Methamphetamine-dependent Patients Research Articles

History of Alcohol and Opioid Use Impacts on the Long-Term Recovery Trajectories of Methamphetamine-Dependent Patients.

Methamphetamine (MA) has become one of the most widely used illicit substances in China and the rest of the world as well. Relapse, incarceration or death was observed after compulsory rehabilitation. However, the knowledge of recovery patterns among MA-dependent patients, early or late occurrence of these negative consequences, is limited. The aims were to explore the long-term recovery patterns and associated factors among MA-dependent patients in Shanghai, China. MA-dependent patients discharged from Shanghai compulsory rehabilitation facilities in 2009–2012 were recruited in a baseline survey. The baseline data of 232 patients were then linked with their long-term follow-up data from official records. Group-based trajectory modeling was applied to identify distinctive trajectories of the occurrence of negative consequences (incarceration, or readmission to compulsory rehabilitation, or death). Patients with monthly status data were found recovering with three distinctive trajectories: rare, late, and early occurrence groups. Multinomial logistic regression showed that having alcohol use history was associated with an increased likelihood of being in the late occurrence group relative to the rare occurrence group. Having opioid use history was associated with an increased likelihood of being in the early occurrence group relative to the rare occurrence group. In addition, being female was associated with decreased likelihood of being in the late occurrence group relative to the rare occurrence group.

Cognitive profile of ketamine-dependent patients compared with methamphetamine-dependent patients and healthy controls.

Ketamine has emerged as a major substance of abuse worldwide and has been listed with methamphetamine (METH) as two of the most widely available illicit substances in Taiwan. Only a few studies have examined the long-term consequences of chronic and heavy ketamine abuse. We compared the cognitive function of ketamine-dependent patients with that of METH-dependent patients and healthy controls. We recruited 165 participants (58 ketamine-dependent and 49 METH-dependent patients who sought treatment and 58 healthy controls) and evaluated them by using a cognitive test battery, the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia, with scores being estimated in reference to normative data in general population. The ketamine-dependent patients had significantly poorer performance than did the controls in many cognitive tests, including verbal memory, motor speed, verbal fluency, and attention and processing speed, and the battery as a whole. METH-dependent patients exhibited poorer function in motor speed, verbal fluency, and attention and processing speed. The ketamine group performed poorer than did METH group in the domains of verbal memory, working memory, and attention and processing speed and the composite battery scores. A previous experience of ketamine-induced psychotomimetic symptoms, using higher doses of ketamine, and longer abstinence appeared to be associated with performance in some tests; however, the significance disappeared after multiple comparison correction. The ketamine-dependent patients had impaired cognitive function, and METH-dependent patients exhibited intermediate performance between ketamine-dependent patients and healthy controls. Given the growing population of ketamine abusers, public education on the cognitive consequences should be provided.

Impact of aerobic exercise on cognitive impairment and oxidative stress markers in methamphetamine-dependent patients

This study aimed to investigate whether 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has beneficial effects on oxidative stress markers in blood and on cognitive functions in patients who have methamphetamine dependence. Serum levels of oxidative stress markers, including total anti-oxidation capability, super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), were measured at baseline (all participants) and the 12-week follow-up (methamphetamine-dependent patients). Serum levels of CAT and MDA in methamphetamine-dependent patients (n = 68) were higher than those in healthy controls (n = 35) at baseline. Furthermore, the international shopping list (ISL) task scores of methamphetamine-dependent patients were significantly lower than those of the controls, indicating verbal memory deficits in methamphetamine-dependent patients. Although there were no significant interactions for all cognitive function scores, aerobic exercise improved the processing speed in methamphetamine-dependent patients. Of interest, aerobic exercise significantly attenuated a spontaneous increase in serum MDA levels in methamphetamine-dependent patients after 12-weeks of abstinence. In conclusion, this study showed that methamphetamine-dependent patients with verbal learning and memory deficits have higher serum levels of MDA, and that a 12-week aerobic exercise program may have beneficial effects on the processing speed as well as blood lipid peroxidation in methamphetamine-dependent patients.

