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Journal of Dual Diagnosis
research and practice in substance abuse comorbidity
Volume 15, 2019 - Issue 4
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Articles

Sensorimotor Gating in Cocaine-Related Disorder with Comorbid Schizophrenia or Antisocial Personality Disorder

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Pages 243-253 | Received 09 Apr 2019, Accepted 06 Jun 2019, Published online: 09 Jul 2019
 

Abstract

Objective: Schizophrenia, cocaine-related disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and psychopathy share biological bases, but few studies discriminate between these disorders by means of prepulse inhibition. This work studies the phenotype of patients with cocaine-related disorders who are vulnerable to presenting a dual diagnosis of schizophrenia or antisocial personality disorder, by evaluating their prepulse inhibition, impulsivity and psychopathy personality traits. Methods: The sample (n = 38) was divided into three groups: (1) cocaine-related disorder (8 individuals diagnosed with cocaine-related disorder who did not present any other mental disorder), (2) cocaine-related disorder and schizophrenia (n = 14), and (3) cocaine-related disorder and antisocial personality disorder (n = 16). Results: The prepulse inhibition in the two groups with dual diagnosis was lower than that in the cocaine-related disorder group, F(2, 35) = 6.52, p = .004, while there was no significant differences between the two dual-diagnosis groups. Psychopathy was evaluated with the revised Hare Psychopathy Checklist and showed no correlation with the prepulse inhibition. Secondary psychopathy (impulsivity and poor behavior control), as evaluated with Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale, was related to the prepulse inhibition. Two discriminating functions were obtained that allowed prediction of patient inclusion in the groups using the prepulse inhibition and the revised Hare Psychopathy Checklist with a success rate of 81.6% (cocaine-related disorder = 62.5%; cocaine-related disorder and schizophrenia = 78.6%; cocaine-related disorder and antisocial personality disorder = 93.8%). These results are discussed in regard to the neurobiological implications of prepulse inhibition in dual diagnosis. Conclusions: The results suggest that the prepulse inhibition is a promising dual-diagnosis vulnerability marker in individuals with cocaine addiction, because prepulse inhibition deficits are related both to schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder. In addition, prepulse inhibition, which is considered a good endophenotype for studies on the genetic and neurobiological basis of cocaine-related disorder and schizophrenia, could be used in the same way in studies on antisocial personality disorder.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for the following funding received for the study: (a) CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, teaching + research 2016 and teaching + research 2017; (b) Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Complications of stimulant disorder, Instituto Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Spain; Ref. RD16/0017/0024), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (EU); (c) Research Foundation of the Hospital Provincial de Castellón, (Ref. CAF-16-28, CAF-18-02, and CAF-18-19).