Assessment of Cognitive Impairment Between Natural and Synthetic Opioid Users

To study the effects of opioids on cognitive functions and compare cognitive impairment between natural and synthetic opioid users.

Study was conducted on patients between 18 and 60 years diagnosed with opioid dependence as per ICD-11 presenting to Deaddiction IPD/Deaddiction OPD, Department of Psychiatry, DMC and H Ludhiana, for one year. Cognitive assessment was done using PGIBBD (PGI Battery of Brain Dysfunction).

Higher dysfunction rating score was observed in the synthetic opioid users as compared to the natural opioid users with P = 0.003 having a medium effect size with Cohen's d of 0.51. Synthetic opioid users exhibited marked impairment across various cognitive domains, particularly in executive functioning, memory retention, and perceptual-motor skills. Significant correlations were identified between age, age of onset, duration, and dose of substance used, and with recent and immediate memory, attention and concentration, PQ, TQ arithmetic, Nahor-Benson Test, and overall dysfunction rating score. These correlations varied depending on the type of substance used.

Synthetic opioid users experienced significant cognitive dysfunction compared to natural opioid users. This dysfunction manifests as impaired judgment, reduced cognitive flexibility, and compromised decision-making abilities, contributing to poorer treatment outcomes.