Using the Trail Making test to screen for cognitive impairment in a drug abuse treatment sample

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a widely used neuropsychological assessment.
• Cognitive impairment is a concern in individuals with substance use disorders.
• The TMT's utility in this population requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Trail Making Test (TMT) Parts A and B.
• To assess cognitive function screening in patients within drug abuse treatment programs.
• To determine the impact of specific drugs of abuse on TMT performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Drug Abuse Treatment outcome Study (DATOS).
• Analyzed data from 5619 males and 2902 females in drug abuse treatment.
• Examined performance on TMT Parts A and B relative to established cutoff scores.

Main Results:

• Most participants, irrespective of drug of abuse, performed within normal limits on TMT Parts A and B.
• Results indicate that TMT performance was largely unaffected by the type of drug abused.
• A significant proportion of the sample did not exhibit cognitive impairment based on TMT scores.

Conclusions:

• The Trail Making Test (TMT) Parts A and B show considerable value for screening cognitive impairment.
• The TMT is a practical and effective tool for use in drug abuse treatment settings.
• Neuropsychological screening with the TMT can aid in identifying individuals needing further cognitive evaluation.