Cognitive impairment in chronic ketamine abusers

The treatment of ketamine users is substantially challenged by high dropout rates, raising questions regarding contributing factors. A number of studies have highlighted the potential of greater focus on the clinical significance of cognitive impairments in ketamine users. The present study hypothesized that cognitive deficits would play a role in greater risk for treatment dropout in chronic ketamine users.

Our study examined cognitive performance in the form of working memory, verbal memory, visual memory and executive function among chronic ketamine users who completed three-month treatment in residential detoxification centres (N = 165), those who dropped out prematurely (N = 121) and drug-free healthy controls (N = 111). The data collection was completed in Hong Kong among the East Asia population.

Compared to healthy controls, cognitive impairments were found in ketamine users, including in verbal/visual memory and executive function. Executive dysfunction was significantly associated with dropout in ketamine users within three months.

Our findings suggest that executive dysfunction may have clinical benefits in ketamine users admitted to residential treatment programmes.