Memory deficits in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome and its course after 24 weeks: Follow-up study at a tertiary care hospital

ABSTRACT Background: Alcohol dependence is a worldwide problem and a major cause of disability and mortality in India. Cognitive deficits in multiple domains are known to occur in patients with alcohol dependence and pose hindrance in management; memory problems are a major portion of these deficits. The nature of these memory deficits has been studied and reported from studies in the western countries. Similar research from India has been rare. There is a dichotomy in the scientific literature regarding persistence of memory deficits after treatment, when these patients are abstinent. Aims: Our study aimed to find out the nature and extent of memory deficits using a tool validated in the Indian population and follow them up for 24 weeks to ascertain change in the deficits. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out at a psychiatry unit of a tertiary care center in New Delhi, India. Eighty freshly diagnosed cases of alcohol dependence syndrome and 80 healthy controls were recruited for the study. PGI-Memory scale (Part of Post graduate Institute – Battery of Brain Dysfunction) was administered on all patients and controls. The same was followed up at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 24 weeks. Results: Compared to controls, the patients had significant dysfunction in all domains of PGI memory scale. These deficits improved significantly at 6 weeks and 24 weeks. Conclusion: There are significant memory deficits in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome, and these deficits improve with abstinence.