Cognitive Function in the Alcohol Addiction Treatment Population

<p>Chronic alcohol abuse has been linked to several cognitive deficits, such as problems with spatial processing, decreased executive functioning, impaired verbal fluency, poor working memory, response inhibition, and social problems such as aggression and social deviance. In order for patients to benefit from treatment, they must be able to utilize multiple cognitive functions. Research has shown that patients suffering from cognitive impairments are much more likely to drop out of treatment early, thereby lending them to higher relapse rates. This study aimed to identify cognitive deficits present in the alcohol addiction treatment population, demographic factors associated with higher levels of cognitive deficits, and whether these patients’ cognitive deficits predict treatment dropout. Results of this study indicated that patients in the addiction treatment program at the LLUBMC evidenced reductions in visuospatial abilities, immediate memory, delayed memory, and overall cognitive function. Further, in this population, below average delayed memory significantly predicted treatment dropout.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Clinical Psychology

Year

2014

Author dc:creator

• Abeyesinhe, Suranee

Contributors dc:contributor

• Owen, Jason E.
• Lee, Grace J.
• Vermeersch, David A.
• Whyte, Ricardo

• Clinical Psychology
• Psychology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Alcoholism
• Alcohol Addiction
• Cognitive Deficits
• Treatment Dropout
• Cognition

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/178

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1194