Neurocognitive deficits are associated with unemployment in chronic methamphetamine users

Autor: Weber, Erica, Blackstone, Kaitlin, Iudicello, Jennfer E, Morgan, Erin E, Grant, Igor, Moore, David J, Woods, Steven Paul, Translational Methamphetamine AIDS Research Center (TMARC) Group
Rok vydání: 2012
Předmět:
Adult
Male
Substance abuse
Employment
Drug Abuse (NIDA Only)
Substance-Related Disorders
Amphetamine-Related Disorders
Neuropsychological Tests
Neuropsychological assessment
Medical and Health Sciences
Methamphetamine
Substance Misuse
Executive Function
Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
Memory
Clinical Research
Behavioral and Social Science
Odds Ratio
Humans
2.1 Biological and endogenous factors
Aetiology
Learning Disabilities
Mental Disorders
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Neurosciences
Functional status
Brain Disorders
Substance Abuse Detection
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Logistic Models
Cognitive impairment
Mental Health
Short-Term
Socioeconomic Factors
Unemployment
Translational Methamphetamine AIDS Research Center (TMARC) Group
Female
Intravenous
Cognition Disorders
Zdroj: Drug and alcohol dependence, vol 125, iss 1-2
Popis: BackgroundUnemployment rates are high among chronic methamphetamine (MA) users and carry a significant economic burden, yet little is known about the neurocognitive and psychiatric predictors of employment in this vulnerable population.MethodsThe present study examined this issue in 63 participants with recent MA dependence and 47 comparison subjects without histories of MA use disorders. All participants completed a comprehensive neurocognitive, psychiatric and neuromedical evaluation. Individuals with HIV infection, severe neuropsychological or psychiatric conditions that might affect cognition (e.g., seizure disorder, schizophrenia), or a positive Breathalyzer or urine toxicology screen on the day of testing were excluded.ResultsConsistent with previous research, a logistic regression revealed MA dependence as a significant, independent predictor of full-time unemployment status. Within the MA-dependent sample, greater impairment in global neurocognitive functioning and history of injection drug use emerged as significant independent predictors of unemployment status. The association between worse global cognitive functioning and unemployment was primarily driven by deficits in executive functions, learning, verbal fluency, and working memory.ConclusionThese findings indicate that neurocognitive deficits play a significant role in the higher unemployment rates of MA-dependent individuals, and highlight the need for vocational rehabilitation and supported employment programs that assess and bolster cognitive skills in this population.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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