Competition between frontal lobe functions and implicit sequence learning: evidence from the long-term effects of alcohol.

Implicit sequence learning is a fundamental mechanism that underlies the acquisition of motor, cognitive and social skills. The relationship between implicit learning and executive functions is still debated due to the overlapping fronto-striatal networks. According to the framework of competitive neurocognitive networks, disrupting specific frontal lobe functions, such as executive functions, increases performance on implicit learning tasks. The aim of our study was to explore the nature of such a relationship by investigating the effect of long-term regular alcohol intake on implicit sequence learning. Since alcohol dependency impairs executive functions, we expected intact or even better implicit learning in patient group compared to the healthy controls based on the competitive relationship between these neurocognitive networks. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the long-term effects of alcohol dependency both on implicit learning and on executive functions requiring different but partly overlapping neurocognitive networks. Here, we show weaker executive functions but intact implicit learning in the alcohol-dependent group compared to the controls. Moreover, we found negative correlation between these functions in both groups. Our results confirm the competitive relationship between the fronto-striatal networks underlying implicit sequence learning and executive functions and suggest that the functional integrity of this relationship is unaltered in the alcohol-dependent group despite the weaker frontal lobe functions.

Comparison of olanzapine and risperidone use in psychiatric rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Because olanzapine and risperidone have similar efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of schizophrenia and these two agents are the most widely used atypical antipsychotics in Hungary, the utilisation of the drugs is a relevant consideration. The purpose of this study was to follow the utilisation trend of olanzapine and risperidone in the Gálfi Béla Hospital, which is a specialised institute on psychiatric rehabilitation. METHODS: Data regarding dosages and psychiatrists' clinical preferences were collected through studying hospital charts in the Gálfi Béla Hospital during the period 1999-2003. RESULTS: Utilisation of the agents indicated that there was an increase of use for the whole examined period in the Gálfi Béla Hospital, although unambiguous growth began only in 2001. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital chart analysis shows that both drugs were used to a large extent and risperidone use is increasing more rapidly, which is justified by the gerontopsychiatric profile of the hospital.

[Utilization and comparison study of antipsychotics at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Semmelweis University and the Galfi Bela Hospital]. / Antipszichotikumok felhasználásának utilizációs vizsgálata és összehasonlítása a Semmelweis Egyetem Pszichiátriai és Pszichoterápiás Klinikáján és a Gálfi Béla Gyógyító és Rehabilitációs Kht. Szakkórházában.

The authors examined the use of antipsychotics at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Semmelweis University and at the Gálfi Béla Hospital by reviewing retrospectively the drug ordering practice in the period of 1998-2002. The aim of the study was to analyse the utilization aspects of the use of antipsychotic medication. The study also aimed to identify the main trends of prescribing preference and to compare the use of antipsychotics in the two institutions. Data showed that in accordance with the latest professional guidelines the use of novel antipsychotics is increasing. Based on analysis of the antipsychotic use in both clinical practices there were characteristic patterns found that show that the conventional antipsychotic use is still notable. The purpose of the present study was to follow the temporal development trends and present state of antipsychotic use which could result in a cost-effective drug therapy.