Mental health and cognitive function responses to quetiapine in patients with methamphetamine abuse under methadone maintenance treatment

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with methamphetamine (MA) abuse under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) are susceptible to several complications including cognitive disturbance and mental health disorder. This trial was designed to determine the impacts of quetiapine administration on cognitive function and mental health scale in patients with MA abuse under MMT. MethodsThis study was carried out in 60 MA abusers under MMT. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 100 mg quetiapine (n = 30) or control (n = 30) daily for 8 weeks. Cognitive function and mental health scale were taken at baseline and post-treatment to evaluate relevant variables. ResultsQuetiapine significantly decreased depression (b -3.94; 95% CI, -7.73, -0.16; P = 0.04) and sleep disorder (b -2.18; 95% CI, -2.89, -1.47; P < 0.001). Also, quetiapine administration resulted in a significant reduction in Iowa Gambling Task (b -2.70; 95% CI, -4.69, -0.71; P = 0.009), and significant increases in Verbal Fluency Test (b 3.04; 95% CI, 1.24, 4.85; P = 0.001), Reverse Digit Span (b 2.80; 95% CI, 2.13, 3.47; P = 0.001) compared with the placebo. ConclusionOverall, taking 100 mg quetiapine daily for 8 weeks by patients MA abuse in MMT had favorable effects on some of cognitive functions and mental health parameters.