Neurocognitive aspects of substance abuse treatment: A psychotherapist's primer.

Abstract

Harvard Medical SchoolA growing body of research indicates thatneuropsychological dysfunction joinpsychosocial markers as essentialpredictors of substance abuse treatmentoutcome. In particular, evidence revealsthat the prefrontal cortex plays asignificant role in moderating behaviorpatterns. Clinical research also showsthat the prefrontallfrontal region of thebrain is often impaired among substanceabusers. This finding raises disturbingissues because, left unrecognized anduntreated, problems with prefrontalexecutive functions (e.g., reducedattention, impulsivity, disinhibition, etc.)may prevent some substance abusersfrom fully benefiting from contemporarytreatment approaches. This articleprovides a guide for substance abuseclinicians to use during the assessmentand treatment of neurocognitivefunctions (e.g., attention, new learning,language, planning and organization,etc.). By viewing patients through awider lens, therapists can begin tounderstand the interactions amongneurocognitive, emotional, and other