Cognitive predictors of treatment outcomes in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder

Treatment outcomes are consistently poor for individuals recovering from methamphetamine dependence and may be related to cognitive deficits documented in this population. This thesis examines how cognitive functioning at treatment entry predicts a range of outcomes six weeks later. Specifically, poorer working memory predicts higher rates of methamphetamine use, higher impulsivity predicts less improvement in social and psychological functioning, and poorer sustained attention predicts less improvement in treatment motivation. Rehabilitating these cognitive deficits early in treatment may improve outcomes in this population and reduce the social and economic burden associated with methamphetamine use.