Predictors of chronicity in alcohol use disorder: an evoked response potential study

Abstract

Introduction

Evoked response potentials (ERP) can reliably map key neurocognitive processes which are putatively responsible for chronic alcohol use disorder (AUD). Aim of the present study was to study P300 auditory odd ball and N400 visual semantic incongruity paradigm mapping executive functions rubric as a potential biomarker predicting chronicity in AUDs. Methodology: 60 right handed 18 to 54 years age subjects were divided into chronic “CAD” and non chronic alcohol dependence “NAD” in addition to healthy control “HC” (N = 30). Subjects were assessed by Addiction Severity Index (ASI), P300 auditory odd ball paradigm in midline region and visual N400 semantic incongruity task in centro-parietal region in a cross sectional design. Results: All the three groups differed significantly for P300 and N400 amplitude in all the leads with maximum attenuation seen in CAD. On discriminant function analysis (DFA), P300 Pz and N 400 C2 amplitude values could accurately classified 78.3% subjects. Composite sensitivity and specificity of the two predictor variables differentiating CAD subjects from NAD were 79.31 and 77.41%. receiver operating characteristic curve generated an area under the curve of .758 and .847 i.e., “fair to good” ability to predict CAD from NAD. Conclusion: We conclude that specific ERP paradigm can be used as a state marker to map the cognitive deficits and as a biomarker to detect chronic AUDs.

Keywords:

• Alcohol
• N400
• P300
• sensitivity
• specificity

Author contributions

• PM wrote the protocol and collected the data; and helped with interpretation of findings and development of the manuscript.

• PM, SHN and MJ conceptualized the study hypotheses and the design.

• NG and SKT conducted statistical analysis; interpreted the results.

• SG and SKT wrote the manuscript.

• PM was involved in the critical evaluation of the literature

• All authors have approved the final manuscript.

Role of the funding source

• No funding received in any respect.

• The corresponding author has full access to all the data in the study and has the final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.