- Email: [email protected]
The relationship of neuropsychological functioning to amount of recent and lifetime substance use in cocaine-dependent, alcoholic patients
756
Abstracts /Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology 15 (2000) 653-850
extensive MDMA use showed evidence of both explicit and implicit memory impairment because brain serotonin has been implicated in mnemonic function. Accordingly, we compared 15 abstinent MDMA users and 16 normal control subjects who were well-matched in terms of age, gender, education, and prorated intelligence (based on Vocabulary and Block Design subtests of the WASI). We also explored important correlations between characteristics of MDMA use (such as duration of use, number of times used, usual dose, frequency of use, and time since last dose) and neurocognitive performance. We found evidence of explicit memory impairment and intact implicit memory in the abstinent users compared to the normal controls. Moreover, several significant product moment correlations were found suggesting that increases in MDMA consumption may relate to more pronounced impairment in explicit memory. These results suggest that it should be possible, and it is indeed important, to determine the neurochemical substrates of cognitive processes. Such research will both advance our understanding of normal brain function and assist us in developing rational therapies for patients with cognitive disorders.
Executive dysfunction in abstinent MDMA (Ecstasy) users Zakzanis KK, Birze AA. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or Ecstasy) is a growingly popular recreational drug of abuse that is known to damage brain serotonergic neurons in animals and possibly humans. Few functional consequences of MDMA-induced serotonin neurotoxicity have been identified, either in animals or humans. This study sought to determine whether individuals with a history of MDMA use showed evidence of executive dysfunction. Accordingly, 2 groups of young individuals (17-26) were compared: 13 abstinent MDMA users who had taken MDMA at least once and 24 controls who had never taken MDMA. Each MDMA user completed a questionnaire regarding the characteristics of their MDMA use and all participants completed a questionnaire regarding other recreational drug experience. The Behavior_& Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) was used to measure executive function in all participants. Results indicate that MDMA use may be associated with mild deficits in executive function. Evidence of impairment was found on one component subtest of the BADS. Several significant product moment correlations were found suggesting that increases in MDMA consumption may relate to more pronounced impairment in executive function.
The relationship of neuropsychological functioning use in cocaine-dependent, alcoholic patients Bechtold K7: Homer MD, Badanich K, Harvey RT.
to amount of recent and lifetime substance
While cognitive impairments associated with chronic alcoholism have been well-described, previous research has yielded contradictory findings regarding the relationship between cognitive deficit and amount of alcohol consumption. Among cocaine-dependent patients, the existence of cognitive impairment and its relationship to amount of cocaine consumption remains poorly defined. Further, many previous neuropsychological studies of cocaine dependence have examined patients without other substance use disorders, despite the fact that most cocaine-dependent patients seeking treatment also abuse alcohol. The present study examined the relationship between neuropsychological performance and amount of recent and lifetime substance use in patients with concurrent cocaine and alcohol dependence.
Abstracts /Archives
of Clinical Neuropsychology
15 (2000) 653-850
757
Sixteen substance abuse outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for both cocaine and alcohol dependence underwent comprehensive nemopsychological examination after at least 3 days of abstinence. Scores on neuropsychological tests were correlated with number of days of cocaine use in past 30 days, number of drinking days in the past 30 days, number of years of cocaine use, and number of years of drinking to intoxication, as determined by the Addiction Severity Index. Number of days of recent cocaine use was significantly correlated with performance on Trail Making, Part B (r= 0.61, p < 0.05), while length of cocaine use history was negatively correlated with performance on WMS-R Mental Control (r= - 0.54, p< 0.O.Q Stroop Color-Word Test (Color: r= - 0.57, p < 0.05; Word: r= - 0.59, p < 0.05; Interference: r= - 0.64, p < 0.05), and WAIS-R Block Design (r= - 0.59, ~~0.05). Number of recent drinking days was not significantly correlated with any cognitive variables, while length of drinking history was negatively correlated with WAIS-R Block Design performance (r= - 0.65, ~~0.01). Due to the small sample size, none of the correlations reached significance after application of Bonferoni correction. Nevertheless, the results provide preliminarily evidence that patterns of heavier recent and lifetime cocaine use are associated with greater deficits on tasks requiring attention and speeded information processing among patients with concurrent cocaine and alcohol dependence.
