Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Rosselli, Monica

Abstract

Background: Alcohol is the substance most commonly abused in combination with cocaine. Few studies have explored the effect of alcohol on memory recovery of chronic cocaine users. Moreover, results from these studies are often contradictory. The current study compared the effects of alcohol in a sample of cocaine dependent individuals, with and without concomitant alcohol abuse, at early and late abstinence. Methods: Verbal and non-verbal memory ability was tested in 18 cocaine only (COC) and 30 dual cocaine and alcohol (CA) dependent participants at 2 weeks and around 3 months after admission to a rehabilitation facility. Verbal immediate and delay memory were assessed using the Digit Span subset of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Revised (WAIS-R) and the California Verbal Learning test (CVLT); non verbal immediate and delay memory were measured using the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test (ROCFT). Results: The cocaine participants exhibited a similar memory recovery profile in short term memory tasks independently of their history of alcohol abuse. However, significant group differences emerged in delayed memory tasks. On the ROCFT delayed memory test the CA group performed significantly worse than the COC group with significantly less improvement in scores during abstinence as well. The reduced score enhancement during abstinence in theCA group was also observed in the CVL T delayed memory variables. Conclusions: The present study suggests that the use of alcohol in combination with cocaine may have an effect on memory recovery with specific impact on long-term memory tasks.

Extent

46 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00000829

Format

pdf

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