title: Factors affecting cognitive function of opiate-dependent patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A wide range of studies found that opiate-dependent patients suffer from cognitive impairment due to a number of different factors. However, this issue has never been examined systematically. Thus, the aim of the present study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of factors that might contribute to cognitive impairment of opiate-dependent patients and specifically differentiates between various cognitive abilities as these might be impacted differently.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on a comprehensive review of the literature with regard to previous findings and suggestions about which factors might affect cognitive functioning, we assessed a wide variety of variables related to substance use and opiate-dependence as well as demographic and socioeconomic variables. Cognitive functioning was assessed through a neuropsychological test-battery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the duration of opiate dependence and maintenance treatment, as well as additional substance consumption (alcohol, amphetamines, and cocaine) are the main variables contributing to cognitive impairment in the domains of attention and executive function. Comorbid depressive symptoms negatively affected reaction times. There was no evidence for the role of demographic variables like age and education on cognitive functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that it might be important in the treatment of opiate dependence to address the consumption of additional substances and to closely monitor the negative effects of maintenance treatment on cognitive functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Vossstrasse 2, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Sabine.Loeber@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loeber
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakovics
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kniest
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Croissant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult