Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment to Evaluate People with Addictions.

BACKGROUND

The LOTCA (Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment) battery is a cognitive screening test which is widely used in occupational health. However, no work has been found that explores its use in addiction treatment.

OBJECTIVES OF STUDY: To explore the convergent validity of LOTCA with neuropsychological tests that assess related cerebral functional areas.

METHODS

The LOTCA, along with a battery of neuropsychological tests, was administered to a sample of 48 subjects who start a treatment by substance or gambling addictions.

FINDINGS: A correlational pattern was observed of a considerable magnitude between the effects of the LOTCA scales and those of some neuropsychological tests, but not with others. There is barely any convergence in measures with memory and executive function tests.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: There is a lack of research applying test of occupational assessment to populations of patients treated by addictive behaviors. The LOTCA seems to be a reliable and valid test for preliminary screening of function in certain cognitive areas, easy, and quick to use (around 30 minutes). However, it must be supplemented with other tests for a full and ecological assessment of patients.

LIMITATIONS: An incident, small-size sample.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: New studies are needed to explore the applicability, diagnostic validity, and whole psychometric quality of the test in addiction-related treatment.