Neuropsychological assessment of current and past crack cocaine users.
BACKGROUND
Cognitive changes due to crack cocaine consumption remain unclear.


METHODS
For clarification, 55 subjects were assigned to three groups: control group, crack cocaine current users, and ex-users. Participants were submitted to Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and tasks evaluating executive functioning and verbal memory. Mood state was also measured. Intergroup comparisons were carried out.


RESULTS
Control group performance on the MMSE was better than that of users and ex-users. Verbal memory performance for logical memory of users was impaired. Ex-users scored lower on DSST and Trail Making Test (Part B).


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic crack cocaine use seems to disrupt general cognitive functioning (MMSE), verbal memory, and attentional resources, but findings suggest that some of these effects could be reversed by abstinence.
De Oliveira
Lúcio Garcia
LG
Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil. luciogoliver@usp.br [corrected]
Barroso
Lúcia Pereira
LP
Silveira
Camila Magalhães
CM
Sanchez
Zila Van Der Meer
ZV
De Carvalho Ponce
Julio
J
Vaz
Leonardo José
LJ
Nappo
Solange Aparecida
SA
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012646:Self Administration
D016578:Crack Cocaine