Externalizing psychopathology and cognitive functions in patients with early- and late-onset alcohol dependence

Abstract

Background: Alcohol use disorder is attributing to a significant health-care burden worldwide. Early-onset alcohol dependence is associated with more adverse outcomes than those with late-onset alcohol dependence. Comorbid externalizing disorders and cognitive deficits may be associated with the negative outcomes in early-onset alcohol dependence. This study aims at exploring the externalizing psychopathology and cognitive performance in early-onset alcohol dependence versus late-onset alcohol dependence. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out on patients attending the psychiatry unit of a tertiary care center of north India after obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee. A total of 57 patients with alcohol dependence enrolled in the study, after screening a total of 112 patients. Patients were evaluated for the externalizing psychopathology (using SSAGA intravenous [IV]) and cognitive performance (using Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [WCST] and continuous performance test [CPT]). Comparison of sociodemographic, clinical variables as well as externalizing psychopathology and cognitive performance was done between early-onset and late-onset alcohol dependence. Results: Comparison between early-onset and late-onset alcohol dependence revealed that the score of individual externalizing psychopathologies and the total externalizing psychopathology score on SSAGA IV in the early-onset group are significantly higher than late-onset alcohol dependence. Similarly, there is a significant difference in the executive functions (on WCST) between the two groups (early onset < late onset). On CPT, there are significantly more errors of omission in the early-onset group in comparison to their late-onset counterparts. Conclusion: Early-onset alcohol dependence is associated with more externalizing psychopathology and more cognitive dysfunction than late-onset alcohol dependence.

Acute and transient psychotic disorders: A review of Indian research

“…[ 73 ] Another study that involved patients with FEP (all of whom were not diagnosed with ATPD) showed significant improvement in performance in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Spatial Working Memory Test (SWMT), and Continuous Performance Test (CPT) following recovery from the acute psychosis at 3 months. [ 70 238 ] However, other studies noticed significant differences between FEP in general[ 239 240 241 242 ] or FEP in remission[ 243 244 ] and healthy controls in various neurocognition and social cognition domains. Two additional studies that assessed the social cognition of patients with FEP in remission showed partial improvement in social functioning,[ 64 ] with impairment in domains of the second-order theory of mind after the resolution of symptoms.…”

Alcohol use disorder research in India: An update

“…[ 183 185 ] These patients will likely have lower cognitive, affective, and total empathy levels and poor emotional regulation. [ 186 ] Early-onset dependence and longer duration of alcohol intake are associated with more significant cognitive dysfunction,[ 61 159 ] which in turn can lead to impaired decision-making and poor motivation toward treatment. [ 187 188 ]…”