Gender and ethnicity Horton Jr AM, Roberts
effects on the Trail Making Test in a sample of cocaine abusers C.
In this poster, gender and ethnicity effects on the Trail Making Test (TMT), a test often used for screening for cognitive impairment, are examined in a sample of cocaine abusers in drug abuse treatment programs. A mixed race sample of 5116 males and 2614 females was drawn from electronic files of data from the Drug Abuse Treatment outcome Study (DATOS). The DATOS was a naturalistic, prospective cohort study that collected data from 1991- 1993 in 96 programs in 11 cities in the United States. The sample consisted of 3012 Caucasian subjects, 3780 African-American subjects and 938 Hispanic-American subjects. Data were analyzed to determine the effects of gender and ethnicity variables on the 2 parts of the TMT in this large sample of cocaine abusers. Gender was statistically significantly related to performance on both TMT Parts A and B but the interaction of cocaine use frequency and gender was not significant (P values, A= 0.51, B =0.35). Ethnicity was statistically related to performance on both TMT Parts A and B, but the interaction of ethnic&y and cocaine use frequency was significant for Part A and only showed a trend for Part B (P values, A=0.03, B =0.13). R-Square values for overall models were quite weak (Gender/A = 0.002, B = 0.003, Ethnicity/A= 0.04, B = 0.06) suggesting that gender and ethnicity effects on the TMT are, while clearly present, account for little overall variance in terms of cocaine use frequency. These results are consistent with earlier research using a more heterogenous drug abuse treatment sample.
Gender and ethnic@ Roberts
effects on the Trail Making Test in a sample of heroine abusers
C, Horton Jr AM.
In this poster, gender and ethnicity effects on the Trail Making Test (TMT), a test often used for screening for cognitive impairment, are examined in a sample of heroin abusers in drug abuse
Abstracts /Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology 15 (2000) 653-850
extensive MDMA use showed evidence of both explicit and implicit memory impairment because brain serotonin has been implicated in mnemonic function. Accordingly, we compared 15 abstinent MDMA users and 16 normal control subjects who were well-matched in terms of age, gender, education, and prorated intelligence (based on Vocabulary and Block Design subtests of the WASI). We also explored important correlations between characteristics of MDMA use (such as duration of use, number of times used, usual dose, frequency of use, and time since last dose) and neurocognitive performance. We found evidence of explicit memory impairment and intact implicit memory in the abstinent users compared to the normal controls. Moreover, several significant product moment correlations were found suggesting that increases in MDMA consumption may relate to more pronounced impairment in explicit memory. These results suggest that it should be possible, and it is indeed important, to determine the neurochemical substrates of cognitive processes. Such research will both advance our understanding of normal brain function and assist us in developing rational therapies for patients with cognitive disorders.
Executive dysfunction in abstinent MDMA (Ecstasy) users Zakzanis KK, Birze AA. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or Ecstasy) is a growingly popular recreational drug of abuse that is known to damage brain serotonergic neurons in animals and possibly humans. Few functional consequences of MDMA-induced serotonin neurotoxicity have been identified, either in animals or humans. This study sought to determine whether individuals with a history of MDMA use showed evidence of executive dysfunction. Accordingly, 2 groups of young individuals (17-26) were compared: 13 abstinent MDMA users who had taken MDMA at least once and 24 controls who had never taken MDMA. Each MDMA user completed a questionnaire regarding the characteristics of their MDMA use and all participants completed a questionnaire regarding other recreational drug experience. The Behavior_& Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) was used to measure executive function in all participants. Results indicate that MDMA use may be associated with mild deficits in executive function. Evidence of impairment was found on one component subtest of the BADS. Several significant product moment correlations were found suggesting that increases in MDMA consumption may relate to more pronounced impairment in executive function.
