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Assessment of Cognitive Functions in Methadone Maintenance Patients
Shahrzad Mazhari1, Zeinab Keshvari2, Abdolreza Sabahi3
1Associate Professor, Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmachology, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Background:
Methadone maintenance has received little scientific attention regarding neurocognitive effects. This study is aimed to assess the neuropsychological performance of methadone maintenance patients (MMP) compared to those healthy controls.
Methods:
Thirty-five MMP and 35 healthy controls, matched for age, gender, education and employment status, examined on a battery of tests aimed at assessing verbal fluency, executive functions, verbal memory, and working memory, using controlled oral word association test (COWAT), trial making test (TMT) Part A and B, Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT), and backward digit span.
Findings:
MMP performed significantly poorly than controls in cognitive domains of verbal fluency, executive function, and verbal memory. MMP did not exhibit impairment in working memory, and TMT Part A compared to controls.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that methadone consumption induces significant cognitive impairment that could compromise drug-treatment outcomes in MMP.
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