Neurocognitive Profiles of Methamphetamine Users: Comparison of Those With or Without Concomitant Ketamine Use
OBJECTIVE:
Methamphetamine
(MAMP) and ketamine are neurotoxic drugs whose chronic use has been linked with
a cognitive decline in some users. This paper aims to assess the possible
effect of concomitant ketamine use on the neurocognitive performance of MAMP
users.
METHODS:
This
study divides 42 MAMP users into MAMP users who use ketamine (MAMP+K, n = 16)
and MAMP users who do not use ketamine (MAMP-K, n = 26). The performance of
these two groups was compared using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in
Schizophrenia (BACS), Conners' Continuous Performance Tests (CPT), the
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), and the
Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS).
RESULTS:
In
comparison to the MAMP-K group, the MAMP+K group showed worse performances in
verbal fluency, executive function and composite score in BACS; worse performances
in total errors, perseverative errors, nonperseverative errors and conceptual
level response in WCST; and greater levels of total scores and novelty-seeking
in BIS. Neither the attention function evaluated with CPT nor the
decision-making behavior evaluated with IGT was associated with previous
ketamine use.
CONCLUSION:
This
study detected worse executive function and higher impulsivity level among MAMP
users with additional ketamine use versus their counterparts without ketamine
use. Further studies with a longitudinal design and a large sample size are
necessary to clarify the connection between cognitive deficits and concomitant
use of MAMP and ketamine.
- 1a Department of Psychiatry , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Keelung , Taiwan.
- 2b Chang Gung University School of Medicine , Taoyuan , Taiwan.
- 3c Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.
- 4d The Taipei City Hospital, Songde Branch , Taipei , Taiwan.
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