This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Mattila, M.J. Articles by Mattila-Evenden, M.E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mattila, M.J. Articles by Mattila-Evenden, M.E. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Effects of alcohol and hypnosedative drugs on digit-symbol substitution: comparison of two different computerized tests

Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

M.E. Mattila-Evenden

Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Computerized symbol-digit substitution tests (SDSTs) and 'yes/no' digit-symbol substitution tests (YNDSTs), together with a digit-digit copying test (DDCT) were compared in a double-blind crossover study for hypnosedative and alcohol effects in 12 young healthy subjects. The tests were carried out before and 1, 3.5 and 5 h after intake of 15 mg diazepam, 30 mg oxazepam, 7.5 mg zopiclone,15 mg zolpidem or 0.65+0.35 g/kg ethanol, these impaired performance by varying extents. The drug-induced decrements were similar in the YNDSTs and SDSTs; the errors were subject-related and increased with alcohol intake in the YNDSTs but not in the SDSTs. Pooled baseline values in YNDSTs correlated well (Pearson) with those in the SDSTs. The SDSTs also correlated well with the DDCTs.The same correlations were seen when comparing absolute performances after ethanol and hypnosedatives. When using the -values (changes from baseline), the correlation betweenYNDSTs and SDSTs was high after placebo but low after alcohol and hypnosedatives. When using ANCOVA to measure the responses to drugs (-drug - -placebo), the correlation between YNDSTs and SDSTs was fairly significant after most but not all active drugs. Subjective visual analogue variables did not correlate with objective performances. By comparing absolute performances with hypnosedatives we conclude that YNDSTs and SDSTs are similar, with the -values indicating differences between them.

Key Words: digit substitution • ethanol • hypnotics • psychomotor performance • symbol substitution

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 11, No. 4, 313-317 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/026988119701100405


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Tiplady, J. Hiroz, L. Holmes, and G. Drummond Errors in performance testing: a comparison of ethanol and temazepam J Psychopharmacol, January 1, 2003; 17(1): 41 - 49. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. Cameron, W. Sinclair, and B. Tiplady Validity and sensitivity of a pen computer battery of performance tests J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 2001; 15(2): 105 - 110. [Abstract] [PDF]