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KMID : 0870520130170020093
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Journal of Korean Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2013 Volume.17 No. 2 p.93 ~ p.98
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The Difference of Executive Cognitive Function According to Age and Experience of Delirium Tremens in Alcoholics
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Shin Yong-Jin
Lee Kye-Seong
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Abstract
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Objectives： Executive dysfunction is a characteristic sequela of chronic heavy drinking. Through the evaluation of neuropsychological tests, this study identifies the risk factors for executive cognitive dysfunctions of alcoholics.
Methods： We enrolled 55 patients who had been admitted to an alcohol treatment program and diagnosed with alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV. The subjects were evaluated according to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. After 3 weeks of detoxification, neuropsychological tests including Korean version of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS) for assessing Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Executive Intelligence Test (EXIT) which consisted of stroop test, verbal fluency, figural fluency, and auditory verbal learning test for assessing Executive Intelligence Quotient (EIQ) were administered.
Results： Mean IQ was 96.16 and EIQ was 86.25. There is no difference with IQ and EIQ according to age. However, figural fluency test of EXIT decreased significantly with age. Both IQ and EIQ did not differ significantly according to their starting age of drinking, family history of alcoholism, number of admission and type of alcoholism. There was a significant difference in cognitive functions on whether patients experienced delirium tremens or not.
Conclusion: In this study we found past history of delirium tremens to be a very important risk factor for predicting executive cognitive dysfunction of alcoholics. Thus, it is important to prevent delirium tremens in the course of alcoholics’ treatments.
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KEYWORD
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Alcoholism, Delirium tremens, Aging, Executive function, Cognitive function Frontal lobe
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