FRONTAL SYMPTOMS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSERS UNDER TREATMENT USING THE SPANISH VERSION OF THE FRONTAL SYSTEM BEHAVIOUR SCALE

Introduction and aims. There are different studies that suggest a relationship between frontal symptoms and substance addiction. Die Frontal System Behavior Scale is a questionnaire used to consider the manifestations of three frontal syndromes: executive dysfunction, apathy, and lack of inhibition. Subjects and methods. The Spanish version of the Frontal System Behavior Scale (FrSBe-Sp) is administered to 215 addicted individuals starting treatment and to 267 nonclinical participants. The FrSBe-Sp is a self-administered questionnaire, of 46 items that evaluate the three syndromes afore-mentioned in an estimation of baseline (before substance use) and in a present estimation (after substance consumption). Results. The questionnaire shows suitable psychometric properties and convergent validity with (mother similar questionnaire (DEX-Sp). Statistically significant differences appear between the scores of the addicted individuals compared with the group control at the baseline, as well as, specially. the present time. Conclusions. The results point out the fact that possibly the alterations of frontal character were previous. may be they acted as some kind of risk/factors at the be, inning of substance use. Also, they have significantly increased during the base of active substance use. The FrSBe-Sp seems to be a good instrument to explore, boil) synchronically and diachronically, symptoms of frontal type related to addictive behaviors. New hypotheses of special relevance for treatment of addictive behaviors are suggested. [REV NEUROL 2009; 48: 624-31]