Dependence on alcohol, dual pathology and neurocognitive functioning: A necessary review

Abstract

Introduction: The harmful effect on the brain and the cognitive processes, caused by the chronic consumption of alcohol has been systematically described in literature for decades. At present, there are few results about the distinctive features of cognitive functioning in patients with dual pathology. 
Objective: To carry out a critical assessment of the available evidence on the relationship between Dual Pathology (DP) and neuropsychological functioning.
Material and Method: A systematic review of the digital databases was carried out.  The data processing was made through a direct content analysis. 
Development: The study of cognitive and neuropsychological alterations in DP cannot be made regardless of the type of psychopathological disorder presented by the patient with alcohol dependence.  In this field, just a few articles that describe the neuropsychological damage in patients with DP have been published.  It has been confirmed that the greatest difficulties are specifically seen in executive functioning, particularly in shifting, updating, and inhibition.
Conclusions: The evidence of neurocognitive alterations in patients with DP is reduced. There are interesting studies that suggest the possibility that psychiatric comorbidity in alcohol dependence has a much more serious effect on neuropsychological functioning, compared with patients who only present one of the two isolated alterations. The psychopathological diagnosis that coexists with dependence is a factor that impacts differently on themagnitude and the type of neurocognitive alterations that dual patients present. 

Keywords: dual pathology, neuropsychology, alcohol dependence, cognitive process.