Neuropsychology of addiction in Therapeutic Communities: a specific cognitive semiology?
Résumé
Objectives
Therapeutic Communities (TCs) are care units welcoming people with Alcohol and Drug Use
Disorder (AUD/DUD) and frequent psychiatric comorbidities. Those alterations can lead to
neuropsychological impairments which are likely to hinder the benefit of addiction treatment.
However, these disorders are rarely considered in the support of TCs residents. The aims of this study
are therefore to describe (1) the consumption profile of the residents and (2) their neuropsychological
impairment profile.
Materials and methods
Residents of 3 French TCs underwent clinical interviews and questionnaires (health, psychiatric
history, DSM-V criteria for substance use, consumption data) and a neuropsychological screening
(the BEARNI; Ritz et al., 2015). The sample of TCs residents (n=26) was compared to a healthy
control (HC) group (n=26) matched for age, gender and education.
Results
All TCs residents had psychiatric comorbidities, AUD and used tobacco. Most of them were
polyconsumers, with 80% using cannabis and 65% cocaine among the most frequent substances used.
Regarding cognition, HC performed better than all TCs residents on ataxia, working memory,
episodic memory and visuospatial abilities subtests as well as BEARNI total score, but no difference
was found on flexibility.
Conclusions
Results indicate a heterogeneous consumption profile in TCs residents, with polyconsumption. TCs
residents were globally cognitively impaired compared to HC. This data is a first step in better
understanding specific TCs residents’ consumption and cognitive profiles. It highlights the need to
adapt care and treatment in TCs resident who may be at-risk of neuropsychological impairments to
support the benefit of addiction care in TCs.
| Origine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
|---|---|
| Licence |