Correlation of cognitive functions with emotional dusregulation in alcohol dependence a cross sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: newlineAlcohol dependence syndrome is a complex mental illness associated with severe impairment at a personal and societal level. It may lead to serious medical, neurological, and psychiatric consequences. Such consequences can be long-term persisting even during abstinence. Cognitive deficits, especially executive deficits, are known to occur Difficulties in regulating emotions have also been identified in alcohol-dependent patients. Executive functions influence judgement and decision-making and. As emotional dysregulation and executive dysfunctions are linked to alcohol dependence, these factors may interact and exacerbate one another s severity. Despite the data demonstrating the intimate association between emotional regulation and executive functions in affective disorders, there is a knowledge gap about their, especially during the abstinent period. This study is vital to promote interventions for improving cognitive and emotional regulation for maintaining abstinence. The current study assessed the connection between cognitive impairment and emotional dysregulation in alcohol-dependence patients with a minimum of 1-month abstinence. newlineMATERIALS AND METHODS: newlineThis was a cross-sectional study of 80 subjects with a minimum of one-month abstinence. The study population included patients of 18 to 59 years, without any co-morbid medical or psychiatric conditions. The study was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital over 18 months. Emotional regulation was assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale- Short form (DERS-SF). Appropriate statistical tests were done using SPSS,v22. newlineRESULTS: newlineSADQ scores showed that most study subjects had moderate alcohol dependence (41.3%) followed by severe dependence (30%). Cognitive impairment was observed in 42.5% of the study subjects as assessed by DSST and 80% of the subjects assessed by WCST. Poor emotional regulation was seen in 50% of the study subjects. Significant differences in both cognitive impairment and emotional dysregulation were observed in the duration of alcohol use (DSST t=2.67,p=0.01; DERS-SF t=2.21,p=0.03), the average amount of alcohol consumption per day (DSST t=2.92,p=0.01; WCST t=3.38,p=0.01; DERS-SF t=5.12,p=0.01), the number of relapses in the past (DSST t=7.48,p=0.01; WCST t=2.32,p=0.02; DERS-SF t=8.99,p=0.01), and the severity of alcohol dependence (DSST X2=43.64,p=0.01; WCST X2=7.87,p=0.02; DERS-SF X2=43.45,p=0.01). Correlations between cognitive functions assessed by DSST- Correct number of responses (r= -0.84, p=0.01), WCST Perseverative errors (r= 0.67, p=0.01) and emotional dysregulation was observed. i.e., subjects with poor cognitive functions had higher emotional dysregulation and vice versa. newlineCONCLUSION: newlineCognitive functions and emotional regulation influence each other and emotional regulation difficulties. The level of executive functions was inversely related to emotional dysregulation. Psychosocial interventions may be aimed at improving cognitive deficits and emotional regulation in alcohol-dependence patients for a better outcome. newline