Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:178-184
Copyright © 1978 by American Psychiatric Association
Organic impairment in polydrug users: risk factors
I Grant, KM Adams, AS Carlin, PM Rennick, LL Judd, K Schooff and R Reed
In a national collaborative study to assess the neuropsychological status
of 151 polydrug users, the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery
showed deficits in 37% two to three weeks after they entered treatment and
in 34% at three-month follow-up. Comparative rates for a group of
psychiatric patients were 26% and 27%, and for nonpatients, 8% and 4%.
Extensive and intensive use of CNS depressants and opiates correlated
positively with neuropsychological deficit. Older, less- educated subjects
with adverse medical or developmental histories were more likely to show
polydrug-related organic impairment. Although there is some evidence that
such impairment is reversible, the condition appears to be of at least
intermediate duration and may be long lasting.
