Psychologie a její kontexty, Vol.5, Supplement

Experimentální užití Olomouckého testu figurální fluence u osob závislých na alkoholu
Experimental use of Olomouc test of figural fluency in people addicted to alcohol

Martin Lečbych, Martin Vaverka

V této stati referujeme o experimentální aplikaci Olomouckého testu figurální fluence, který je zaměřen zejména na diagnostiku exekutivních funkcí. Test jsme aplikovali u souboru pacientů se syndromem závislosti na alkoholu diagnostikovaných dle kritérií MKN-10 (n=44), který porovnáváme s výsledky kontrolního souboru (n=146). Srovnání skupin ukazuje na statisticky vysoce významný rozdíl zejména v celkovém výkonu v testu (CV), který je u klinické skupiny významně nižší (t=-4,73; p < 0,01). Rozdíl mezi skupinami z hlediska velikosti účinku (effect size) a věcné významnosti lze také hodnotit jako velký (d=0,86). Diagnostika exekutivních schopností má u pacientů se sy. závislosti na alkoholu praktický význam z hlediska terapeutické prognózy a zvládání sy. závislosti. V textu shrnujeme relevantní studie k tomuto tématu a výsledky diskutujeme s ohledem na nižší výkon klinické skupiny.

Klíčová slova:
závislost na alkoholu, figurální fluence, neuropsychologie, exekutivní funkce

Problem: The study of cognitive deficits in patients who are addicted to alcohol is an important topic of contemporary research. Several studies demonstrate that for this group of patients is typical diffused cognitive deficit that impairs more cognitive abilities including executive functions. Recent researches shows that executive dysfunctions among this patients is connected with poor therapeutic prognosis and coping with alcohol addiction. Diagnostic of executive functions among this group is often underestimated. Our aim in this study is to assess executive function among this group of patients by new Olomouc test of figural fluency that is intended for measurement of executive functioning and comparing their results with control group.
Methods: We assess performance of 44 patients with alcohol dependence syndrome and 146 volunteers in control group with Olomouc test of figural fluency. We refer about main specific of this method compared to other tools for assessing of figural fluency. Selection of all participants in both groups was voluntary and based on their motivation.
Results: We found that clinical and control group differ statistically significantly in overall numbers of produced designs (CP), in overall numbers of unique designs (CV) and in the index of precision of their work (V/P). The main test criterion (number of unique designs, CV) shows as a most powerful and useful in differentiation of both groups from statistical (t=-4,73; p < 0,01) and practical points of view (effect size d=0,86).
Discussion: Our research findings correspond with recent research studies about executive deficit among group of patients addicted to alcohol and overall poor performance in executive tasks. We considered that number of unique designs produced in Olomouc test of figural fluency should be important criterion for discrimination between research and control group. For prediction of impact of executive deficit to coping with addiction is further research needed.
Limitations: Limitations of our research include voluntary selection of participants and lower level of education in clinical group compared to control group.

Keywords:
alcohol dependence, figural fluency, neuropsychology, executive functions