Features of Decision-Making in Patients with Alcohol Dependence

Objectives. To identify electroencephalographic correlates of decision-making features in patients with alcohol dependence. Materials and methods. The clinical group consisted of 40 patients (all men) with alcohol dependence; a further 30 subjects formed the control group. The Cambridge Game Task and the Iowa Game Task were used to study decision-making functions. In addition, the background electroencephalogram was recorded and absolute spectral power indicators were calculated. Results. Among patients with alcohol dependence, relatively high levels of decision-making logic (65 [50; 80]%, p < 0.05) were found to be associated with greater levels of electroencephalogram θ- and α-band spectral power in the central and parieto-occipital leads (R = 0.426, p = 0.019; R = 0.418, p = 0.022; R = 0.394, p = 0.028 and R = 0.445, p = 0.014; R = 0.458, p = 0.011; R = 0.382, p = 0.035, respectively). Difficulties in making decisions based on emotional learning in patients with alcohol dependence were associated with high spectral power levels in the electroencephalogram β rhythm in the temporal leads. Conclusions. This study showed that deficit in decision-making functions in patients with alcoholism may be due to an imbalance in the mechanisms of inhibition and arousal in the brain.