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Cognitive Performance of Alcoholics: A Longitudinal Evaluation of the Role of Drinking History, Depression, Liver Function, Nutrition, and Family History
Author(s) -
Schafer Kimberly,
Butters Nelson,
Smith Tom,
Irwin Michael,
Brown Sandra,
Hanger Philip,
Grant Igor,
Schuckit Marc
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1991.tb00574.x
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , family history , history of depression , cognition , psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , economics , macroeconomics
To assess the role of drinking history, depression, liver function, nutrition, and family history on cognitive performance, 171 detoxified male alcoholics were administered a brief neuropsychological examination at admission and discharge from an inpatient treatment program and at a 3‐month follow‐up evaluation. Regression analyses showed that at admission, depression and liver function were significant predictors of neuropsychological performance, whereas at discharge 3 to 4 weeks later only age and an estimate of premorbid intelligence were significant predictors. At the 3‐month follow‐up, estimates of drinking following discharge and severity of depressive symptoms were major significant predictors of neuropsychological performance. Indices of drinking prior to admission to the treatment program, nutrition, and family history for alcoholism did not predict performance on any of the three test occasions. These findings indicate that in addition to the chronic neurotoxic effect of alcohol a number of different medical and psychiatric factors, as well as the acute effects of alcohol, contribute to the cognitive scores of patients at various points in the clinical course.