Mental Imagery Skills in Alcohol-Dependent Subjects and Their Associations With Cognitive Performance: An Exploratory Study During Residential Rehabilitation.

Marcella Ottonello,Elisa Torselli,Stefano Caneva,Elena Fiabane,Claudio Vassallo,Caterina Pistarini

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.741900

Marcella Ottonello, Elisa Torselli + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.741900

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Abstract

People in alcohol-detoxification experience deficits in motor and non-motor functions including cognitive performance. Imagery, the cognitive process of generating visual, auditory or kinesthetic experiences in the mind without the presence of external stimuli, has been little studied in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD). This pilot study aims to observe the cognitive abilities useful for the inspection, maintenance, generation and manipulation of images in these patients during residential rehabilitation and investigate the relationships with their cognitive performance. Thirty-six subjects who completed the 28-day rehabilitation program for alcohol addiction, completed the Mental Imagery Test (MIT) and Neuropsychological Battery (ENB-2). The global score at MIT did not show pathological scores. The 11.1% of AUD patients showed an impaired global score in the cognitive performance and the 5.7% with scoring at limits of norm. Significant correlations were found between Mental Imagery abilities and ENB-2 subscale and stepwise regression analysis showed the close association between the ability of imagery (Mental Imagery Test) and the overall cognitive performance (ENB-2) in alcohol dependent patients and this relationship is stronger than other cognitive tasks.

Highlights

Alcohol abuse is associated with significant alteration of brain structure, physiology and functions
The literature suggested that the cognitive impairment may reduce the effectiveness of psychological treatments in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) and that cognitive dysfunctions are directly related to compliance with treatment and maintenance of abstinence [13]
Our results showed that MI abilities were intact compared to the cognitive functions

Summary

Introduction

Alcohol abuse is associated with significant alteration of brain structure, physiology and functions. Alcohol-related brain damage is characterized by a brain volume deficit, a dilatation of the ventricles and an increased cerebrospinal fluid quantity, involving several brain regions: cerebellum, corpus callosum, hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, and frontal cortices [8]. These neuroanatomical alterations can account for neuropsychological impairments involving attention, executive functions, memory, visuospatial and motor skills. Cognitive and neuropsychological deficits may interfere with the ability to learn, retain or use new information, affecting on treatment outcome in AUD, through an effect on change processes and mechanism of change [9]. The literature suggested that the cognitive impairment may reduce the effectiveness of psychological treatments in AUD and that cognitive dysfunctions are directly related to compliance with treatment and maintenance of abstinence [13]

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