Premium
The Effect of Alcohol on the Neuropsychological Functioning of Recently Abstinent Cocainedependent Subjects
Author(s) -
AbiSaab Danielle,
Beauvais John,
Mehm John,
Brody Michelle,
Gottschalk Christopher,
Kosten Thomas R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490590924854
Subject(s) - neuropsychology , abstinence , psychology , alcohol , cocaine dependence , clinical psychology , cocaine use , neuropsychological assessment , psychiatry , cognition , addiction , biochemistry , chemistry
Neuropsychological deficits in the areas of learning, memory, attention, and abstraction abilities have been associated with cocaine dependence, especially during the period of early abstinence. Although cocaine users tend to be multidrug users, few studies have focused on the combined effect ofalcohol and cocaine on neuropsychological functioning. Consistent with prior research, results from the current study indicated that cocaine‐dependent subjects showed a significantly greater degree ofneuropsychological impairment as compared to controls. In addition, cocaine‐dependent subjects with a history of alcohol disorder showed less memory impairment but similar impairments in attention and overall neuropsychological functioning as cocaine subjects withno suchhistory. The vasodilatation produced by alcohol may attenuate some of the vasoconstriction and neurotoxic effects of cocaine, accounting for the fewer deficits in this group.