Ludivine Ritz (MC HDR, LPCN, Université de Caen Normandie), Céline Boudehent (PhIND, Université de Caen Normandie), Nicolas Cabé (MCU-PH et addictologue au CHU, Université de Caen Normandie), Anne-Lise Pitel (PU, PhIND-Neuropresage, Université de Caen Normandie) & Hélène Beaunieux (PU, LPCN, Université de Caen Normandie) ont publié un chapitre d’ouvrage publié dans le livre Handbook of Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorders, à paraitre aux éditions Springer.
Ritz, L., Boudehent, C., Cabé, N., Pitel, A.-L., & Beaunieux, H. (2026). Brief Evaluation of Alcohol-Related Neuropsychological Impairments (BEARNI) test in alcohol investigations and studies: Features and applications. In V. B. Patel & V. R. Preedy (Eds.), Handbook of Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorders (pp. 1-24). Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35658-2_144-1
Abstract
Brief Evaluation of Alcohol-Related Neuropsychological Impairments (BEARNI) is a screening tool specifically designed to assess cognitive and motor impairments associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This chapter reviews its main features and applications in both clinical and research contexts. BEARNI provides a rapid and multidomain assessment, allowing the identification of different levels of vulnerabilities or impairment, from young consumers to patients with AUD and Korsakoff’s syndrome. Findings highlight its sensitivity to cognitive changes during abstinence, treatment retention, and the presence of comorbid conditions. BEARNI has been used in neuroimaging studies, showing that its subtests are associated with distinct patterns of brain alterations. BEARNI also appears useful for identifying early vulnerability in younger populations and for detecting the cognitive impact of combined substance use. Overall, its clinical relevance makes it a valuable tool for improving the detection and monitoring of alcohol-related neuropsychological impairments, as well as treatment adaptation. BEARNI should be interpreted as a screening and risk-stratification tool rather than a diagnostic instrument, particularly for mild impairment and Korsakoff’s syndrome. Beyond screening, BEARNI may serve as a clinically actionable proxy of brain vulnerability and recovery trajectories in AUD.
Il est consultable via ce lien : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35658-2_144-1.
Ludivine Ritz est enseignante-chercheuse HDR au LPCN, ses recherches portent sur la neuropsychologie, les addictions, les fonctions exécutives et les neurosciences cognitives. Elle est impliquée dans le programme de recherche Addiction.
Hélène Beaunieux est Professeure en Neuropsychologie au LPCN, ses recherches portent sur la neuropsychologie des addictions. Au LPCN, elle coordonne le programme de recherche Addiction.
