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A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
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Neuropsychological performance of methadone-maintained opiate users
Grace Y Wang1, Trecia A Wouldes2, Rob Kydd2
1School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand gwang@aut.ac.nz.
Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|June 13, 2014
Summary
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) improves cognitive function in opiate-dependent individuals. MMT patients showed better attention and executive function compared to illicit opiate users.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is a long-standing approach for opiate dependence.
- Previous research on methadone's cognitive effects yields inconsistent findings, with some studies reporting deficits and others none.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of MMT on cognitive performance.
- To compare cognitive function in MMT patients, active opiate users, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A computerised neuropsychological test battery was administered.
- Participants included MMT patients (n=32), opiate-dependent subjects (n=17), and healthy controls (n=25).
Main Results:
- MMT patients and opiate users exhibited information processing deficits in attention-switching tasks.
- MMT patients performed similarly to controls on most tasks, unlike opiate users who showed significant deficits in attention and executive function.
Conclusions:
- MMT appears to improve cognitive function compared to ongoing illicit opiate dependence.
- Cognitive deficits observed in opiate users were not evident in MMT patients, suggesting a beneficial effect of treatment.
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