Neuropsychological functioning in substance-dependent patients

The present study examined neurocognitive functioning in groups of individu als addicted to various psychoactive substances. One hundred ten patients a dmitted to treatment for substance misuse were assessed using a semistructu red clinical interview. the Beck Depression Inventory, the Symptom CheckLis t-90, the Trail Making A and B rests, and the Shipley Institute of Living S cale. Results revealed that at intake, alcohol- and benzodiazepine-addicted clients exhibited higher levels of cognitive impairment and psychological distress than patients dependent on other drugs. Regression analysis showed that the Shipley vocabulary raw score was a significant predictor of lengt h of stay in treatment.