The effects of previous detoxifications on intelligence, speed, attention, and executive functioning in patients with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder.

Introduction And Aims: Repeatedly undergoing supervised, medical, detoxification from chronic alcohol use may contribute to impairments in neurocognitive functioning of patients with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Unsupervised, non-medical, detoxification, however, may also contribute to neurocognitive impairments, given the absence of first choice prescription medication to counteract severe withdrawal effects. So far, findings from previous studies are inconclusive and specifically effects of non-medical detoxifications are not investigated yet.

Neurocognitive Recovery in Abstinent Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder: A Scoping Review for Associated Factors.

Objective: Studies have reported inconsistent results regarding the extent to which neurocognitive recovery occurs in abstinent patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). In addition to abstinence, other factors may have influenced this process and contributed to the inconsistencies. This review examines the factors investigated in this regard and describes the possible influence of each factor based on the evidence collected.

The Course of Cognitive Performance during Inpatient Treatment in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder with No, Mild or Major Neurocognitive Disorders.

Aims: In patients with a history of chronic alcohol abuse, neurocognitive disorders (NCD) are not uncommon. The current study aimed to explore the course of cognitive performance, as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and everyday cognitive functioning, as measured by the Patient Competency Rating Scale (PCRS), in a large group of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) admitted to the Center of Excellence for Korsakov and Alcohol-related Cognitive Impairments.

Methods: A multiple time-series design was used, in which the MoCA was administered at three time points of assessment, and the PCRS was completed by both the patient and a clinician at two time points, all during clinical treatment.

Episodic future thinking together with observational learning benefits prospective memory in high-functioning Korsakoff's syndrome patients.

Objective: Patients with Korsakoff's syndrome (KS) have difficulty carrying out tasks which rely on prospective memory (PM). Since remembering to carry out an action in the future is crucial for living independently, it is of primary interest to develop strategies that improve PM performance in KS patients.

Design: The study employed a computer categorization task as an ongoing activity into which a PM task was embedded.

Psychometric properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in healthy participants aged 18-70.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a cognitive screen, available in three alternate versions. Aims of the current study were to examine the effects of age, education and intelligence on MoCA performance and to determine the alternate-form equivalence and test-retest reliability of the MoCA, in a group of healthy participants. In 210 participants, two MoCA versions and an estimator for premorbid intelligence were administered at two time points.