Mascha Nuijten1, Peter Blanken2, Wim Van den Brink3, Anna E Goudriaan4, Vincent M Hendriks5. 1. Parnassia Addiction Research Centre (PARC), Brijder Addiction Treatment, The Hague, the Netherlands mascha.nuijten@brijder.nl. 2. Parnassia Addiction Research Centre (PARC), Brijder Addiction Treatment, The Hague, the Netherlands. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 5. Parnassia Addiction Research Centre (PARC), Brijder Addiction Treatment, The Hague, the Netherlands Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:High impulsivity and attentional bias are common in cocaine-dependent patients and predict poor treatment outcomes. The pharmacological agent modafinil is studied for its cognitive-enhancing capacities and may therefore improve clinical outcomes in crack-cocaine dependent patients. In this study, we investigated first whether pre-treatment impulsivity and attentional bias predict treatment outcome; next whether the drug modafinil given as an add-on treatment to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) improves impulsivity and attentional bias; and last, whether changes in impulsivity and attentional bias are related to improvements in treatment outcome. METHODS:Crack-cocaine dependent outpatients (n = 65) were randomised to 12 weeks CBT plus modafinil (400 mg/day) or only CBT. Self-reported impulsivity was assessed at baseline using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. At baseline and Week 12, we assessed inhibitory control as a behavioural measure of impulsivity, in terms of cognitive interference (Stroop task) and response inhibition ('stop-signal task'), and attentional bias with the addiction Stroop task. Clinical outcomes were CBT-retention and crack-cocaine use. RESULTS: At baseline, self-reported impulsivity predicted better CBT-retention; low self-reported and behavioural impulsivity and attentional bias predicted less crack-cocaine use. Changes in cognitive performance were not modafinil-related, but most likely due to low adherence. Improvements in impulsivity or attentional bias were not associated with CBT-retention nor changes in crack-cocaine use. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline impulsivity and attentional bias predicted clinical outcomes in crack-cocaine dependent patients. There were no firm indications that modafinil reduced impulsivity nor attentional bias in this population. Future studies involving cognitive-enhancing medications should include strategies to optimise adherence, to be better able to evaluate their potential.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: High impulsivity and attentional bias are common in cocaine-dependent patients and predict poor treatment outcomes. The pharmacological agent modafinil is studied for its cognitive-enhancing capacities and may therefore improve clinical outcomes in crack-cocaine dependent patients. In this study, we investigated first whether pre-treatment impulsivity and attentional bias predict treatment outcome; next whether the drug modafinil given as an add-on treatment to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) improves impulsivity and attentional bias; and last, whether changes in impulsivity and attentional bias are related to improvements in treatment outcome. METHODS:Crack-cocaine dependent outpatients (n = 65) were randomised to 12 weeks CBT plus modafinil (400 mg/day) or only CBT. Self-reported impulsivity was assessed at baseline using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. At baseline and Week 12, we assessed inhibitory control as a behavioural measure of impulsivity, in terms of cognitive interference (Stroop task) and response inhibition ('stop-signal task'), and attentional bias with the addiction Stroop task. Clinical outcomes were CBT-retention and crack-cocaine use. RESULTS: At baseline, self-reported impulsivity predicted better CBT-retention; low self-reported and behavioural impulsivity and attentional bias predicted less crack-cocaine use. Changes in cognitive performance were not modafinil-related, but most likely due to low adherence. Improvements in impulsivity or attentional bias were not associated with CBT-retention nor changes in crack-cocaine use. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline impulsivity and attentional bias predicted clinical outcomes in crack-cocaine dependent patients. There were no firm indications that modafinil reduced impulsivity nor attentional bias in this population. Future studies involving cognitive-enhancing medications should include strategies to optimise adherence, to be better able to evaluate their potential.
Authors: Karolina Kozak; Aliya M Lucatch; Darby J E Lowe; Iris M Balodis; James MacKillop; Tony P George Journal: Ann N Y Acad Sci Date: 2018-10-05 Impact factor: 5.691
Authors: Krista M Lisdahl; Kenneth J Sher; Kevin P Conway; Raul Gonzalez; Sarah W Feldstein Ewing; Sara Jo Nixon; Susan Tapert; Hauke Bartsch; Rita Z Goldstein; Mary Heitzeg Journal: Dev Cogn Neurosci Date: 2018-02-21 Impact factor: 5.811