Do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug-treated opioid-dependent patients? A regression analysis study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cognitive deficits and multiple psychoactive drug regimens are both common in patients treated for opioid-dependence. Therefore, we examined whether the cognitive performance of patients in opioid-substitution treatment (OST) is asso...

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Main Authors: Rapeli Pekka, Fabritius Carola, Kalska Hely, Alho Hannu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2012-11-01
Series:Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/7/1/45
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author Rapeli Pekka
Fabritius Carola
Kalska Hely
Alho Hannu
author_facet Rapeli Pekka
Fabritius Carola
Kalska Hely
Alho Hannu
author_sort Rapeli Pekka
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cognitive deficits and multiple psychoactive drug regimens are both common in patients treated for opioid-dependence. Therefore, we examined whether the cognitive performance of patients in opioid-substitution treatment (OST) is associated with their drug treatment variables.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Opioid-dependent patients (N = 104) who were treated either with buprenorphine or methadone (n = 52 in both groups) were given attention, working memory, verbal, and visual memory tests after they had been a minimum of six months in treatment. Group-wise results were analysed by analysis of variance. Predictors of cognitive performance were examined by hierarchical regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Buprenorphine-treated patients performed statistically significantly better in a simple reaction time test than methadone-treated ones. No other significant differences between groups in cognitive performance were found. In each OST drug group, approximately 10% of the attention performance could be predicted by drug treatment variables. Use of benzodiazepine medication predicted about 10% of performance variance in working memory. Treatment with more than one other psychoactive drug (than opioid or BZD) and frequent substance abuse during the past month predicted about 20% of verbal memory performance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although this study does not prove a causal relationship between multiple prescription drug use and poor cognitive functioning, the results are relevant for psychosocial recovery, vocational rehabilitation, and psychological treatment of OST patients. Especially for patients with BZD treatment, other treatment options should be actively sought.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-ee24b266c2c843da9795f1640bcfc8462022-12-22T01:21:54ZengBMCSubstance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy1747-597X2012-11-01714510.1186/1747-597X-7-45Do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug-treated opioid-dependent patients? A regression analysis studyRapeli PekkaFabritius CarolaKalska HelyAlho Hannu<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cognitive deficits and multiple psychoactive drug regimens are both common in patients treated for opioid-dependence. Therefore, we examined whether the cognitive performance of patients in opioid-substitution treatment (OST) is associated with their drug treatment variables.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Opioid-dependent patients (N = 104) who were treated either with buprenorphine or methadone (n = 52 in both groups) were given attention, working memory, verbal, and visual memory tests after they had been a minimum of six months in treatment. Group-wise results were analysed by analysis of variance. Predictors of cognitive performance were examined by hierarchical regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Buprenorphine-treated patients performed statistically significantly better in a simple reaction time test than methadone-treated ones. No other significant differences between groups in cognitive performance were found. In each OST drug group, approximately 10% of the attention performance could be predicted by drug treatment variables. Use of benzodiazepine medication predicted about 10% of performance variance in working memory. Treatment with more than one other psychoactive drug (than opioid or BZD) and frequent substance abuse during the past month predicted about 20% of verbal memory performance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although this study does not prove a causal relationship between multiple prescription drug use and poor cognitive functioning, the results are relevant for psychosocial recovery, vocational rehabilitation, and psychological treatment of OST patients. Especially for patients with BZD treatment, other treatment options should be actively sought.</p>http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/7/1/45Opioid-dependenceOpioid agonist therapyPharmacotherapyPsychotropic drugsNeurocognitive performanceNeuropsychological testing
spellingShingle Rapeli Pekka
Fabritius Carola
Kalska Hely
Alho Hannu
Do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug-treated opioid-dependent patients? A regression analysis study
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Opioid-dependence
Opioid agonist therapy
Pharmacotherapy
Psychotropic drugs
Neurocognitive performance
Neuropsychological testing
title Do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug-treated opioid-dependent patients? A regression analysis study
title_full Do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug-treated opioid-dependent patients? A regression analysis study
title_fullStr Do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug-treated opioid-dependent patients? A regression analysis study
title_full_unstemmed Do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug-treated opioid-dependent patients? A regression analysis study
title_short Do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug-treated opioid-dependent patients? A regression analysis study
title_sort do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug treated opioid dependent patients a regression analysis study
topic Opioid-dependence
Opioid agonist therapy
Pharmacotherapy
Psychotropic drugs
Neurocognitive performance
Neuropsychological testing
url http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/7/1/45
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AT fabritiuscarola dodrugtreatmentvariablespredictcognitiveperformanceinmultidrugtreatedopioiddependentpatientsaregressionanalysisstudy
AT kalskahely dodrugtreatmentvariablespredictcognitiveperformanceinmultidrugtreatedopioiddependentpatientsaregressionanalysisstudy
AT alhohannu dodrugtreatmentvariablespredictcognitiveperformanceinmultidrugtreatedopioiddependentpatientsaregressionanalysisstudy