title: Patterns of cognitive impairments among heroin and cocaine users: the association with self-reported learning disabilities and infectious disease.
abstract: This study used data from six neuropsychological measures of executive function (EF) and general intellectual functioning (GIF) administered to 303 regular users of heroin and/or cocaine as indicators in a latent profile analysis (LPA). Results indicated the presence of three profiles: impaired GIF and EF profile (30.8%), intact GIF and EF profile (58.8%), and high GIF/intact EF profile (10.4%). Using a multinomial logistic regression, it was determined that individuals who reported being diagnosed with either a learning disability (LD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were more likely to be in the impaired GIF and EF profile than other profiles. Results from a logistic regression indicated that the impaired GIF and EF profile was associated with a greater prevalence of past hepatitis B and/or C infection. Implication for harm reduction and treatment programs and the need to take into account individuals with LD and ADHD are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburg, PA, USA. sgs27@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Stevan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Severtson
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-Mental Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Sarra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hedden
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-Mental Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Silvia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-Mental Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Latimer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D057566:Self Report