1. BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficits related to alcohol abuse: a preliminary study Smeraldi C., Angelone S.M., Movalli M., Cavicchioli M., Mazza G., Notaristefano A., prof. Maffei C., Cognitive deficits related to alcohol abuse: a preliminary study Smeraldi C., Angelone S.M., Movalli M., Cavicchioli M., Mazza G., Notaristefano A., prof. Maffei C., Università di Palermo - San Raffaele Scientific Institute Università di Palermo - San Raffaele Scientific Institute Background REFERENCES: 1. Lowrey PL, Takahashi GS (2000): Genetics of the mammalian circadian system: Photic entrainment, circadian pacemaker mechanisms, and posttranslational regulation. Annu. Rev. Genet. 34: 533-562. 2. Abe H, Honma S, Namihira M, Masubuchi S, Ikeda M, Ebihara S, et al (2001): Clock gene expressions in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other areas of the brain during rhythm splitting in CS mice. Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res. 87: 92-99. 3. Greene JD, Sommerville RB, Nystrom LE, Darley JM, Cohen JD (2001): An fMRI investigation of emotional engagement in moral judgment. Science 293: 2105-2108. REFERENCES: 1. Lowrey PL, Takahashi GS (2000): Genetics of the mammalian circadian system: Photic entrainment, circadian pacemaker mechanisms, and posttranslational regulation. Annu. Rev. Genet. 34: 533-562. 2. Abe H, Honma S, Namihira M, Masubuchi S, Ikeda M, Ebihara S, et al (2001): Clock gene expressions in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other areas of the brain during rhythm splitting in CS mice. Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res. 87: 92-99. 3. Greene JD, Sommerville RB, Nystrom LE, Darley JM, Cohen JD (2001): An fMRI investigation of emotional engagement in moral judgment. Science 293: 2105-2108. References : Cognitive factors in the relapse process. Marlatt G.A. in Relapse prevention : maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviour 1985 N.Y. Guilford press 1985 Cognitive impairment influences drinking outcome by altering therapeutic mechanisms of change Bates M.E., Pawlak A.P., Tonigan J.S., J.F.Buckman Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 2006, 20(3): 241-253 Cognitive impairments are a core feature of chronic alcoholism. Between 50% and 80% of individuals with alcohol use disorders experience mild to severe neurocognitive impairment. Current treatments for alcohol use disorders focus on changing behaviour and developing skills to prevent relapse and promote psychosocial adaptation, activities that clearly require cognitive processing. We administreated a specific neuropsychological battery in order to assess a cognitive remediation program. Number of deficit % 0-254,3 3-415,2 5-623,9 7-86,5 Total sign.45,7 The role of cognitive impairment in alcoholism recovery is still under discussion: Bates, Pawlak, Tonigan and Buckman underline that cognitive intact and impaired patients traverse different paths of recovery, with therapeutic change mechanisms operating differently in impaired patients. This result have an important clinical impact, because underlines the necessity of an extended and punctual assessment of cognition in patients who attend to clinical service. Verb. Memo 47, 33 s.d. 10,28 Work. Memo 20,37 s.d. 4,639 Speed and coordinati on 75,62 s.d. 15,77 Verb. Fluen 45,55 s.d.9. 61 Selec tive attent ion 45,54 s.d. 12.14 Exec.f unc. (T.L) 18,43 s.d. 3,23 Exec. Func. (WCST) 8,45 s.d. 8,13963 Sust. attentio n (CPT) 10,869 6 s.d. 12,838 % d e fi ci t a r y 26,1 W>M 32,6 No clinical eff. 50,0 No clinical eff. 30,4 Y>O 58,7 EDU CATI ON 13,0 No clinic al eff. 41,3 Y>O W>M 56,5 No clinical eff. Patients Exclusion criteria: neurological diseases and traumatic brain injury. Any disorder from DSM-IV TR Axe 1 (other than substance dependence). MODA score < 89 (16 patients have been classified as insufficient). 46 alcohol-dependent individuals (29 men-63%; 17 women-37%), aged 27- 69 were recruited. School attendance has mean 12, 93 years 41,3% of patients have reported no other substance abuse, 45, 7% substances’ use in the past and 13% used substances at admission time. Results