Is the Capacity of Forming Abstract Concepts Affected by Cocaine Use? Application of Wisconsin Test in a Prospective Study

Abstract

Cocaine causes cognitive impairment. This affectation becomes evident by failures on several neuropsychological tests. Wisconsin cards test analyzes the capacity for forming abstract concepts. The utility of this test to demonstrate cognitive impairment in cocaine addicts is not fully proved.

Objetive:

Evaluate the utility of Wisconsin test for the detection of errors in the capacity of forming abstracts concepts in chronic cocaine users.

Experiment and method:

An observational, prospective, cohorts study was carried out, with a control group (n=27). The case subjects (n=24) are patients with cocaine dependence. The patients underwent the Wisconsin cards sorting test, in the 64 cards version.

Results:

Among the different results obtained we could remark the differences on the number of errors (mostly the perseverative ones, which would be showing difficulties for finding alternatives and proposals for problems resolutions, more noticeable in the cases group than in the control group) and on the number of conceptual level answers, which shows the comprehension of the basic classification principles, and it would be affected as well in the cocaine users group in comparison with the control group.

Conclusions:

These results would show a higher difficulty finding alternatives and different proposals when solving problems in the cases group; as well as on the comprehension of basic classification principles.

According to the estimations offered on the Test's manual, we demonstrate the existence of cognitive impairment on the cases group, although it is not a severe damage, but could be labelled as medium-mild damage.

(Proyecto MSC-2005/465 financiado por DGPNSD)