The relationship of neuropsychological functioning use in cocaine-dependent, alcoholic patients Bechtold K7: Homer MD, Badanich K, Harvey RT.
to amount of recent and lifetime substance
While cognitive impairments associated with chronic alcoholism have been well-described, previous research has yielded contradictory findings regarding the relationship between cognitive deficit and amount of alcohol consumption. Among cocaine-dependent patients, the existence of cognitive impairment and its relationship to amount of cocaine consumption remains poorly defined. Further, many previous neuropsychological studies of cocaine dependence have examined patients without other substance use disorders, despite the fact that most cocaine-dependent patients seeking treatment also abuse alcohol. The present study examined the relationship between neuropsychological performance and amount of recent and lifetime substance use in patients with concurrent cocaine and alcohol dependence.
Abstracts /Archives
of Clinical Neuropsychology
15 (2000) 653-850
757
Sixteen substance abuse outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for both cocaine and alcohol dependence underwent comprehensive nemopsychological examination after at least 3 days of abstinence. Scores on neuropsychological tests were correlated with number of days of cocaine use in past 30 days, number of drinking days in the past 30 days, number of years of cocaine use, and number of years of drinking to intoxication, as determined by the Addiction Severity Index. Number of days of recent cocaine use was significantly correlated with performance on Trail Making, Part B (r= 0.61, p < 0.05), while length of cocaine use history was negatively correlated with performance on WMS-R Mental Control (r= - 0.54, p< 0.O.Q Stroop Color-Word Test (Color: r= - 0.57, p < 0.05; Word: r= - 0.59, p < 0.05; Interference: r= - 0.64, p < 0.05), and WAIS-R Block Design (r= - 0.59, ~~0.05). Number of recent drinking days was not significantly correlated with any cognitive variables, while length of drinking history was negatively correlated with WAIS-R Block Design performance (r= - 0.65, ~~0.01). Due to the small sample size, none of the correlations reached significance after application of Bonferoni correction. Nevertheless, the results provide preliminarily evidence that patterns of heavier recent and lifetime cocaine use are associated with greater deficits on tasks requiring attention and speeded information processing among patients with concurrent cocaine and alcohol dependence.
Gender and ethnicity Horton Jr AM, Roberts
effects on the Trail Making Test in a sample of cocaine abusers C.
In this poster, gender and ethnicity effects on the Trail Making Test (TMT), a test often used for screening for cognitive impairment, are examined in a sample of cocaine abusers in drug abuse treatment programs. A mixed race sample of 5116 males and 2614 females was drawn from electronic files of data from the Drug Abuse Treatment outcome Study (DATOS). The DATOS was a naturalistic, prospective cohort study that collected data from 1991- 1993 in 96 programs in 11 cities in the United States. The sample consisted of 3012 Caucasian subjects, 3780 African-American subjects and 938 Hispanic-American subjects. Data were analyzed to determine the effects of gender and ethnicity variables on the 2 parts of the TMT in this large sample of cocaine abusers. Gender was statistically significantly related to performance on both TMT Parts A and B but the interaction of cocaine use frequency and gender was not significant (P values, A= 0.51, B =0.35). Ethnicity was statistically related to performance on both TMT Parts A and B, but the interaction of ethnic&y and cocaine use frequency was significant for Part A and only showed a trend for Part B (P values, A=0.03, B =0.13). R-Square values for overall models were quite weak (Gender/A = 0.002, B = 0.003, Ethnicity/A= 0.04, B = 0.06) suggesting that gender and ethnicity effects on the TMT are, while clearly present, account for little overall variance in terms of cocaine use frequency. These results are consistent with earlier research using a more heterogenous drug abuse treatment sample.
Gender and ethnic@ Roberts
effects on the Trail Making Test in a sample of heroine abusers
C, Horton Jr AM.
In this poster, gender and ethnicity effects on the Trail Making Test (TMT), a test often used for screening for cognitive impairment, are examined in a sample of heroin abusers in drug abuse