title: Differences in the verbal fluency, working memory and executive functions in alcoholics: Short-term vs. long-term abstainers.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess differences in verbal fluency, working memory and executive functions in two subgroups of alcohol-dependent patients, those undergoing short-term abstinence (STA) and those undergoing long-term abstinence (LTA), and to compare the level of cognitive functions in patients after long-term abstinence with healthy subjects. The study group consisted of 106 alcohol-dependent patients (53 immediately after drinking at least 3 days and 53 after at least one-year abstinence). The control group comprised 53 subjects, whose age, sex and education levels matched those of the patients in the experimental group. The dependence intensity was assessed using SADD and MAST scales. The neuropsychological assessment was based on the FAS Test, Stroop Test and TMT A&B Test. The results obtained for alcohol-dependent patients revealed significant disturbances of cognitive functions. Such results indicate the presence of severe frontal cerebral cortex dysfunctions. Frontal cortex dysfunctions affecting the verbal fluency and working memory subsystems and the executive functions also persisted during long-term abstinence periods. No significant correlations between the duration of dependence, quantity of alcohol consumed and efficiency of the working memory and executive functions were observed in alcohol-dependent subjects after short-term or long-term abstinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Science, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences University of Lodz, Smugowa 10/12, 91-433 Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: katarzyna.nowakowskadomagala@uni.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nowakowska-Domagała
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: k.jablkowska@pro.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jabłkowska-Górecka
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego 22, Lodz 91-153, Poland. Electronic address: lukasz.mokros@umed.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Mokros
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Centre of Pabianice, Jana Pawla II 68, 95-200 Pabianice, Poland. Electronic address: j.koprowicz@op.pl.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koprowicz
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego 22, Lodz 91-153, Poland. Electronic address: tadeusz.pietras@umed.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pietras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064829:Alcohol Abstinence / Q000523:psychology*; D057229:Alcoholics / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D014705:Verbal Behavior
keywords: Alcohol dependence; Cognitive dysfunctions; Verbal fluency; Working memory and executive functions