Cognitive Deficits and Personality Pathology in Opiate Dependence
Author Information
Author(s): James M Prosser, Daniel Eisenberg, Emily E Davey, Matthew Steinfeld, Lisa J Cohen, Edythe D London, Igor I Galynker
Primary Institution: Beth Israel Medical Center
Hypothesis
Personality pathology will correlate with neuropsychological test performance.
Conclusion
Opiate-dependent individuals in protracted abstinence show a strong link between personality pathology and cognitive deficits.
Supporting Evidence
- Subjects with a history of opiate dependence had higher MCMI scores than healthy controls.
- A significant negative correlation was found between MCMI scores and neuropsychological performance.
- Personality pathology was a stronger predictor of cognitive deficits than drug use history.
- Protracted abstinence subjects performed worse on cognitive tests compared to non-dependent controls.
- Both methadone maintained and protracted abstinent groups showed significant personality pathology.
Takeaway
People who used to be addicted to opiates often have trouble thinking clearly and also have personality issues, which can make it hard for them to stay sober.
Methodology
Subjects were tested using the Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory and various neuropsychological tests, with data analyzed through correlation and regression.
Potential Biases
Voluntary entry into treatment may introduce selection bias.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional and cannot establish causation; potential selection bias and unmeasured confounding factors may affect results.
Participant Demographics
85 subjects (64 male, 21 female, ages 21-55) with a history of opiate dependence.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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