Clinical Implications and Methodological Challenges in the Study of the Neuropsychological Correlates of Cannabis, Stimulant, and Opioid Abuse

Abstract

Chronic consumption of several drugs of abuse (cannabis, stimulants, opioids) has been associated with the presence of neuropsychological impairments in a broad range of functions. Nevertheless, in recent years neuropsychological research on substance abuse has focused on the study of impairments in the executive functions linked to the prefrontal cortex and their influence on the personality, cognitions, and behaviors of the substance abusers. The aim of our review is, first, to summarize the main neuropsychological impairments shown by classic studies, as well as these new discoveries in executive functioning; second, to consider the mediating role of neuropsychological status on treatment outcomes and analyze the impact of these impairments in clinical practice with drug addicts; and third, to review the principal methodological challenges associated with research in the field of the neuropsychology of substance abuse. We also highlight the convenience of intervening in those functions most relevant to the abusers' persistence in consumption and risk of relapse.

Neuropsychological functioning in adolescent marijuana users: Subtle deficits detectable after a month of abstinence

“…Despite the high prevalence of marijuana use, few studies have examined neurocognitive functioning in heavy marijuana using adolescents (Verdejo-García et al, 2004). Recently, we examined hippocampal volume and asymmetry and verbal memory among 63 adolescents (alcohol using, alcohol and marijuana using, and nondrug using; Medina et al, 2007b).…”

Revisão: funcionamento executivo e uso de maconha

“…Os primeiros são mais apropriados para a avaliação dos efeitos agudos causados pela intoxicação, enquanto que estudos com usuários crônicos fornecem informações a respeito dos efeitos do uso prolongado da droga, assim como potenciais efeitos residuais que persistem após a suspensão do uso. 18 Portanto, a discussão foi subdividida entre estudos que avaliaram o efeito agudo da maconha (Tabela 1) e estudos que avaliaram seu efeito de uso crônico (Tabela 2).…”

Neuropsychological performance of patients in treatment for cocaine addiction / Rendimiento neuropsicológico de pacientes en tratamiento por adicción a la cocaína

“…drogas a nivel cerebral (neuroanatómico y neuropsicológico) a través de estudios clínicos, neuroanatómicos y neuropsicológicos (para una revisión, ver Garavan y Stout, 2005;Robinson y Kolb, 2004;Verdejo-García et al, 2004;Rogers y Robbins, 2001).…”