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Substance use and withdrawal: Neuropsychological functioning over 8 years in youth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 November 2002

SUSAN F. TAPERT
Affiliation:
VA San Diego Healthcare System, Psychology Service, San Diego, California University of California, Department of Psychiatry, San Diego, California
ERIC GRANHOLM
Affiliation:
VA San Diego Healthcare System, Psychology Service, San Diego, California University of California, Department of Psychiatry, San Diego, California
NATHAN G. LEEDY
Affiliation:
University of California, Department of Psychology, San Diego, California
SANDRA A. BROWN
Affiliation:
VA San Diego Healthcare System, Psychology Service, San Diego, California University of California, Department of Psychiatry, San Diego, California University of California, Department of Psychology, San Diego, California

Abstract

This study prospectively examined neuropsychological (NP) functioning associated with adolescent substance use and withdrawal. Participants were youths with histories of substance use disorders (n = 47) and demographically comparable youths with no such lifetime histories (n = 26). They were followed with NP testing and substance involvement interviews at 7 time points spanning 8 years, from ages 16 to 24, on average. After controlling for recent use, age, education, practice effects, and baseline NP functioning, substance use over the 8-year follow-up period significantly predicted performances on tests of memory and attention at Year 8. Additionally, withdrawal symptoms during the follow-up predicted visuospatial and attention scores at Year 8. Findings suggest that use and withdrawal may differentially impact neurocognitive functioning during youth, with heavy use leading to learning, retention, and attentional difficulties, and withdrawal leading to problems with visuospatial functioning. (JINS, 2002, 8, 873–883.)

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2002 The International Neuropsychological Society

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