Abstract
It is hypothesized that immune factors influence addictive behaviors and contribute to relapse. The primary study objectives were to (1) compare neuropsychiatric symptoms across adults with active methamphetamine (MA) dependence, in early remission from MA dependence, and with no history of substance dependence, (2) determine whether active or recent MA dependence affects the expression of immune factors, and (3) evaluate the association between immune factor levels and neuropsychiatric symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted using between group comparisons and regression analyses to investigate associations among variables. Eighty-four adults were recruited into control (CTL) (n = 31), MA-active (n = 17), or MA-remission (n = 36) groups. Participants completed self-report measures of anxiety, depression, and memory complaints and objective tests of attention and executive function. Blood samples were collected, and a panel of immune factors was measured using multiplex technology. Relative to CTLs, MA-dependent adults evidenced greater anxiety and depression during active use (p < 0.001) and remission (p < 0.007), and more attention, memory, and executive problems during remission (p < 0.01) but not active dependence. Regression analyses identified 10 immune factors (putatively associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions) associated with anxiety, depression, and memory problems. While psychiatric symptoms are present during active MA dependence and remission, at least some cognitive difficulties emerge only during remission. Altered expression of a network of immune factors contributes to neuropsychiatric symptom severity.
Highlights
Methamphetamine (MA) addiction is a pressing health concern and is a substance use disorder that faces many treatment challenges, including, but not limited to, the lack of effective treatments and the high prevalence of co-occurring mental and physical health conditions associated with the addiction
We previously reported that mice exposed with repeated doses of MA evidence significantly altered expression of brain and plasma immune factors, both immediately following drug exposure and after a remission period, and that altered expression of several plasma immune factors is significantly correlated with reduced cognitive function in humans during remission from MA dependence [10]
We included 7 participants (41.2% of the group) who tested negative for MA, reported having last used MA ≥ 3 days ago, and who otherwise met all criteria for the group and study
Summary
Methamphetamine (MA) addiction is a pressing health concern and is a substance use disorder that faces many treatment challenges, including, but not limited to, the lack of effective treatments and the high prevalence of co-occurring mental and physical health conditions associated with the addiction. The costs associated with MA use are numerous, with contributions from crime/criminal justice, child endangerment, lost productivity, drug treatment, health care, MA production hazards, and premature death estimated at more than $23.4 billion in 2005 [2]. 40% of chronic MA users experience global neuropsychiatric difficulties (e.g., memory, attention, and executive functions) [26, 29, 30], and one-third to one-half or more of MA-dependent adults evidence psychiatric disorders (e.g., anxiety and depression) during remission [31,32,33,34,35]. Neuropsychiatric impairments that persist following abstinence are associated with poorer treatment outcomes, including increased relapse rates, lower treatment retention rates, and reduced daily functioning [36,37,38]
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