Change of brain structure imaging of long-term withdrawal of methamphetamine-dependent patients

To explore the characteristics of brain structure in patients with long-term withdrawal of methamphetamine-dependence. Methods: A total of 44 patients with withdrawal of methamphetamine-dependent for more than 14 months were recruited, who met the diagnostic criteria for substance dependence in the fifth edition of the American Mental Disorders Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V), and 40 healthy subjects were used as the control. In addition to the general scale of drug-relevant survey, the subjects received the 3.0T magnetic resonance high-resolution scan. The voxel-based morphometric measurements for the subject's brain gray volume were conducted. Results: There was no significant difference in age, education, smoking and alcohol consumption between the methamphetamine-dependent withdrawal group and the control group (P>0.05). The volumes for the bilateral cerebellum, the left side of temporal gyrus and the right side of the lingual gyrus in the methamphetamine-dependent withdrawal group were increased than those in the control group. The volumes for the bilateral lingual gyrus and bilateral cuneus in the methamphetamine-dependent withdrawal group were decreased than those in the control group. The volumes of left of cuneus and cerebellum were positively correlated with the duration of abstinence. Conclusion: After long-term abstinence, although the patients still show abnormal brain structure, their behavior and cognitive function is improved. The cerebral nerve structural is recovered from long-term abstinence.

A Voxel-Based Morphometric Brain Study of Patients with Methamphetamine Dependency: A Case Controlled Study

Methamphetamine (MA) use has been an important health problem in Iran in recent decade. Previous studies have suggested brain structural abnormalities in MA users. Increasing knowledge about the MA induced structurally and functionally brain changes is important for better management of this disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible structural brain structural changes in MA dependent patients. This was a case-control study, which conducted in Farabi mental hospital in the west of Iran. Voxel-based-mor phometry (VBM) as a whole-brain technique for characterizing regional cerebral volume and tissue concentration differences in structural MRI was administered. We used VBM to assess regional brain differences in 25 MA dependent patients and 20 age, sex matched healthy controls. In MA dependent patients hippocam, parahippocamp, left frontal lobe, right frontal lobe, left temporal lobe, and right temporal lobe volumes were significantly lower than healthy control subjects (P< 0.05). Also caudate and amygdala volume in MA dependent patients were smaller than healthy subjects (P< 0.05). The brain volume reduction of MA dependent patients compared to control subjects may explain the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in these patients, and could help to provide therapeutic strategies for drug-induced brain injury.

Anxiety level and correlates in methamphetamine-dependent patients during acute withdrawal.

Anxiety is often a core element of withdrawal symptoms; however, risk factors associated with anxiety symptoms during the early stage of withdrawal in methamphetamine (METH) users are not well understood. Two hundred ten METH-dependent subjects who had been abstinent for 1 to 7 days were recruited. We used a set of self-administrative questionnaires eliciting information on sociodemographics, detailed drug use history and anxiety. Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was used to measure anxiety symptoms. METH users had a mean BAI score of 6.9; 72 (34.3%) of the study sample had anxiety symptoms during acute METH withdrawal, including 42 (20.0%) with mild anxiety, 25 (11.9%) with moderate anxiety, and 5 (2.4%) with severe anxiety. In addition, gender (female), higher frequency of drug use, and history of polysubstance use were significantly correlated with anxiety symptoms during acute METH withdrawal. Anxiety symptoms appear to be common during the first week of METH abstinence, and several risk factors are identified.

NRG1 Types Down Regulate in Methamphetamine and Heroin Dependent Patients

NRG1 Types Down Regulate in Methamphetamine and Heroin Dependent Patients

Impact of lisdexamfetamine on retention of methamphetamine-dependent patients in a residential facility

Impact of lisdexamfetamine on retention of methamphetamine-dependent patients in a residential facility

Distinct intrinsic functional brain network abnormalities in methamphetamine-dependent patients with and without a history of psychosis.

