A study of executive function deficits in the cases with alcohol dependence syndrome

Abstract

Background: Alcohol dependence is a chronic and progressive condition associated with symptoms such as uncontrollable craving as well as repeated use of alcohol. Many studies point out that, alcohol dependence result in impaired executive functioning such as response inhibition, problems of attention, decision-making, problem solving, abstract reasoning and set shifting. The present study was to find out that the alcohol dependence patients showed deficits on executive functioning in comparison to normal control subjects on Wisconsin card sorting test as well as in Comprehensive Trail-making test. Aim: Present study has been undertaken to compare the executive functioning deficits between the alcohol dependence and normal control. Methodology: Present research is a hospital-based group design with total 60 participants. Out of these 60 participants, 30 participants were of alcohol dependence syndrome taken from RINPAS, Kanke, Ranchi and 30 participants were normal control subjects. Tools: Socio-demographic details have been gathered with the help of socio-demographic data sheet. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) has been used as a screening tool for normal control subjects. Wisconsin card sorting test and Comprehensive Trail-making test have been administered to measure executive functioning of the all the subjects. Result and Conclusion: The present study findings concluded that alcohol dependence patients showed executive functioning deficits in comparison to normal control subjects on Wisconsin card sorting test. Furthermore, in comprehensive Trail-making test patients with alcohol dependent syndrome exhibited more number of trials, less number of correct responses, more mistakes and low conceptual level responses as well high errors when compared with the normal control group.