A Study to Assess the Cognitive Functions and the General Health in Patients with Substance Dependence

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive function has been addressed as a hallmark feature of substance use disorders, with alteration in “executive” domains of attention, inhibition/regulation, working memory, and decision-making. Poor cognition or cognitive dysfunction has been recognized as a fundamental impairment in addiction and a potentially important target for intervention. The present study was planned with the aim to assess the cognitive functions and general health in patients with substance dependence and also to correlate general health with the level of cognitive function. Methodology: Ninety participants were included in the study and were categorized into three groups of thirty each as patients taking alcohol, opioids, and nicotine. Consecutive sampling was adopted for the sample collection. Each participant was assessed for dependence, demographic data, and tested by the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Scale-III and General Health Questionnaire-12. Descriptive statistics were applied to calculate the frequencies, percentage, mean, median, and standard deviation. Data were further analyzed for significance using the Chi-square, correlation, and Mann–Whitney test. Results: There is a statistically significant difference seen in marital status (P = 0.005), education (P = 0.001), family type (P = 0.008), and locality (P = 0.000). Furthermore, with substance use, there is a significant change in the domains of general health with P < 0.001, and there is a significant decline in sustaining attention with P = 0.007. Conclusion: Thus, we conclude that substance use has a significant negative impact on cognition mainly attention and working memory with the impact on general health as well.