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Neuropsychological Status of Heroin Users Undergoing Methadone Maintenance in Harm Reduction Program and Therapeutic Community

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Abstract

The neuropsychological consequences of opioid abuse are particularly evident in attention, memory and executive functioning, but it remains unclear whether these consequences persist in heroin users doing methadone in harm reduction programs and therapeutic community treatments. Thus, the current study aimed to assess these cognitive domains in distinct clinical groups of heroin users undergoing methadone maintenance. The sample consisted of 110 participants divided in four groups (low threshold methadone program, short-term community treatment, long-term community treatment, drug-free controls). These groups were compared regarding memory and attentional abilities. Multiple linear regressions were then conducted to obtain standardized effect sizes for significant comparisons. Results showed a better attentional and memory function in patients that were in opioid dependence treatment in community opposed to patients in harm reduction programs (p’s < 0.05). Standardized effect sizes suggest larger improvements in cognition in long-term heroin-abstinent individuals doing methadone maintenance. These results highlight the detrimental effect of heroin use in cognitive function, but also suggest that this decrement may be reversed during long-term opioid dependence treatment.

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The authors of this paper declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research Involving Human Participants and/or Animal: Informed Consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 (5). Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Correspondence to J. Oliveira.

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Oliveira, J., Lopes, P., Gamito, P. et al. Neuropsychological Status of Heroin Users Undergoing Methadone Maintenance in Harm Reduction Program and Therapeutic Community. Int J Ment Health Addiction 14, 141–148 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9576-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9576-8

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