title: Visual and verbal learning deficits in Veterans with alcohol and substance use disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined visual and verbal learning in the early phase of recovery for 48 Veterans with alcohol use (AUD) and substance use disorders (SUD, primarily cocaine and opiate abusers). Previous studies have demonstrated visual and verbal learning deficits in AUD, however little is known about the differences between AUD and SUD on these domains. Since the DSM-5 specifically identifies problems with learning in AUD and not in SUD, and problems with visual and verbal learning have been more prevalent in the literature for AUD than SUD, we predicted that people with AUD would be more impaired on measures of visual and verbal learning than people with SUD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were enrolled in a comprehensive rehabilitation program and were assessed within the first 5 weeks of abstinence. Verbal learning was measured using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) and visual learning was assessed using the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated significantly greater decline in verbal learning on the HVLT across the three learning trials for AUD participants but not for SUD participants (F=4.653, df=48, p=0.036). Visual learning was less impaired than verbal learning across learning trials for both diagnostic groups (F=0.197, df=48, p=0.674); there was no significant difference between groups on visual learning (F=0.401, df=14, p=0.538).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older Veterans in the early phase of recovery from AUD may have difficulty learning new verbal information. Deficits in verbal learning may reduce the effectiveness of verbally-based interventions such as psycho-education.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 300 George Street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, 950 Campbell Ave, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Electronic address: morris.bell@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Morris D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, 950 Campbell Ave, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Electronic address: vissicch@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Vissicchio
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 300 George Street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, 950 Campbell Ave, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Electronic address: andrea.weinstein@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Alcohol use disorders; Neurocognition; Substance use disorders; Verbal learning; Visual learning