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COMPARISON OF WISCONSIN CARD SORTING TEST RESULTS BETWEEN CZECH SUBJECTS DEPENDENT ON METHAMPHETAMINE VERSUS HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS

Ladislav Hosak ; Department of Psychiatry, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, and University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Marek Preiss ; Prague Psychiatric Center, and University of New York in Prague, Czech Republic
Jan Bazant ; Department of Psychiatry, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, and University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Andrea Tibenska ; Department of Psychiatry, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, and University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Radka Cermakova ; Prague Psychiatric Center, and University of New York in Prague, Czech Republic
Eva Cermakova ; Computer Technology Center, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

Sažetak

Background: Methamphetamine is a neurotoxic agent. Its chronic abuse may result in cognitive impairment with negative
consequences for patients´ treatment and rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to compare Wisconsin Card Sorting Test profiles
of Czech subjects dependent on methamphetamine with healthy individuals.
Subjects and methods: Forty-three hospitalized Czech Caucasian patients including twenty-seven men at the average age of
25.3±5.2 years dependent on methamphetamine for 6.2±3.3 years were assessed by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. We used the
same neurocognitive test for the comparison group of healthy controls with the same ethnicity (N=52, men N=28, average age of
38.7±12.1 years). We applied the Chi-Square Test, Two-Sample T Test, Mann-Whitney U Test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test to
compare methamphetamine dependent patients with healthy volunteers.
Results: All recorded Wisconsin Card Sorting Test parameters were significantly different in the group of methamphetamine
dependent patients versus healthy volunteers (P=0.04-0.006; Mann-Whitney U Test, Two-Sample T Test). The results showed a
higher error rate and a smaller achievement quality in the patients as against healthy subjects. We ascertained a significant
cognitive deterioration in the patients as compared to healthy volunteers even if the average patients´ achievements were in the
normal range according to the test norms.
Conclusions: A cognitive impairment was present in the group of patients as compared to healthy controls. Better understanding
of neurocognitive symptoms in methamphetamine dependent subjects should help to generate modern therapeutic approaches, both
pharmacological and psychosocial, to prevent or attenuate the long-term negative consequences of methamphetamine use disorders.

Ključne riječi

methamphetamine dependence; neurotoxicity; cognitive impairment; Wisconsin Card Sorting Test

Hrčak ID:

106222

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/106222

Datum izdavanja:

24.6.2012.

Posjeta: 1.710 *