Visual and verbal learning deficits in Veterans with alcohol and substance use disorders

Abstract

Background This study examined visual and verbal learning in the early phase of recovery for 48 Veterans with alcohol use (AUD) and substance use disorders (SUD, primarily cocaine and opiate abusers). Previous studies have demonstrated visual and verbal learning deficits in AUD, however little is known about the differences between AUD and SUD on these domains. Since the DSM-5 specifically identifies problems with learning in AUD and not in SUD, and problems with visual and verbal learning have been more prevalent in the literature for AUD than SUD, we predicted that people with AUD would be more impaired on measures of visual and verbal learning than people with SUD. Methods: Participants were enrolled in a comprehensive rehabilitation program and were assessed within the first 5 weeks of abstinence. Verbal learning was measured using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) and visual learning was assessed using the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT). Results Results indicated significantly greater decline in verbal learning on the HVLT across the three learning trials for AUD participants but not for SUD participants (F=4.653, df =48, p=.036). Visual learning was less impaired than verbal learning across learning trials for both diagnostic groups (F=0.197, df=48, p=.674); there was no significant difference between groups on visual learning (F=0.401, df=14, p=.538). Discussion Older Veterans in the early phase of recovery from AUD may have difficulty learning new verbal information. Deficits in verbal learning may reduce the effectiveness of verbally-based interventions such as psycho-education.

Cognitive function in aging cocaine smokers

“…In particular, establishing whether aging substance abusers have cognitive difficulties over and above those that accompany normal aging (Blow, 1999; Searby et al, 2015) is an important first step. To date, few studies have investigated cognitive function in aging illicit drug users (Bell et al, 2016; Dowling et al, 2008; Iudicello et al, 2014), despite the established relevance of cognitive problems to both aging and drug use (Salthouse et al, 2003; Spronk et al, 2013; Stockel et al, 2017). Cognitive difficulties predict poor outcomes in psychotherapy for substance use disorders (Aharonovich et al, 2003; Aharonovich et al, 2006; Aharonovich et al, 2008), further emphasizing the need to investigate this question in relation to aging drug users.…”

Neurocognition and inhibitory control in polysubstance use disorders: Comparison with alcohol use disorders and changes with abstinence

“…Treatment-seeking individuals with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibit a range of neurocognitive (e.g., (Bates et al, 2002; Bell et al, 2016; Durazzo et al, 2006; Fein et al, 1990; Oscar-Berman et al, 2014; Pennington et al, 2013; Sullivan et al, 2000) and inhibitory control (de Wit, 2009; Naim-Feil et al, 2014; Rupp et al, 2016) deficits. A recent review describes deficits related to working memory, visuospatial functions, inhibition, and executive-based functions such as mental flexibility, problem solving, divided attention (Bernardin et al, 2014), and cognitive control (Wilcox et al, 2014).…”

Reaction Time and Visual Memory in Connection to Alcohol Use in Persons with Bipolar Disorder

“…A recent study showed that verbal learning and memory, rather than selective attention and executive function, were impaired among BD patients with and without AUD [21]. Impairment of verbal learning and memory was also found in previous clinical studies of participants with comorbid BD and SUDs [22,26,63]. AUD patients without BD have also shown impaired verbal learning and memory [64].…”

“…BD patients with AUD exhibit less recovery from cognitive deficits than only BD patients [63]. However, one recent research showed that BD patients with comorbid AUD had initial delay but subsequent recovery in executive domain [65].…”

“…BD patients with a history of alcohol dependence showed decreased executive functioning [26]. BD patients with comorbid alcohol dependence also showed more severe impairment in executive functioning [25] and less recovery from cognitive deficits than only BD patients [63]. However, one recent research showed that BD patients with comorbid alcohol dependence had initial delay but subsequent recovery in executive domain [65].…”