title: Acute modafinil effects on attention and inhibitory control in methamphetamine-dependent humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Individuals who are methamphetamine dependent exhibit higher rates of cognitive dysfunction than healthy people who do not use methamphetamine, and this dysfunction may have a negative effect on the success of behavioral treatments for the disorder. Therefore, a medication that improves cognition, such as modafinil (Provigil), may serve as a useful adjunct to behavioral treatments for methamphetamine dependence. Although cognitive-enhancing effects of modafinil have been reported in several populations, little is known about the effects of modafinil in methamphetamine-dependent individuals. We thus sought to evaluate the effects of modafinil on the cognitive performance of methamphetamine-dependent and healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen healthy subjects and 24 methamphetamine- dependent subjects participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Effects of modafinil (200 mg, single oral dose) were assessed on participants' performance on tests of inhibitory control, working memory, and processing speed/attention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across subjects, modafinil improved performance on a test of sustained attention, with no significant improvement on any other cognitive tests. However, within the methamphetamine-dependent group only, participants with a high baseline frequency of methamphetamine use demonstrated a greater effect of modafinil on tests of inhibitory control and processing speed than those participants with low baseline use of methamphetamine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although modafinil produced limited effects across all participants, methamphetamine-dependent participants with a high baseline use of methamphetamine demonstrated significant cognitive improvement on modafinil relative to those with low baseline methamphetamine use. These results add to the findings from a clinical trial that suggested that modafinil may be particularly useful in methamphetamine-dependent subjects who use the drug frequently.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1759, USA.
authors: Andy C
authors: AC
authors: Dean
authors: Rajkumar J
authors: RJ
authors: Sevak
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Monterosso
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Hellemann
authors: Catherine A
authors: CA
authors: Sugar
authors: Edythe D
authors: ED
authors: London
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077408:Modafinil; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008694:Methamphetamine; D000077408:Modafinil