Neuropsychological status of alcohol-dependent patients: increased performance through goal-setting instructions.

Aims: The effects of goal-setting instructions on neuropsychological performance of alcohol-dependent patients and control subjects were assessed. Methods: 57 alcohol-dependent patients and 59 carefully age- and education-matched healthy control subjects underwent standard neuropsychological investigation. In addition, the goal-setting paradigm was used to systematically manipulate motivation. Participants were requested to calculate simple mathematical problems repeatedly within phases of a 2-min duration receiving normal or goal setting-instructions (to increase performance in the next phase by 20%). Results: The patients demonstrated deficits in standard neuropsychological tests. Patient…