title: Motivational interviewing combined with chess accelerates improvement in executive functions in cocaine dependent patients: a one-month prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In cocaine-dependent individuals, executive function (EF) deficits are associated with poor treatment outcomes. Psychological interventions and pharmacological approaches have produced only modest effect sizes. To date, studies of this topic have been few and limited. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a new model of intervention, which integrates chess and Motivational Interviewing, Motivational Chess (MC) METHODS: We evaluated 46 cocaine-dependent inpatients (aged 18-45), in two groups-MC (n=26); and active comparison-AC (n=20). Using neuropsychological tests and an impulsivity scale, we assessed the subjects before and after the study period (one month of abstinence monitored by urine toxicology screening).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MC and AC groups did not differ at baseline. In the post-intervention assessment (after one month), both groups showed significant improvements in attention, mental flexibility, inhibitory control, abstraction abilities, and decision-making (p<0.01). In addition, the improvement in working memory was more significant in the MC group than in the AC group (group-by-time interaction, p=01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One month of abstinence was sufficient to improve various attentional and executive domains in cocaine-dependent subjects. The MC intervention was associated with greater improvements in EFs, especially working memory, suggesting that tailored interventions focusing on complex EFs accelerate the process of cognitive recovery during the initial period of abstinence.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (GREA), Institute of Psychiatry (IPq), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM 21), Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), USP, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Psychology & Neuropsychology Service, IPq, USP, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: prisciladib@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Priscila Dib
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM 21), Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), USP, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ometto
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California (USC), 3620A McClintock Avenue, 90089-2921 Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bechara
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (GREA), Institute of Psychiatry (IPq), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malbergier
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (GREA), Institute of Psychiatry (IPq), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (GREA), Institute of Psychiatry (IPq), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM 21), Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), USP, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicastri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM 21), Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (GREA), Institute of Psychiatry (IPq), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beraldo
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéias de Carvalho Aguiar, 419, Cerqueira César, 05403-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Psychology & Neuropsychology Service, IPq, USP, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (GREA), Institute of Psychiatry (IPq), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arthur G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM 21), Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), USP, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Geraldo F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Busatto
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (GREA), Institute of Psychiatry (IPq), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM 21), Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), USP, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Equilibrium Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Rua Anhanguera, 484, Barra Funda, 01135-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Jannuzzi
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cunha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D062405:Motivational Interviewing; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Chess; Cocaine dependence; Cognitive stimulation; Executive function; Neuropsychology; Rehabilitation