Cognitive dysfunctions connected with prefrontal cortex activity occurred as an significant factors in clinical picture of alcohol dependence. The aim of this study was to assess verbal working memory and executive dysfunctions in patients with alcohol addiction.

102 patients (77 male and 25 female) aged 21-58 (mean 43±9) years participated in this study. Neuropsychological assessment included: Stroop Color Word Interference Test (RCNb - reading color names in black, NCWd -naming color of word-different) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. In 51 subjects assessment was performed one week after discontinuation of alcohol drinking and in next 51 subjects after at least one-year of abstinence. The control group consisted with 30 healthy persons matched with age, gender and education for experimental group.

Investigated patients showed significant impairments on performance on Stroop Test and WCST compared to healthy persons. Difference were observed between patients with short-term and long-term abstinence on the performance on WCST N-P which is mostly connected with attention and Stroop - NCWd connected with conflict monitoring functions.

The results on Stroop Test correlated with the number on correct completed category (related to efficiency of thinking) on WCST in patients with short-term abstinence and with % of conceptual responses (ability to utilize new information and previous experiences) in healthy controls.

These results may indicate significant role on conflict monitoring functions measured by Stroop Test, connected with posterior cingulated cortex activity in executive functions assessed by WCST in patients with alcohol dependence and healthy controls.