Cognitive Flexibility, Attention and Speed of Mental Processing in Opioid and Methamphetamine Addicts in Comparison with Non-Addicts

Results: The study findings indicated that the group of drug addicted subjects performed significantly worse compared with the controls on all executive measures. There were also significant differences among the 3 subgroups. The K\GURFKORULGHheroin group had the worst performance LQcomparLVRQ with the methamphetamineand opium groups respectively. Drug addicted subjects with longer duration of drug addiction were much worse on all measures in Fomparison with drugaddicted subjects with shorter duration of drug addiction. Discussion: The study results confirmed that the functions of specific brain regions underlying cognitive flexibility, attention and speed of mental processing were significantly impaired in the group of drug addicted subjects. These impairments were also significantly related to type of drug used and duration of drug addiction that may contribute to most of behavioral disturbances found in drug addicts and need specific attention for intervention and treatment programs. A B S T R A C T