The study of decision-making biases in male alcohol dependent patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the characteristics of decision-making in male patients with alcohol dependence (AD). Methods A total of 32 male patients were compared with matched 32 normal controls on the Iowa Gambling Task.Meanwhile,all of the subjects were evaluated with the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS),Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results The AD group selected more net disadvantageous cards (number of cards selected from the disadvantageous decks minus number of cards selected from advantageous decks) than normal controls[ (1.38±18.01) times vs. (-6.34±12.10) times; t(65)=2.074,P=0.042]. The 2 (group) ×5 (block) ANOVA (analysis of variance) on the cards of net disadvantageous from the gambling task revealed a significant main group effect[F(1,65)=5.357,P=0.024],and a significant main effect of block[F(4,260)=16.252,P<0.001].The results showed that normal controls and patients with alcohol dependence gradually shifted their selections toward the good decks as the game progresses.The total number of net disadvantageous cards in AD subjects was negatively correlated to the age of initial alcohol use and the age of addiction (r=-0.541,P=0.001;r=-0.350,P=0.050;respectively). Conclusion The present study suggests that the decision-making impairment might be in male alcohol dependence patients. Key words: Decision making; Emotions; Alcohol dependence