Neuropsychological functioning in cocaine abusers with and without alcohol dependence

Abstract

Thirty codependent cocaine and alcohol users were compared with age-, education-, race-, and sex-matched cocaine abusers (N 5 30) and normals (N 5 30) using an extended Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery to determine whether cocaine abusers with alcohol dependence were more cognitively impaired than singly addicted cocaine abusers. Tests were grouped and analyzed according to 8 major ability areas. Participants who abused both cocaine and alcohol did not differ from normals on the majority of test measures. An unexpected but consistent finding was the poorer performance of the cocaine sample relative to cocaine and alcohol abusers on measures of complex psychomotor and simple motor functioning ( ps , .001). Pure cocaine abusers, but not abusers of both cocaine and alcohol, also performed more poorly than normals on a measure of global neuropsychological functioning ( p , .01). These results are consistent with previous reports of generally mild cognitive dysfunction in cocaine abusers. The findings also suggest that cocaine and alcohol abusers of relatively young ages may be less cognitively impaired than demographically comparable cocaine abusers. Evidence from studies of vascular functioning in abusers of cocaine and alcohol alone and in combination is discussed as possible explanation for these findings. (JINS, 1999, 5, 10-19.)

Sex differences in neurocognitive functioning among abstinent recreational cocaine users

“…This would, nevertheless, be consistent with their status as "recreational users". There were no group differences in ethnicity, recoded into White versus non-White due to small case numbers [χ 2 (3)= 0.36, P=0.94], consistent with other studies (Robinson et al 1999;Di Sclafani et al 2002). It was not possible to analyze for differences in menstrual cycle phase between the two female groups due to small case numbers (and thus this variable will not be examined in further analyses).…”

“…In addition, all participants were strictly excluded if they reported (1) any history of neurological or psychiatric illness in either self or first-degree relatives, (2) any history of alcohol or other substance abuse (except "cocaine use" in the cocaine user group, nicotine, and caffeine), (3) any alcohol consumption or other illicit drug use (other than "cocaine use" in the user group) during the prior 72 h, (4) any history of head injury or loss of consciousness, and (5) were not righthanded. These criteria are similar to those used in previous studies (Hoff et al 1996;Robinson et al 1999).…”

“…Impairments have been demonstrated in memory, visuospatial, and concentration functions during acute withdrawal (within 72 h) and 2 weeks beyond cessation (Berry et al 1993). Pure cocaine abusers (compared with cocaine plus alcohol abusers) also show deficits in psychomotor functions and general cognitive ability (Robinson et al 1999). Dose-dependent deficits (e.g.…”

ADH4 Gene Variation is Associated with Alcohol Dependence and Drug Dependence in European Americans: Results from HWD Tests and Case–Control Association Studies

“…Many studies have demonstrated that drug dependence has a number of features in common with alcohol dependence, including symptomatology (Glatt, 1967;Heil et al, 2001), neuropsychological impairments (Robinson et al, 1999), pathogenetic mechanisms (Anokhina et al, 1990;O'Neill et al, 2001), and response to specific treatments, especially the effects of disulfiram, an ALDH blocker, which though approved for the treatment of alcohol dependence, has also been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of cocaine dependence (Carroll et al, 1993(Carroll et al, , 1998(Carroll et al, , 2004George et al, 2000;Petrakis et al, 2000). Drug dependence may share susceptibility genes with alcohol dependence (reviewed by Kreek et al, 2004), for example, OPRM1 gene variation moderated susceptibility to alcohol dependence and/or drug dependence (Hoehe et al, 2000;Szeto et al, 2001;Schinka et al, 2002;Luo et al, 2003).…”

Cognitive Performance by Humans During a Smoked Cocaine Binge-Abstinence Cycle

“…In general, these studies have compared abstinent cocaine abusers to matched controls with or without a history of other substance use disorders (6). Several of these studies have documented poorer performance in abstinent cocaine users on measures of elemental cognitive functions including attention, vigilance, reaction time, psychomotor speed, and spatial and verbal memory (1,3,(6)(7)(8)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). In abstinent cocaine users, greater residual neurocognitive impairment is correlated with greater duration, frequency, peak dose and total amount of cocaine consumed per unit time (1 -3).…”