Dependence on sedative-hypnotics: neuropsychological impairment, field dependence and clinical course in a 5-year follow-up study.

Despite some neuropsychological improvement in a group of 30 patients who had been hospitalized for primary abuse of sedatives or hypnotics 4-6 years earlier, the prevalence of intellectual impairment was still increased and about as high as before. As in alcoholic patients CAT scan of the brain showed an increased prevalence of dilatation of the ventricular system, but unlike alcoholics not of widened cortical sulci. Field dependence and visuo-spatial skills during treatment predicted abuse status at follow-up. Patients with improved drug habits had less pronounced withdrawal symptoms during treatment and a better social situation at follow-up than patients without improvement of drug habits. The results suggest that despite some neuropsychological improvement cerebral disorder diagnosed in patients abusing sedatives or hypnotics is often permanent through the years and that neuropsychological status is linked to long-term prognosis.