title: Use of the Dementia Rating Scale as a test for neuropsychological dysfunction in HIV-positive i.v. drug abusers.
abstract: Intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs) represent an increasing proportion of the HIV epidemic. Forty-three IVDA's (22 HIV-negative, 21 HIV-positive) were studied using the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS). All subjects had used intravenous heroin, but reported that they were drug-free at the time of testing. HIV-positive subjects were predominantly symptomatic and were dichotomized into AIDS and non-AIDS groups. All subjects with abnormal DRS scores were HIV-positive (57% of all HIV-positives). All HIV-negative subjects had normal DRS scores while 43% of the positive group obtained such scores. The DRS reliably identifies neuropsychological impairment, and may be a useful screening tool in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY 11030.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kovner
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lesser
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perecman
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hainline
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Napolitano
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology