Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:1039-1042
Copyright © 1976 by American Psychiatric Association
Neuropsychological and EEG disturbances in polydrug users
I Grant and LL Judd
EEG and neuropsychological evaluation of 66 polydrug users revealed that
43% had EEG abnormalities and 45% had neuropsychological impairment 3 weeks
after admission to a polydrug study unit. At 5-month follow-up, 27% of 30
retested subjects were still impaired neuropsychologically. Impairment may
be related to extensive involvement with sedatives, alcohol, or heavy
polydrug use. The authors suggest that cerebral dysfunction in polydrug
users might be the result of organicity of intermediate duration and that
deficits may be experienced by some beyond 5 months of reduced use or
abstinence. Organicity may dictate structured, reality-based intervention
techniques, especially early in treatment.
