Exploring Social Cognition and Alcohol Related Brain Damage
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Alcohol Related Brain Damage and Social Cognition
IRAS ID
224040
Contact name
Jodie Hill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD) can have a devastating effect on the cognitive functioning (thinking skills) and daily living of people who have abused alcohol. Although an under-researched area, studies have shown damage to areas which are associated with social cognition. It is important that healthcare professionals, including clinical psychologists, have an understanding of how social cognition presents in an ARBD population in order to ensure appropriate assessment and rehabilitation, with the aim of preventing relapse and improving quality of life. This study will investigate whether people with ARBD show deficits on tasks addressing two aspects of social cognition; and if so, how does this correlate to other factors, including scores in other neuropsychological domains (including memory, processing speed and attention), drinking history, self-report measures and diagnosis.
The study will aim to recruit 28 participants with an ARBD diagnosis from a specialist ARBD unit in NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK. Patients at the unit are routinely tested using neuropsychological tests - this study will use existing scores and introduce three new measures to test social cognition and allow for comparisons to be made across the tested domains.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
17/WS/0127
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion