Study of Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder

Abstract Background: Chronic alcohol consumption induces maladaptive changes, maintaining dependence, shortening abstinence, and triggering relapses. Cognitive disorders disrupt motivation and decision-making, crucial for abstinence. Examining alcohol’s duration and severity’s impact on cognition is essential. Aim: (1) To find the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). (2) To correlate the duration and severity of alcohol use with cognitive functioning. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study in the outpatient department of the psychiatry department of a tertiary care hospital. Thirty male AUD patients participated. Sociodemographic and illness factors were assessed through a semi-structured pro forma. AUD diagnosis was based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5 th edition criteria, with symptom severity gauged by the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ). Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA). Results: Prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in the study population: 86.67%. Mean SADQ score: 11.2; mean MOCA score: 21.53. Analysis revealed a negative correlation between MOCA score and alcohol use duration ( P = 0.051, 95% confidence interval). Moreover, the SADQ score positively correlated with the frequency of relapses and family history of AUD. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment is prevalent in patients suffering from AUD. Prolonged alcohol use correlates with greater cognitive impairment (lower MOCA score). Furthermore, frequent relapses and positive family history indicate severe alcohol dependence.