title: Cognitive functions and neuropsychological status of medical students with different attitudes to alcohol use: a study conducted at the Belarusian State Medical University, Minsk, Belarus.
abstract: This article presents findings on the effects of alcohol use on cognitive performance, functional (well-being, activity, mood) and neuropsychological status and anxiety levels of medical students. A total of 265 medical students (107 males and 158 females) from the Belarusian State Medical University, Minsk (Belarus) were administered questionnaire, containing the AUDIT, CAGE, MAST, and PAS, and other alcohol related questions. Academic Performance questionnaire was administered together with other tests. For analysis of cognitive functions, a "correction probe" test was used. The number of students who reported consumption of alcohol was 74 males and 142 females. Medical students who reported alcohol consumption had lower cognitive performance and academic success, poor self-assessment of their functional and neuropsychological states, compared to the non-alcohol users. The results of this study suggest an inverse dose-dependent relationship between alcohol consumption, and cognitive functions, academic performance and neuropsychological status of medical students.
authors: Department of Normal Physiology, Belarusian State Medical University, Pr., Dzerjinsky, 83, Minsk 220116, Belarus. Electronic address: menimed1@yahoo.com.
authors: Menizibeya O
authors: MO
authors: Welcome
authors: Central Scientific-Research Laboratory, Grodno State Medical University, Str. Gorkogo, 80, Grodno 230009, Belarus. Electronic address: yury_razvodovsky@yahoo.com.
authors: Yury E
authors: YE
authors: Razvodovsky
authors: Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine, Belarusian State Medical University, Pr., Dzerjinsky, 83, Minsk 220116, Belarus.
authors: Elena V
authors: EV
authors: Pereverzeva
authors: Department of Normal Physiology, Belarusian State Medical University, Pr., Dzerjinsky, 83, Minsk 220116, Belarus. Electronic address: PereverzevVA@bsmu.by.
authors: Vladimir A
authors: VA
authors: Pereverzev
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D002094:Republic of Belarus / Q000453:epidemiology; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Academic performance; Alcohol; Cognitive functions; Medical students; Neuropsychological status