Cognition in individuals with methamphetamine dependence

Chronic use of methamphetamine has been associated with significant negative consequences in users, including cognitive deficits, which have a negative impact on clinical outcomes. This thesis aimed to examine the impact of methamphetamine dependence on several different aspects of cognition (decision making, response inhibition and delay discounting) while factoring in background characteristics, during early treatment and to determine if cognitive deficits recover with abstinence in methamphetamine users during early treatment efforts. It was found that methamphetamine dependent individuals had important cognitive deficits in response inhibition and decision making as they enter treatment and that these deficits are not significantly improved after early abstinence efforts. Thus, treatment approaches may need to accommodate or rehabilitate these cognitive deficits.