| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: Neuropsychological effects of HIV infection and methamphetamine dependence. | | Authors: Rippeth J, Moore D, Gonzalez R, Dawson L, Marcotte T, Heaton R, Grant I, and the HNRC Group | | Year: 2001 | | Publication: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society | | Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Pages: 149 | | Abstract:The present study investigated possible interactive effects of HIV infection and methamphetamine use on neuropsychological (NP) status. Four groups of subjects were examined: (1) HIV+/methamphetamine dependent (METH+); N = 26; (2) HIV-/METH+; N = 20; HIV+/METH-; N = 14; HIV-/METH-; N = 15. The METH+ groups met DSM–IV
criteria for methamphetamine dependence within 18 months of the NP assessment,
but were not currently using. Subjects were excluded for lifetime
dependence on other substances (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, cocaine) or
for other medical0neurological problems which affect NP status. Groups
were similar for ethnicity (about 70% White), although they differed on
age (HIV-METH- significantly younger than HIV+METH-)), education
(METH+ groups less educated than METH- groups), and sex
(HIV+ groups higher proportion of males). The HIV+ groups were comparable for proportion of participants with AIDS. NP status was assessed
by blind clinical ratings of global neurobehavioral status utilizing demographically
corrected T scores from a comprehensive NP battery. Ability
areas assessed by the NP battery included learning, memory, attention0
working memory, abstraction, verbal fluency, processing speed, and motor
skills. Groups differed in rates of global cognitive impairment (chi-square
analysis; p < .05; HIV+METH+> HIV-METH-). The HIV+
METH+ group demonstrated the highest rate of impairment (65%), followed
by the HIV-METH+ group (45%), the HIV+METH- group
(43%), and the HIV-METH- (20%). Results suggest HIV infection and
methamphetamine dependence may be associated with increased rates of
cognitive impairment over either factor alone. |
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