-for-duty evaluation. Data from prior comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations conducted in a private practice setting at the mandate of the FAA utilizing criteria outlined in the HIMS program was used. ANOVA was conducted to compare pilots with (N = 4) and without Cluster B personality features (N = 14) on measures of decisionmaking capacities, intelligence, and executive functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pilots with Cluster B personality features were found to have a significantly lower Total Net T-Score on IGT (M = 35.00, SD = 9.27) than pilots without features of Cluster B (M = 56.36, SD = 9.55). Furthermore, with the exception of the first 20 cards (i.e., Net 1); the groups significantly differed in their Net scores. No statistically significant difference was found on airmen's intelligence and executive functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study found that alcohol-dependent airmen with Cluster B personality features evidenced significantly poorer decisionmaking capacities as measured by the ICT in comparison to alcohol dependent airman without Cluster B personality features. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Georgemiller, Whyte & Associates, PC, Des Plaines, IL, USA. rgeorgemiller@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Georgemiller
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Machizawa
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Cynthia N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003657:Decision Making; D056344:Executive Function; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology