OR09-1 * COGNITIVE IMPULSIVITY AND CHRONIC OPIOID USE

Abstract

Introduction. Previous studies have provided inconsistent evidence that chronic exposure to opioid drugs, including heroin and methadone, may be associated with impairments in executive neuropsychological functioning, specifically cognitive impulsivity. Methods. Participants with validated histories of illicit heroin use (n = 24), former heroin users stabilised on prescribed methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) (n = 29), licit opioid prescriptions for chronic pain without history of abuse or dependence (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 28) were recruited and tested on measures of cognitive impulsivity, motor impulsivity and non-planning impulsivity. Results. Stable illicit heroin users showed increased motor impulsivity and impaired strategic planning. Additionally, they placed higher bets earlier and risked more. MMT participants deliberated longer and placed higher bets earlier but did not risk more. Chronic opiate exposed pain participants did not differ from healthy controls on any measures on any tasks. Conclusion. These data support the hypothesis that different aspects of neuropsychological measures of impulsivity appear to be associated with exposure to different opioids and also to the syndrome of opioid dependence. This could reflect either a neurobehavioural consequence of opioid exposure, or may represent an underlying trait vulnerability to opioid dependence.