Electrophysiological and Neuropsychological Indices of Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Insomnia and Severe Benzodiazepine Use Disorder.

Castelnovo, Anna; Miano, Silvia; Ferri, Raffaele; Raggi, Alberto; Maestri, Michelangelo; Bottasini, Valentina; Anelli, Matteo; Zucconi, Marco; Castronovo, Vincenza; Ferini-Strambi, Luigi; Manconi, Mauro (2023). Electrophysiological and Neuropsychological Indices of Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Insomnia and Severe Benzodiazepine Use Disorder. Brain Sciences, 13(3) MDPI 10.3390/brainsci13030375

[img]
Preview
Text
brainsci-13-00375-v2.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY).

Download (8MB) | Preview

Benzodiazepine (BDZ) misuse is a growing health problem, with 1-2% of patients under BDZ treatment meeting the criteria for use disorder or dependence. Although BDZ addiction potential has been known for decades, much remains unknown its effects on brain functions. The aim of this study was to assess the neuropsychological and neurophysiological profile of a group of chronic insomniacs taking long-term high doses of benzodiazepine. We recruited 17 consecutive patients admitted to our third-level Sleep Medicine Unit for drug discontinuation (7 males, mean age 49.2 ± 11.2 years, mean education 13.7 ± 3.9 years, mean daily diazepam-equivalent BDZ: 238.1 ± 84.5 mg) and 17 gender/age-matched healthy controls (7 males, mean age 46.8 ± 14.1 years, mean education 13.5 ± 4.5 years). We performed a full neuropsychological evaluation of all subjects and recorded their scalp event-related potentials (Mismatch-Passive Oddball-Paradigm and Active Oddball P300 Paradigm). Patients with chronic insomnia and BDZ use disorder showed a profound frontal lobe executive dysfunction with significant impairment in the cognitive flexibility domain, in face of a preserved working, short and long-term memory. In patients, P300 amplitude tended to be smaller, mainly over the frontal regions, compared to controls. BDZ use disorder has a severe cognitive impact on chronic insomnia patients. Long-term high-dose BDZ intake should be carefully evaluated and managed by clinicians in this specific patient population, especially in relation to risky activities.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Neurology
04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

UniBE Contributor:

Castelnovo, Anna, Manconi, Mauro

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

2076-3425

Publisher:

MDPI

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

30 Mar 2023 15:19

Last Modified:

31 Mar 2023 07:59

Publisher DOI:

10.3390/brainsci13030375

PubMed ID:

36979185

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Oddball P300 chronic insomnia executive functioning long-term benzodiazepine use mismatch negativity psychophysiology

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/181082

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/181082

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback