Changes in P300 latency during the early withdrawal period in chronic alcohol-dependent patients: Two case reports

Abstract

Aims: The present study focused on changes in P300 of the event-related potential (ERP) in two patients with alcohol dependence recorded throughout their alcohol withdrawal period. Results: As a result of this investigation, the peak latency of P300 in each patient was significantly shorter 2 or 3 days after abstinence from alcohol, when marked neurological manifestations appeared, compared to that of the control obtained from 8 to 10 days after cessation of drinking. Conclusions: It seems reasonable to conclude that the shortening of P300 latency reflects the enhancement of brain activity during the early withdrawal period and that an investigation of changes in P300 would be helpful to clarify the nature of neural activity in the brain associated with alcohol withdrawal.