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Methamphetamine attenuates disruptions in performance and mood during simulated night-shift work

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Abstract

Rationale

Increased sleepiness while working and sleep disruptions are common complaints among shift workers. Consequently, shift workers may be more susceptible to diminished performance and work-related accidents.

Objective

To examine the effects of the central nervous system stimulant methamphetamine on psychomotor task performance, subjective effects, and food intake during shift work under laboratory conditions.

Methods

Seven participants completed this 23-day, within-participant design, residential laboratory study. They received a single oral methamphetamine dose (0, 5, 10 mg) 1 h after waking for three consecutive days under two shift conditions: (1) during the day shift, participants performed computerized psychomotor tasks from 0830 hours to 1730 hours and went to bed at 2400 hours and (2) during the night shift, participants performed tasks from 0030 hours to 0930 hours and went to bed at 1600 hours. Shifts alternated three times during the study; shift conditions were separated by an "off" day during which participants were not on a schedule and data were not collected.

Results

When participants received placebo, psychomotor task performance and subjective effects were disrupted during the night shift, relative to the day shift. Changing shift conditions did not alter food intake significantly. Methamphetamine reversed performance and subjective-effects disruptions, and decreased food intake during the night shift.

Conclusion

These data indicate that shift changes produce performance impairments and mood alterations, and that a single low to moderate dose of methamphetamine attenuates many shift change-related disruptions in performance and mood.

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Acknowledgements

This research is dedicated to the memory of our mentor Dr. Marian W. Fischman. The assistance of Rachelle Reis-Larson, Mabel Torres, Shannon Lewis, Christine Figueroa, Nicole Cain, Tom Melore, and Drs. Anthony J. Tranguch, Vladimir Ginzburg, and Jeffrey Wilson are gratefully acknowledged. This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA-03746).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division on Substance Abuse, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 120, New York, NY 10032, USA

    Carl L. Hart, Amie S. Ward, Margaret Haney, Jennifer Nasser & Richard W. Foltin

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  1. Carl L. Hart
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  2. Amie S. Ward
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  3. Margaret Haney
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  4. Jennifer Nasser
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  5. Richard W. Foltin
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Correspondence to Carl L. Hart.

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Hart, C.L., Ward, A.S., Haney, M. et al. Methamphetamine attenuates disruptions in performance and mood during simulated night-shift work. Psychopharmacology 169, 42–51 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1464-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1464-4

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