OJPR Home

2021 - Volume 5 - Number 2

Evaluating the Impact of Alcohol Abstinence on the Cognitive Functioning of Adults Diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder

Erengai E. Mofokeng *elainemu@tessame.co.za 
University of Pretoria, Faculty of Humanities, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA

Sonja N. Mostert * sonja.Mostert@up.ac.za * ORCID: 0000-0002-6762-6994
University of Pretoria, Faculty of Humanities, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA

Open Journal for Psychological Research, 2021, 5(2), 43-54 * https://doi.org/10.32591/coas.ojpr.0502.02043m
Received: 29 September 2021 ▪ Accepted: 9 November 2021 ▪ Published Online: 9 December 2021

LICENCE: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

ARTICLE (Full Text - PDF)

ABSTRACT:
Research supports the relation between chronic alcohol use and progressive cognitive impairment but alcohol rehabilitation facilities mainly focus on psycho-social factors with limited emphasis on cognitive impairment and recovery. This study evaluated the impact of alcohol abstinence on cognitive functioning; specifically, visuospatial attention, working memory and abstract reasoning on two different occasions using the WAIS-IVSA battery. A pre-test–post-test design was used to assess patients diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Differences in cognitive functioning from phase 1 (3-4 days after admission) and phase 2 (14 days after phase 1) were measured. A paired samples t-test was conducted using SPSS version 27. A statistically significant increase in AUD patients’ visuospatial scores was found when comparing phase 1 and 2 (M=7.11, SD=2.07), t(8)=3.42, p=.009. No statistically significant differences were observed for working memory and abstract reasoning. We conclude that the findings can be used to guide, and improve the development of future intervention programs to emphasize the value of cognitive recovery.

KEY WORDS: abstract reasoning, alcohol abstinence, alcohol use disorder, visuospatial attention, working memory.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Sonja N. Mostert, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Humanities, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA. E-mail: sonja.mostert@up.ac.za.

REFERENCES:

Ahmadi, A., Pearlson, G. D., Meda, S.A., Dager, A., Potenza, M. N., Rose, R., Austad, C. S., Raskin, S. S., Fallahi, C. R., Tennen, H., Wood, M. R., & Stevens, M. C. (2013). Influence of alcohol use on neural response to Go/No-Go task in college drinkers. Neuropsychopharmacology, 38, 2197-2208. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2013.119

Astorga, M. L. (2013). Alcoholism and conditional reasoning: difficulties in specific mental domains or in the general use of heuristics? Psychologica Belgica, 53(4), 3-16. https://doi.org/10.5334/pb-53-4-3

Bagga, D., Singh, N., Singh, S., Modi, S., Kumar, P., Bhattacharya, D., & Garg, M. (2014). Assessment of abstract reasoning abilities in alcohol-dependent subjects: an fMRI study. Neuroradiology, 69-77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-013-1281-3

Banerjee, N. (2014). Neurotransmitters in alcoholism: A review of neurobiological and genetic studies. Indian Journal of Human Genetics, 20(1), 20-31.

Bates, M. E., Buckman, J. F. & Nguyen, T. T. (2013). A role for cognitive rehabilitation in increasing the effectiveness of treatment for alcohol use disorders. Neuropsychol Rev, 23(1), 27-47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-013-9228-3

Batman, A. M. (2015). Translating alcohol research: opportunities and challenges. Alcohol Research, 37(1), 7-14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4476605/

Bernadin, F., Maheut-Bosser, A. & Paille, F. (2014). Cognitive impairments in alcohol-dependent subjects. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 5(78), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00078

Brennan, S. E., McDonald, S., Page, M. L., Reid, J., Ward, S., Forbes, A. B., & McKenzie, J. E. (2020). Long-term effects of alcohol consumption on cognitive function: a systematic review and dose-response analysis of evidence published between 2007 and 2018. Systematic Reviews, 9(33), 1-39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1220-4

Breukelaar, I. A., Antees, C., Grieve, S. M., Foster, S. L., Gomes, L., Williams, L. M., et al. (2017). Cognitive control network anatomy correlates with neurocognitive behavior: A longitudinal study. Hum. Brain Mapp. 38, 631-643. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.23401

Bruijnen, C.J.W.H.S., Walvoort, J.W., Dijkstra, B.A.G., de Jong, C.A.J., & Kessels, R.P.C. (2021).  The course of cognitive performance during inpatient treatment in patients with alcohol use disorder with no, mild or major neurocognitive disorders. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 56(1), 89-100. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agaa100

Buddy, T. (2020). Alcohol effects that last long into sobriety. https://www.verywellmind.com/alcohol-effects-last-long-into-sobriety-66610

Cabé, N., Laniepce, A.., Ritz, L., Lannuzel, C., Boudehent, C., Vabret, F., Eustache, F., Beaunieux, H., & Pitel, A. L. (2016). Cognitive impairments in alcohol dependence: From screening to treatment improvements. Encephale, 42(1), 74-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.encep.2015.12.012

Chai, W. J., Hamid, A. I. A. & Abdullah, J. M. (2018). Working memory from the psychological and neurosciences perspectives: A Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 9(401), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00401

Cohen, J., (1992). Statistical Power Analysis. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 1(3), 98-101.

