title: Cognitive deficits among methamphetamine users with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptomatology.
abstract: Understanding the association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance abuse, specifically methamphetamine (MA) abuse, is challenging, partly because little is known about the specific constellation of cognitive impairments produced by MA. The present investigation serves to address this relationship by comparing the cognitive performance of MA abusers with ADHD symptomatology (n = 28) and MA abusers without ADHD symptomatology (n = 41) on tests of attention, memory and general intellectual functioning, executive functioning, problem solving, verbal fluency, and abstract thinking. Both MA samples had deficiencies in measures of memory and learning function, psychomotor speed and abstract thinking when compared to a control group (n = 40). Additional deficits were noted on tasks involving executive functioning, attention, and general intellectual functioning in MA abusers with ADHD symptomatology. The preliminary data suggests that executive function deficits and some of the symptoms associated with long-term MA use may be due to the fact that a large proportion of MA addicts had ADHD symptomatology as children.
authors.affiliation: Los Angeles Addiction Research Consortium, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffanie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Sara L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Catherine P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Domier
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rawson
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine