The excessive and chronic use of alcohol is associated with a variety of neurocognitive changes in a substantial number of detoxified alcoholics. These deficits extend across a wide variety of neuropsychological domains and can be observed over a period of months following detoxification. Furthermore, they are seen in both male and female alcoholics, despite the fact that female alcoholics often have shorter drinking histories. Although these deficits are widely observed, there is considerable heterogeneity both within and across studies. Currently, the sources of this variability are only poorly understood. In this article, we review these neurocognitive and neurophysiological deficits, their pattern of recovery, potential contributing or confounding factors, and some of the clinical implications of these findings.

Genetic study holds potential for understanding the etiology of a number of serious psychiatric disorders. In the case of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), many investigators agree that there is a strong genetic component to its development. In this article, we review the scientific evidence gleaned from different types of studies that has led to a better understanding of the nature of the inherited factors in OCD.