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Neuropsychological functioning in college students who misuse prescription stimulants.
- Source :
- American Journal on Addictions; Jun2017, Vol. 26 Issue 4, p379-387, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background and Objectives: </bold>Relatively little is known about the neuropsychological profiles of college students who misuse prescription stimulant medications.<bold>Methods: </bold>Data presented are from college students aged 18-28 years who misused prescription stimulants prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and controls (no prescription stimulant misuse). Students were assessed neuropsychologically using the self-report Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF-A), the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test and Battery (CANTAB), and other tests of cognitive functioning. The analyses included 198 controls (age 20.7 ± 2.6 years) and 100 prescription stimulant misusers (age 20.7 ± 1.7 years).<bold>Results: </bold>On the BRIEF-A, misusers were more likely than controls to endorse greater dysfunction on 8 of 12 measures including Inhibition, Self Monitor, Initiation, Working Memory, and Plan/Organize, when adjusting for race and sex (all p's < .05). Similarly, when dichotomizing the BRIEF-A as abnormal (T score ≥ 65), misusers had more abnormalities on five of nine subscales, as well as all major indices (p's < .05). Misusers also performed worse on several subtests of the CANTAB and standardized cognitive battery (p's < .05). A proxy of prescription stimulant misuse frequency was positively correlated with greater executive dysfunction on the BRIEF-A.<bold>Discussion and Conclusions: </bold>These data demonstrate elevated risk for neuropsychological dysfunction among students who misuse prescription stimulants compared to non-misusing peers. The presence of ADHD contributed significantly to these cognitive findings. Students who misuse prescription stimulants should be screened for neuropsychological dysfunction.<bold>Scientific Significance: </bold>These data may better elucidate the neuropsychological profile of college-aged prescription stimulant misusers. (Am J Addict 2017;26:379-387). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10550496
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- American Journal on Addictions
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 122988306
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.12551