Chronic methamphetamine use is associated with executive functioning deficits that suggest dysfunctional cognitive control networks (CCNs) in the brain. Likewise, abnormal connectivity between intrinsic CCNs and default mode networks (DMNs) has also been associated with poor cognitive function in clinical populations. Accordingly, we tested the extent to which methamphetamine use predicts abnormal connectivity between these networks, and whether, as predicted, these abnormalities are compounded in patients with a history of methamphetamine-associated psychosis (MAP). Resting-state fMRI data were acquired from 46 methamphetamine-dependent patients [19 with MAP, 27 without (MD)], as well as 26 healthy controls (CTRL). Multivariate network modelling and whole-brain voxel-wise connectivity analyses were conducted to identify group differences in intrinsic connectivity across four cognitive control and three DMN networks identified using an independent components analysis approach (meta-ICA). The relationship of network connectivity and psychotic symptom severity, as well as antipsychotic treatment and methamphetamine use variables, was also investigated. Robust evidence of hyper-connectivity was observed between the right frontoparietal and anterior DMN networks in MAP patients, and 'normalized' with increased duration of treatment with antipsychotics. Attenuation of anticorrelated anterior DMN-dorsal attention network activity was also restricted to this group. Elevated coupling detected in MD participants between anterior and posterior DMN networks became less apparent with increasing duration of abstinence from methamphetamine. In summary, we observed both alterations of RSN connectivity between DMN networks with chronic methamphetamine exposure, as well as DMN-CCN coupling abnormalities consistent with possible MAP-specific frontoparietal deficits in the biasing of task-appropriate network activity.

Does abstinence resolve poor sleep quality in former methamphetamine dependents?

Background and objectiveAmong substances that have a significant effect on sleep are stimulants, including amphetamines. As there are few studies assessing sleep quality in methamphetamine withdrawal this study aims to evaluate changes in sleep quality of methamphetamine dependent patients during early remission period by controlling depression and anxiety as confounding variables. MethodsThis study was conducted in Mashhad, Iran. Ninety amphetamine dependent patients, who were admitted in residential centers during 2012–2014 and met our inclusion criteria, were chosen by purposive nonprobability sampling method. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburg sleep questionnaire, in the first, second, and after the fourth week of abstinence. Additionally all participants were assessed by Beck Depression Inventory-2 and Beck Anxiety Inventory for controlling depressive and anxiety symptoms. ResultsThe prevalence of improper quality of sleep was very high (97.8%) within the first week of withdrawal, but it reduced considerably four weeks after abstinence (52.2%), which was statistically significant (P=0.00). The variations of depression and anxiety levels within four weeks after quitting methamphetamine, have low impact on variation of patients' sleep quality (adjusted R2<0.5). Furthermore, the effectiveness of these two intervening variables on patients' quality of sleep was dwindled over time after abstinence. ConclusionsThis study showed that the patients' quality of sleep improved significantly four weeks after abstinence and its variation was independent from variations in anxiety and depressive symptoms.

The cognitive impairments and psychological wellbeing of methamphetamine dependent patients compared with health controls

Background and aimsChronic methamphetamine (MA) use is associated with cognitive impairment and psychopathological symptoms. This longitudinal study aims to examine the cognitive function of MA addicts during periods of abstinence. MethodsFifty-four MA dependent individuals and 58 healthy controls (HC) completed the psychological wellbeing scales and the CogState Battery that evaluated seven cognitive domains. During approximately 6-month abstinence, the subjects completed the CogState battery twice at the interval of 3months. ResultsIn the tasks of verbal memory, social emotional cognition, and spatial working memory, working memory, and problem solving the MA group performed worse than the HC group (P<0.05). After 6-month abstinence, impaired verbal memory, social emotion, and problem solving were improved in the MA group (P<0.01). Furthermore, the MA group showed lower scores in batteries of social adaptation (t=3.13, P=0.002) and quality of life (t=3.70, P<0.001) than the HC group, and 83.3% MA addicts displayed various psychiatric symptoms before study entry. ConclusionsChronic MA addicts exhibited impairment of some CogState battery domains and poor psychological wellbeing, and that some of these subdomains were recoverable on abstinence. Therefore, improved cognitive function should be considered an important component in the treatment of MA dependence.

Anterior cingulum white matter is altered in tobacco smokers.

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is hypothesized to be involved in decision making and emotion regulation. Previous observations of drug dependent individuals indicate that substance dependence may be associated with cingulum white matter abnormalities. The present study evaluated cingulum white matter in cigarette smokers. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in adult tobacco smokers and healthy non-smoker controls (total N = 70) was performed in a 3T Siemens Trio MRI scanner. Analyses of DTI tractography of the cingulum in tobacco-smoking individuals and controls indicated that tobacco abusers have significantly reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right cingulum. In addition, FA in the left cingulum white matter was negatively associated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence, a self-report measure of tobacco dependence severity. The white matter of the cingulum is altered in a non-symmetrical way in tobacco smokers. An inverse relationship between FA and reported number of cigarettes per day was observed. Previous studies have also noted altered neural connectivity in cigarette smokers using similar methods. Similar white matter differences in the cingulum have been observed in methamphetamine dependent individuals and patients with dementia, which suggests that the cingulum may be altered by mechanisms not specific to tobacco exposure. By better understanding the effects of tobacco abuse on the brain, we hope to gain insight into how drug dependence influences the neurological foundations of behavior.

