A Comparative Assessment of Comprehensive Trail Making Test and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Among Alcohol Dependence Patients
https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.19.6.15
- Author:
Kandappa Nachimuthu Lavanya
1
;
Rajkumar Ramanathan
2
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital, Madras Medical College, Poonamallee High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600003, India
2. Department of Psychiatry, Sree Balaji Medical College, 7, CLC Works Rd, Shankar Nagar, Chromepet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600044, India
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Alcohol-dependence, Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), Comprehensive trail-making test (CTMT), Neuropsychiatric
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
2023;19(No.6):111-117
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Alcohol, when used frequently, accelerates the ageing process, causes brain damage, and results in a
reduced volume of grey and white matter, leading to frontal lobe abnormalities. The neurotoxicity resulting from alcohol overuse affects the higher functions of the brain. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of alcohol dependence
on the executive functioning of the brain. Methods: This study was carried out as a case-control study among 60
patients with alcohol dependence and 60 controls. Assessment of executive function was carried out using the Comprehensive trail-making test (CTMT) and the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST). Comparison between the alcohol
dependence group and normal healthy controls were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test as data followed a
non-parametric distribution. Results: The mean age of the participants among the cases and controls was 38.3±5.5
years and 37.8±5.4 years, respectively. The results showed a significant difference in both WCST and CTMT between
cases and controls (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study concludes that there was an impaired performance in executive
functions in alcohol- dependence patients in early abstinence compared to normal controls showing frontal lobe
impairment in alcohol-dependence patients.
- Full text:11.2023my1669.pdf
