title: Delay discounting, impulsiveness, and addiction severity in opioid-dependent patients.
abstract: Individuals who abuse drugs show higher delay discounting (DD) rate and impulsiveness scores compared with controls; however, it is unclear if DD rate covaries with severity of the addiction or if an individual's discounting rate can be changed by effective substance abuse treatment. This study compared methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients (n = 30) who had not used illegal drugs for 2 years with drug-using MMT patients (n = 30) and controls (n = 25) in terms of addiction severity, DD rate, and impulsiveness. Methadone patients abstinent from illegal drugs scored significantly lower on a number of addiction severity measures than the drug-using methadone patients. In addition, both groups of MMT patients showed significantly higher rates of DD and impulsiveness than the control group; however, no differences in DD rate or impulsiveness were found between the groups of patients. Results suggest that DD rate and impulsiveness may not covary with indicators of addiction severity in MMT patients.
authors: Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ 85306-4908, USA. elias.robles@asu.edu
authors: Elias
authors: E
authors: Robles
authors: B Emma
authors: BE
authors: Huang
authors: Pippa M
authors: PM
authors: Simpson
authors: Donald E
authors: DE
authors: McMillan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology; D003201:Computers; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012201:Reward; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D012984:Software; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016482:Urinalysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008691:Methadone