Neurophysiological markers of cue reactivity and inhibition subtend a three-month period of complete alcohol abstinence. Issue 2 (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Campanella, Salvatore; Schroder, Elisa; Kajosch, Hendrik; Hanak, Catherine; Veeser, Johannes; Amiot, Maud; Besse-Hammer, Tatiana; Hayef, Nabil; Kornreich, Charles
• Is Part Of: Clinical neurophysiology. Volume 131:Issue 2(2020:Feb.)
• Page Start: 555
• Page End: 565
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Alcoholism -- Abstinence -- Event-related potentials -- Dual process model -- Cue reactivity -- Inhibition; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Electroencephalography -- Periodicals; Electromyography -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2019.10.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-2457

Abstract

Highlights: Alcoholics who remained abstinent for a post-treatment period of three months exhibited ERP modulations. Modulations concern cue reactivity and inhibition, which are two mechanisms that trigger alcohol addiction. Monitoring ERP changes during detox helps to define underlying mechanisms of abstinence and relapse. Abstract: Objective: Finding new tools for conventional management of alcohol disorders is a challenge for psychiatrists. Brain indications related to cognitive functioning could represent such an add-on tool. Methods: Forty alcohol-dependent inpatients undertook two cognitive event-related potential (ERP) tasks at the beginning and at the end of a 4-week detoxification program. These comprised a visual oddball task investigating cue reactivity and a Go/No-go task tagging inhibition using oddball P3d and No-go P3d ERP components. Three months after discharge, the patient group ( N = 40) was split into two subgroups: patients who remained abstinent during this post-treatment period (90 days; n = 15), and patients who relapsed (mean time: 28.5 ± 26.2 days; n = 25). Pattern changes of both ERP markers (oddball P3d and No-go P3d) during the detoxification were compared to differentiate these populations. Results: Abstinent patients exhibited similar P3d responses devoted to alcohol cues in Sessions 1 and 2, but an increased No-go P3d devoted to No-go trials in alcohol-related contexts in Session 2 compared to Session 1. Conclusions: Specific cue-reactivity and inhibitory neurophysiological markers subtend a further three-months of complete abstinence. Significance: Monitoring these ERP changes during detoxification may provide important clues regarding patients' future abstinence vs. relapse.