Clujul Medical - Iuliu Haţieganu

Cercetare clinică
EARLY COURSE OF COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTIONS
DURING ALCOHOL CESSATION IN CHRONIC
ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS
IOANA CRĂCIUN 2 , IOANA MICLUŢIA 1 , RODICA MACREA 1 ,
CODRUŢA POPESCU 2
1 University of Medicine & Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Department of Psychiatry
2 Second Psychiatric Clinic Cluj-Napoca
Background
It is well known that chronic alcoholism affects cognitive functions and
various hypotheses about the brain areas involved have been advanced. Many authors
agree upon the specificity of the cognitive function related the frontal lobe call them
“executive functions” (1, 2).
Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with global neurophysiological
change, including cortical atrophy, hypometabolic activity, reduced cerebral blood flow
and altered neurotransmitter activity (reduced glutamate and enhanced GABA) (3).
Although changes are diffuse, the prefrontal and temporal regions appear especially
impacted (4). Acute effects of moderate drinking include impaired immediate learning
and subsequent retrieval of information learned while intoxicated. On occasion, acute
heavy consumption produce blackout (5). Alcohol abuse is associated with a clear and
consistent pattern of general cognitive deficits, which resolved to some extent with
protracted abstinence. Frequent consumption of large quantities of alcohol rather then
lifetime consumption poses the highest risk for cognitive deficits (6).
Objective
1. Assessment of cognitive functions (verbal memory, concentration,
psychomotor speed and executive functions) after 10 days for date of last
alcohol use.
2. Level’s course of cognitive functions after 6 weeks of abstinence.
Material and Methods
Thirty-two patients (13 males and 19 females) with Alcohol Dependence and
thirty healthy control subjects participated in the study. Patients were diagnosed
according to the ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR criteria. Patients were recruited from Second
Psychiatric Clinic – Cluj Napoca. A clinical semi structured interview was used to
obtain the participant’s age, years of education, medical history, duration and date of
last of alcohol use. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) was
administrated. Exclusion criteria for all subjects was psychiatrically (other then alcohol
use disorder – for patients), neurological and medical diseases that could affect
cognitive functioning. The two groups were matched for age, sex, and number of years
of education. Patients had an average of years of education by 11,4 and an average of
years of alcohol abuse by 15,06.
47