Methadone Maintenance Improves Cognitive Performance After Two Months of Treatment

Methadone maintenance (MM) has received little scientific attention regarding neurocognitive effects. The present study examined cognitive function in 17 opiate-dependent subjects at baseline and after 2 months of MM treatment. Subjects demonstrated significant improvements from baseline on measures...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology 2006-05, Vol.14 (2), p.157-164
Main Authors: Gruber, Staci A, Tzilos, Golfo K, Silveri, Marisa M, Pollack, Mark, Renshaw, Perry F, Kaufman, Marc J, Yurgelun-Todd, Deborah A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Cognition
Cognition - drug effects
Cognitive Processes
Drug Dependency
Female
Human
Humans
Male
Methadone - therapeutic use
Methadone Maintenance
Middle Aged
Neurocognition
Opiates
Opioid-Related Disorders - drug therapy
Opioid-Related Disorders - psychology
Time Factors
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Summary:Methadone maintenance (MM) has received little scientific attention regarding neurocognitive effects. The present study examined cognitive function in 17 opiate-dependent subjects at baseline and after 2 months of MM treatment. Subjects demonstrated significant improvements from baseline on measures of verbal learning and memory, visuospatial memory, and psychomotor speed and reduced frequency of drug use (Addiction Severity Index) relative to baseline, although the total percentage of urine samples positive for additional illicit substances was slightly increased. No effect of illicit drug use was observed when the sample was stratified by urine toxicology results, suggesting that improvements in cognition were not associated with additional illicit drug use. Results suggest that opiate-dependent subjects exhibit significant improvement in cognitive function after MM treatment. Future investigations are needed to confirm these findings.
ISSN:1064-1297
1936-2293
DOI:10.1037/1064-1297.14.2.157