Neuropsychological functioning in buprenorphine maintained patients versus abstinent heroin abusers on naltrexone hydrochloride therapy.
BACKGROUND
Methadone and buprenorphine are among the most widely employed pharmacological treatments currently available for opioid addiction. Cognitive effects of buprenorphine in abstinent heroin abusers are nevertheless far from being understood.


METHODS
Neuropsychological performance of 18 buprenorphine-maintained patients (BMP) was evaluated relative to that of 32 currently abstinent heroin abusers on naltrexone hydrochloride therapy (FHAN), and 34 non-drug dependent controls. The three groups were demographically balanced. Clinical groups reported histories of similar patterns of drug use and had increased periods of abstinence from any illicit substance use including heroin.


RESULTS
The BMP group performed poorer than controls on the RAVLT (encoding and delayed recall of verbal information), CTT (conceptual flexibility, executive functions) and the RBANS figure copy (visual perception) and delayed recall of visual information. There were no significant differences in any of the cognitive measures between the BMP and FHAN groups or between the FHAN group and controls. Furthermore, the non-differing percentage of abnormal cases between the two patient groups led us to infer that treatment with either BPM or FHAN is not accompanied by qualitative differences in the cognitive profiles of these patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, results suggest that treatment with naltrexone in abstinent heroin abusers may result in less impairment of cognitive functions compared to treatment with buprenorphine. These findings are relevant for improved prognosis and treatment strategies in opioid dependence.
Messinis
Lambros
L
Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology Section, University of Patras Medical School, Greece. lmessinis@upatras.gr
Lyros
Epameinondas
E
Andrian
Virginia
V
Katsakiori
Paraskevi
P
Panagis
George
G
Georgiou
Vasileios
V
Papathanasopoulos
Panagiotis
P
D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009271:Naltrexone