Frequency of Psychiatric Disorders in Children of Opioid or Methamphetamine-Dependent Patients.

Addiction is one of the main problems of human societies, which is more common in developing countries. In addition, it causes to personal and social problems and family problem. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children 5-15 years old of opioid or methamphetamine dependence patients. For this study, three groups including: (1) children of parents addicted to opium, (2) children of parents addicted to methamphetamine, and (3) control group were examined. Child symptom inventory-4 (CSI-4) questionnaires completed by non-hospitalized guardian and control group; then make interviews with the children by the Kiddie-schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia (K-SADS). Data were analyzed by chi-square test and ANOVA. Survey showed that the frequency of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, specific phobia (SP), and separation anxiety disorder in children of addicted parents were more than a non-addicted parent. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency of conduct disorder, social phobia, and oppositional defiant disorders (ODDs). Parental addiction can lead to an increase in some psychiatric disorders in the children. Therefore follow-up, early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these disorders in children of the drug-dependent parent are necessary to reduce health costs and improve the health system.

Changes in P300 event-related potentials vary with changes in craving among methamphetamine-dependent patients followed at 3 and 6 months after cessation

Changes in P300 event-related potentials vary with changes in craving among methamphetamine-dependent patients followed at 3 and 6 months after cessation

Does drug of choice matter in mHealth delivery? Comparison of methamphetamine and heroin dependent patients

Does drug of choice matter in mHealth delivery? Comparison of methamphetamine and heroin dependent patients

The Effects of BDNF Val66Met Gene Polymorphism on Serum BDNF and Cognitive Function in Methamphetamine-Dependent Patients and Normal Controls: A Case-Control Study.

Studies suggest that a functional polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF Val66Met) may contribute to methamphetamine dependence. We hypothesized that this polymorphism had a role in cognitive deficits in methamphetamine-dependent patients and in the relationship of serum BDNF with cognitive impairments. We conducted a case-control study by assessing 194 methamphetamine-dependent patients and 378 healthy volunteers without history of drug use on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the presence of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and serum BDNF levels. We showed no significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between the methamphetamine-dependent patients and controls. Some aspects of cognitive function significantly differed in the 2 groups. The serum BDNF levels in methamphetamine-dependent patients were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. In the patients, partial correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between serum BDNF and the delayed memory index score. The RBANS scores showed statistically significant BDNF level × genotype interaction. Further regression analyses showed a significant positive association between BDNF levels and the RBANS total score, immediate memory or attention index among Val homozygote patients, whereas a significant negative association of BDNF levels with the RBANS total score, visuospatial/constructional, or language index was found among Met/Val heterozygous patients. We demonstrated significant impairment on some aspects of cognitive function and increased BDNF levels in methamphetamine-dependent patients as well as genotypic differences in the relationships between BDNF levels and RBANS scores on the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism only in these patients.

Gray matter abnormalities in cocaine versus methamphetamine-dependent patients: a neuroimaging meta-analysis

Background: Voxel-based morphometry has been used to explore gray matter alterations in cocaine and methamphetamine dependence. However, the results of this research are inconsistent. Objectives: The current study meta-analytically examined neuroimaging findings of all studies published before 2014 using the Anisotropic Effect-Size Signed Differential Mapping (ES-SDM). Methods: Independent investigators searched four major databases for relevant neuroimaging studies involving cocaine and methamphetamine dependence. Nine cocaine and four methamphetamine studies met inclusion criteria. Results: Results indicated that cocaine- and methamphetamine-dependent patients share overlapping regional gray matter abnormalities compared to healthy controls. However, subgroup analysis showed some regional differences; with methamphetamine showing more prominent reductions in the left superior temporal gyrus and the right inferior parietal lobe. Reductions in the right insula and the left superior frontal gyrus were more prominent in cocaine dependence. Moderator analyses indicated that with longer use, cocaine is associated with reductions in the right hippocampus, right middle temporal gyrus, and right inferior frontal gyrus, while methamphetamine is associated with reductions in the left precentral gyrus and the right supramarginal gyrus. Conclusion: These findings indicate that cocaine and methamphetamine dependence are significantly and differentially associated with gray matter abnormalities. Results also point to possible gray matter recovery after abstinence from methamphetamine. Although the sample size was adequate, these findings should be considered preliminary and analyses should be revisited with additional primary research focusing on long or short-term duration of use, as well as the length of abstinence.

