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A Program of Research Examining the Cognitive Correlates of Methamphetamine Abuse.

A Program of Research Examining the Cognitive Correlates of Methamphetamine Abuse. Cognitive Battery. Broad in Scope Probes Simple Effects or Uses Instruments Known to Tap Specific Effects. __________________________. Several Studies N’s will be reported

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A Program of Research Examining the Cognitive Correlates of Methamphetamine Abuse.

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  1. A Program of Research Examining the Cognitive Correlates of Methamphetamine Abuse.

  2. Cognitive Battery • Broad in Scope • Probes Simple Effects • or • Uses Instruments Known to Tap Specific Effects

  3. __________________________ • Several Studies • N’s will be reported • Comparison Groups do not differ in: • Age • Gender • Education • Ethnicity

  4. Memory Tests • Word Recall • Picture Recall • Word Recognition • Picture Recognition • Backward Digit Span

  5. Perceptual Speed and Manipulation of Information • Digit Symbol • Trail Making A • Trail Making B

  6. Other Instruments • Ability to Ignore Irrelevant Information • Stroop • Short Form IQ • Shipley-Hartford Vocabulary • Shipley-Hartford Abstract Thinking • Verbal Fluency • FAS • Abstract Reasoning • WCST

  7. First Question Are there cognitive deficits in individuals currently abusing methamphetamine?

  8. Perceptual Speed and Manipulation of InformationN= 65 per group * *

  9. Ability to Ignore Irrelevant Information - Stroop TestN = 65 per group *

  10. Memory TestsN = 65 per group * *

  11. Short Form IQN= 65 per group *

  12. Other Measures • Verbal Fluency • FAS NS • Working Memory for Digits • Backward Span NS • Abstract Thinking • WCST NS

  13. Second Question Are the deficits found in current methamphetamine abusers associated with the amount, pattern, frequency or length of use?

  14. Associations with Cognitive DeficitsN = 90 MA Abusers • No Association was found for • Length of Use • Age • Family History • Medical History • Gender • Route of Administration

  15. Association with Cognitive DeficitsN = 90 MA Abusers • Frequency of Use Predicts: • Recall p=.02 • Recognition p=.02 • Word p=.01 • Picture p=.02 • Stroop Interference p<.01 • Digit Symbol p=.02

  16. Third Question Are the same deficits found for current abuse of other stimulants such as cocaine?

  17. Comparison of Cognitive Performance of Current Abusers of MA and Cocaine • N = 160 • Four groups of 40 • MA • MA comparison • Cocaine • Cocaine comparison

  18. MA vs. Cocaine Measure MA Comp Coc. Comp Vocabulary 26.6 30* 24.7 28* Abstract Thinking 11.5 16** 10.6 13.6* Digit Symbol 53 66** 51 56 Trails A 32 27** 36 31 Trails B 81 62** 87 70 Stroop CW 39 46** 36.6 40.3* Word Recall 3.1 6.2* 2.5 4.2** Picture Recall 5.5 6.7 5.0 6.7**

  19. Difference on Word Recognition for groups with Wender Scores >46 & <46 Mean Word Recognition WURS>46 12.7 WURS<46 15.2 (t80=2.04, p=.04)

  20. Effect of Childhood ADHD as Measured by the Wender Utah Rating Scale • WURS Score does not predict cognitive performance. • WURS Score >46 = Probable ADHD • 83 Currently Using MA Abusers were divided into two groups: >46 (N=25) and > 46 (N=58).

  21. Differences on WCST between Probable ADHD and Comparison Groups >46 Comparison Categories 4.76 5.67 * Total Errors 28.4 17.9 * Perseverative 14.4 9.11 * Nonperseverative 14.0 8.81 * % Conceptual Level 67.0 77.6 * Failure to Maintain Set 1.04 0.47 * <46 vs. Comparison NS on all Measures

  22. Fourth Question What is the duration of the deficits after use stops?

  23. Memory 0 - 3 Months N=22

  24. Ability to Ignore Irrelevant Information 0 - 6+ Months Cross Sectional Data

  25. Manipulation of Information and Perceptual Speed 0 - 6 Months N = 7

  26. Memory 0 - 6 Months N=7

  27. Manipulation of Information and Perceptual Speed 0 - 6+ Months Cross Sectional Data

  28. Manipulation of Information and Perceptual Speed N = 22

  29. Memory 0 - 6 Months Cross Sectional Data

  30. Work Planned and in Progress:Further Questions

  31. Questions about Memory • Is the problem for abusers task difficulty or verbal material? • Does the problem exist for Semantic as well as Episodic Memory? • Is Implicit Memory Effected? • Is Working Memory Effected?

  32. Questions about Memory Continued • What memory process(s) are affected? • Encoding • Rehearsal • Retrieval

  33. Does the problem exist for Semantic as well as Episodic Memory? • No • We found no difference between MA abusers and the comparison group on Shipley-Hartford Vocabulary and FAS. Both of these are tests of Semantic Memory.

  34. Is Implicit Memory Effected? Preliminary analyses suggest that Implicit Memory is not affected in MA abusers. MA Comparison Word Fragment Words 3.8 4.3 Total Words7.6 10.2 N (MA=17, Comparison=14)

  35. Is Working Memory Effected? Results from our tests of working memory are not consistent. MA Comparison Missing Digit 7.52 6.92 Sentence Span 1.9 2.4* N (MA=17, Comparison=14)

  36. Questions About Attention • How pervasive are problems with attention? • If attention is a problem, how long does the problem last? • Do deficits in attention account for some of the problems with memory?

  37. Questions about Executive Function • Are there deficits found on tasks that are associated with a specific area of the prefrontal cortex? • Is the score on the measure of childhood ADHD associated with performance on tasks tapping executive function?

  38. Word Recognition

  39. Word Recall

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