Cowan, N. (2014, June). Working Memory Underpins Cognitive Development, Learning, and Education. Educ Psychol Rev., 26(2), 197-223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-013-9246-y

do Canto-Pereira, L. H. M., David, I. de P., Machado-Pinheiro, W., & Ranvaud, R. D. (2007). Effects of acute alcohol intoxication on visuospatial attention. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 26(4), 311-319. https://doi.org/10.1177/0960327106070490

Deshpande, S.S. (2015). Differential effects of alcohol consumption behaviours on working memory processes. Journal of European Psychology Students, 6(3), 14-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.5334/jeps.dd

Devere, R. (2016, October). The cognitive consequences of alcohol use. https://practicalneurology.com/articles/2016-oct/the-cognitive-consequences-of-alcohol-use

Doruk, D., Chanes, L., Malavera, A., Merabet, L. B., Valero-Cabré, A., & Fregni, F. (2018). Cross-modal cueing effects of visuospatial attention on conscious somatosensory perception. Heliyon, 4(4), e00595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00595

Erdozain, A.M., Morentin, B., Bedford, L., King, E., Tooth, D. et al. (2014). Alcohol-Related Brain Damage in Humans. PLOS ONE, 9(4), e93586. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093586

Fein, G., Torres, J., Price, L.J., & Di ScIafani, V. (2006). Cognitive performance in long-term abstinent alcoholics. Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 30(9), 1538-1544.

Fein, G., Bachman, L., Fisher, S. & Davenport, L., (1990). Cognitive impairments in abstinent alcoholics. Western Journal of Medicine, 152(5), 531-537.

Fein, G., & Cardenas, V. A. (2015). Neuroplasticity in human alcoholism: studies of extended abstinence with potential treatment implications. Alcohol Research, 37(1), 125-141.

Ioime, L., Guglielmo, R., Affini, G.F., Quatrale, M., Martinotti, G., Callea, A., Savi, E., & Janiri, L. (2018). Neuropsychological performance in alcohol dependent patients: A one-year longitudinal study. Psychiatry Investigation, 15(5), 505-513. https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2017.09.27.1

JVR Africa Group. (2019). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale® – Fourth SA Edition (WAIS®-IV SA). https://jvrafricagroup.co.za/catalogue/assessment/wechsler-adult-intelligence-scale-fourth-sa-edition-wais-iv-sa/.

Kopera, M., Wojnar, M., Brower, K., Glass, J., Nowosad, I., Gmaj, B., & Szelenberger, W. (2012). Cognitive functions in abstinent alcohol-dependent patients. Alcohol, 46(7), 665-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2012.04.005

Le Berre, A.P., Fama, R., & Sullivan, E. V. (2017). Executive Functions, memory, and social cognitive deficits and recovery in chronic alcoholism: A critical review to inform future research. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 41(8), 1432-1443. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.13431

Lechner, W. V., Day, A. M., Metrik, J., Leventhal, A. M., & Kahler, C. W. (2016). Effects of alcohol-induced working memory decline on alcohol consumption and adverse consequences of use. Psychopharmacology, 233(1), 83-88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-015-4090-z

Loeber, S., Duka, T., Welzel Márquez, H., Nakovics, H., Heinz, A., Mann, K., & Flor, H. (2010). Effects of repeated withdrawal from alcohol on recovery of cognitive impairment under abstinence and rate of relapse. Alcohol Alcohol, 45(6), 541-547. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agq065

Mocaiber, I., David, I.A., de Oliveira, L., Pereira, M.G., Volchan, E., Figueira, I., Vila, J., & Machado-Pinheiro, W. (2011). Alcohol, emotion and attention: Revisiting the Alcohol Myopia Theory, 24, 403-410. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79722011000200022

Molnar, S.M., Beaton, L.E., Happer, J.P., Holcomb, L.A., Huang, S., Arienzo, D., & Marinkovic, K. (2018). Behavioral and brain activity indices of cognitive control deficits in binge drinkers. Brain Sci, 8(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci8010009

Oscar-Berman, M., Valmas, M. M., Sawyer, K. S., Ruiz, S. M., Luhar, R. B., & Gravitz, Z. R. (2014). Profiles of impaired, spared, and recovered neuropsychologic processes in alcoholism. Handbook of clinical neurology, 125, 183-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-62619-6.00012-4

Pallant, J. (2016). SPSS Survival Manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS Program. (6th ed.). London, UK: McGraw-Hill Education.

Pelletier, S., Nalpas, B., Alarcon, R., Rigole, H., & Perney, P. (2016). Investigation of cognitive improvement in alcohol-dependent inpatients using the montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) Score. Journal of addiction, 2016(1539096), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/1539096

Saults, J., Cowan, N., Sher, K., & Moreno, M. (2007). Differential effects of alcohol on working memory: distinguishing multiple processes. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol, 15(6), 576-587. https://doi.org/10.1037/1064-1297.15.6.576

Stavro, K., Pelletier, J., & Potvin, S. (2013). Widespread and sustained cognitive deficits in alcoholism: a meta-analysis. Addiction Biology, 18, 203-213. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00418.x

Velayudhan, R., & Saraswathy, S. M. (2020). Neuropsychological functions in short- and long-term alcohol abstinence. Ind J Priv Psychiatry; 14(1), 26-29. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10067-0054

Woods, A. J., Porges, E. C., Bryant, V. E., Seider, T., Gongvatana, A., Kahler, C. W., de la Monte, S., Monti, P. M., & Cohen, R. A. (2016). Current heavy alcohol consumption is associated with greater cognitive impairment in older adults. Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 40(11), 2435-2444. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.13211.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Alcohol. https://www.who.int/health-topics/alcohol#tab=tab_1.

Zehra, A., Lindgren, E., Wiers, C. E., Freeman, C., Miller, G., Ramirez, V., Shokri-Kojori, E., Wang, G., Talagala, L., Tomasi, D., & Volkow, N. D. (2019). Neural correlates of visual attention in alcohol use disorder. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 194, 430-437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.10.032.