Evaluating Nicotine Craving, Withdrawal, and Substance Use as Mediators of Smoking Cessation in Cocaine- and Methamphetamine-Dependent Patients.

Smoking is highly prevalent in substance dependence, but smoking-cessation treatment (SCT) is more challenging in this population. To increase the success of smoking cessation services, it is important to understand potential therapeutic targets like nicotine craving that have meaningful but highly variable relationships with smoking outcomes. This study characterized the presence, magnitude, and specificity of nicotine craving as a mediator of the relationship between SCT and smoking abstinence in the context of stimulant-dependence treatment. This study was a secondary analysis of a randomized, 10-week trial conducted at 12 outpatient SUD treatment programs. Adults with cocaine and/or methamphetamine dependence (N = 538) were randomized to SUD treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU+SCT. Participants reported nicotine craving, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and substance use in the week following a uniform quit attempt of the TAU+SCT group, and self-reported smoking 7-day point prevalence abstinence (verified by carbon monoxide) at end-of-treatment. Bootstrapped regression models indicated that, as expected, nicotine craving following a quit attempt mediated the relationship between SCT and end-of-treatment smoking point prevalence abstinence (mediation effect = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.04% to 0.14%, P < .05, 14% of total effect). Nicotine withdrawal symptoms and substance use were not significant mediators (Ps > .05, <1% of total effect). This pattern held for separate examinations of cocaine and methamphetamine dependence. Nicotine craving accounts for a small but meaningful portion of the relationship between smoking-cessation treatment and smoking abstinence during SUD treatment. Nicotine craving following a quit attempt may be a useful therapeutic target for increasing the effectiveness of smoking-cessation treatment in substance dependence.

P300 event-related potential in abstinent methamphetamine-dependent patients

BackgroundSubstance use and abuse are characterized by biases in the attentional processing of substance-related stimuli. There are no event related potential (ERP)-based studies of attentional bias for substance-related cues among methamphetamine (MA) dependent patients. The study aimed to measure changes in P300 event-related potentials elicited by MA-related words in MA-dependent individuals at baseline and after 3 and 6months of abstinence, examining the relationship of ERP changes to craving. Method26 MA-dependent patients (14 male) newly enrolled in two compulsory treatment centers in China and 29 healthy controls (15 male) were included in this study. At baseline (2–3weeks in treatment) and after 3 and 6months of abstinence from MA use, we obtained ERP data during a Stroop color-matching task using MA-related and neutral words. Self-reported craving was measured by a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). FindingsIncreased P300 amplitudes elicited by MA-related words were observed over left-anterior electrode sites. Abnormal P300 amplitudes declined to the normal levels of healthy controls at the end of 3months of abstinence, and the decrease was maintained up to the end of 6months of abstinence. The behavioral data did not show similar changes. The positive relationship between the changes of VAS scores for MA craving and the changes of P300 amplitudes over left anterior electrode sites elicited by MA-related words within the first 3months was significant. ConclusionThese findings highlight the potential use of ERP as an objective index to track changes in subjective MA craving among abstinent MA-dependent patients.

The correlation between depressive symptom and executive function in methamphetamine-dependent patients

Objective To explore the correlation between depressive symptom and executive function in methamphetamine-dependent patients. Methods 165 methamphetamine-dependent patients were examined by a general information questionnaire, Stroop color-word test(SCWT), Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Beck anxiety inventory(BAI). SPSS 17.0 statistical software was used to analyze the survey results. Results There was a significant positive correlation between depressive symptom and the reaction time of completing cards A and C( r=0.251, P 0.05.r=0.075, P>0.05). Multivariate linear regression demonstrated that depressive symptom was associated with the reaction time of completing cards A and C (β=2.454, P=0.003.β=5.509, P<0.01). Conclusion Executive function exists impairement in methamphetamine-dependent patients with depressive symptom. Key words: Methamphetamine; Depressive symptom; Stroop color-word test; Executive function