Turkish Journal of Psychiatry

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The Effect of Chronic Cigarette Use on Cognitive Function Gülcan GÜLEÇ, Özlem AKARSU, Fezan MUTLU ŞAHİN, Altan EŞSİZOĞLU,Ferdi KÖŞGER, Erdi SEZER, Harun Olcay SONKURT 2018 29(3): 154-161
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Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of chronic
cigarette smoking on the cognitive function in people who have no
other mental or physical illness other than tobacco use disorder.
Method: The study was carried out on three groups: smokers (n = 71),
former smokers (n = 39), and non-smokers (n = 49). The Wisconsin
Card Sorting Test (WCST), Stroop Color and Word Test (ST), Trail
Making Test (TMT), Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), and Serial
Digit Learning Test (SDLT) were applied to the 3 groups participating
in the study. Groups were compared with the Three-Factor Covariance
Analysis.
Results: Stroop test 4th card time score which determined the basic
level of color discourse in the smoker group was significantly higher
than the non-smoker group. The Trail Making Test-B time scores were
significantly higher in the smoker group than the non-smoker group.
And Trail Making Test-B time points were significantly higher in the
former smoker group than nonsmoker group. Auditory Verbal Learning
Test – verbal learning scores were lower in the smoker group than
the non-smoker and former smoker group. There was no significant
difference in verbal learning scores between the non-smoking and
former smoker groups. The neurocognitive deficits in smokers appear
to be related to dose and duration.
Conclusion: This study suggests that auditory verbal memory, visualspatial
processing, and attention areas may be a selective area of
disability in smokers. A major limitation is the fact that general cognitive
performance levels of participants was not assessed by a general criteria
such as Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).