Information processing deficits in withdrawing alcoholics

Addiction Biology
Paul A. KeedwellS A Checkley

Abstract

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response (a reduction in response to an intense, startling stimulus (the pulse) if preceded by 30-150 ms by a weaker, non-startling stimulus) is an established model to index information processing deficits in thought-disordered schizophrenic patients. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of alcohol withdrawal on the PPI effect. Eight withdrawing alcoholic patients underwent testing for PPI of the acoustic startle response (defined as percentage reduction of the response over pulse-alone stimulus; prepulses 15 dB above the background) on three occasions (1, 3 and 7 days following the last drink). The results demonstrated remarkably low levels of PPI on days 1 and 3, with this being very robust in three patients who had a history of delirium tremens; there was a trend towards normalization of PPI on day 7. This study, although preliminary, suggests strongly that there is a deficit in the filtering of sensory information in alcohol-dependent patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal. This was most apparent in those with a history of delirium tremens. Further studies are needed to define the cause and chronicity of these deficits.

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Citations

May 15, 2012·Alcohol and Alcoholism : International Journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism·Marta MarínGabriel Rubio
Sep 14, 2007·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Julia A Chester, Gustavo D Barrenha
Mar 5, 2015·Alcohol and Alcoholism : International Journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism·Marta MarinGabriel Rubio
Oct 22, 2016·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Nicole Mons, Daniel Beracochea
Jan 26, 2012·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Arnt F A SchellekensRobbert-Jan Verkes
Sep 25, 2020·The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology·Eleonora GattaGraziano Pinna

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