Executive control deficits in substance-dependent individuals: A comparison of alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine and of men and women

Ellen A. A van der Plas; Eveline A Crone; Wery P. M van den Wildenberg; Daniel Tranel; Antoine Bechara

doi:10.1080/13803390802484797

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Executive control deficits in substance-dependent individuals: A comparison of alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine and of men and women

Journal article

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Executive control deficits in substance-dependent individuals: A comparison of alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine and of men and women

Ellen A. A van der Plas, Eveline A Crone, Wery P. M van den Wildenberg, Daniel Tranel and Antoine Bechara

Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology, Vol.31(6), pp.706-719

07/27/2009

DOI: 10.1080/13803390802484797

PMCID: PMC2829119

PMID: 19037812

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Abstract

Substance dependence is associated with executive function deficits, but the nature of these executive defects and the effect that different drugs and sex have on these defects have not been fully clarified. Therefore, we compared the performance of alcohol- (n = 33; 18 women), cocaine- (n = 27; 14 women), and methamphetamine-dependent individuals (n = 38; 25 women) with sex-matched healthy comparisons (n = 36; 17 women) on complex decision making as measured with the Iowa Gambling Task, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition. Cocaine- and methamphetamine-dependent individuals were impaired on complex decision making, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, but not on response inhibition. The deficits in working memory and cognitive flexibility were milder than the decision-making deficits and did not change as a function of memory load or task switching. Interestingly, decision making was significantly more impaired in women addicted to cocaine or methamphetamine than in men addicted to these drugs. Together, these findings suggest that drug of choice and sex have different effects on executive functioning, which, if replicated, may help tailor intervention.

Cocaine dependence

Alcohol dependence

Methamphetamine dependence

Decision making

Cognitive control

Sex

Details

Title: Subtitle: Executive control deficits in substance-dependent individuals: A comparison of alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine and of men and women
Creators: Ellen A. A van der Plas - Department of Neurology , University of Iowa
Eveline A Crone - University of Leiden
Wery P. M van den Wildenberg - University of Amsterdam
Daniel Tranel - Department of Neurology , University of Iowa
Antoine Bechara - Brain and Creativity Institute and Department of Psychology , University of Southern California
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology, Vol.31(6), pp.706-719
DOI: 10.1080/13803390802484797
PMID: 19037812
PMCID: PMC2829119
NLM abbreviation: J Clin Exp Neuropsychol
ISSN: 1380-3395
eISSN: 1744-411X
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Language: English
Date published: 07/27/2009
Academic Unit: Neurology; Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984002481402771

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