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A randomized controlled trial of the effects of working memory training in methadone maintenance patients.
- Source :
-
Drug and alcohol dependence [Drug Alcohol Depend] 2015 Nov 01; Vol. 156, pp. 38-46. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Aug 24. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Objective: Working memory impairment in individuals with chronic opioid dependence can play a major role in cognitive and treatment outcomes. Cognitive training targeting working memory shows promise for improved function in substance use disorders. To date, cognitive training has not been incorporated as an adjunctive treatment for opioid dependence.<br />Methods: Methadone maintenance patients were randomly assigned to experimental (n=28) or active control (n=28) 25-session computerized training and run in parallel. Cognitive and drug use outcomes were assessed before and after training.<br />Results: Participants in the experimental condition showed performance improvements on two of four working memory measures, and both groups improved on a third measure of working memory performance. Less frequent drug use was found in the experimental group than in the control group post-training. In contrast to previous findings with stimulant users, no significant effect of working memory training on delay discounting was found using either hypothetical or real rewards. There were no group differences on working memory outcome measures that were dissimilar from the training tasks, suggesting that another mechanism (e.g., increased distress tolerance) may have driven drug use results.<br />Conclusions: Working memory training improves performance on some measures of working memory in methadone maintenance patients, and may impact drug use outcomes. Working memory training shows promise in patients with substance use disorders; however, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms through which performance is improved and drug use outcomes are impacted.<br /> (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Attention drug effects
Delay Discounting
Female
Humans
Male
Memory, Episodic
Mental Processes drug effects
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Opioid-Related Disorders economics
Psychomotor Performance drug effects
Reaction Time drug effects
Treatment Outcome
Learning
Memory, Short-Term
Methadone therapeutic use
Narcotics therapeutic use
Opiate Substitution Treatment psychology
Opioid-Related Disorders psychology
Opioid-Related Disorders rehabilitation
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-0046
- Volume :
- 156
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Drug and alcohol dependence
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26404954
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.012