Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) is a widely abused illegal drug. As no medication is available for MA addiction, new treatment options are needed. This study examined the effects of aerobic exercise (AE) and attentional bias training (ABT), alone and in combination, on cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms in individuals with MA dependency. One hundred individuals with MA dependency were randomly divided into four groups of 25 persons each (AE + ABT, AE, ABT, and control group). The AE intervention was conducted five times per week for 8 weeks, while the ABT intervention was conducted once per week for 8 weeks. Multiple indicators of cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms revealed significant time-group interactions [F(1,87) = 2.580–4.143, p = .009–.049, η2 = .083–.170]. AE, but not ABT, benefited individuals with MA dependency. Combined AE and ABT was more effective than ABT alone, but not as effective as AE alone.
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The author would like to thank all participants and exercise specialists, cognitive psychologists, and health educators who were involved in this study.
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This work was supported by the Chinese National Funding of Social Sciences (no. 20BTY122).
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Liu, Xx., Wang, S. Effects of Aerobic Exercise Combined with Attentional Bias Training on Cognitive Function and Psychiatric Symptoms of Individuals with Methamphetamine Dependency: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Ment Health Addiction 21, 1727–1745 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00686-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00686-w