P3a Amplitude Predicts Successful Treatment Program Completion in Substance-Dependent Individuals

Abstract

This study examined P3a amplitude as a direct predictor of treatment success for substance dependence. Participants were 35 adults (27 men, 8 women) undergoing treatment for substance dependence at an urban residential treatment facility between October 2005 and July 2007. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria were used to confirm substance dependence. P3a amplitude was significantly smaller for those who dropped out of treatment. Discriminant function analysis confirmed that P3a amplitude was a robust predictor of treatment completion, more sensitive than other measures including substance abuse severity. Implications for the interpretation of P3a amplitude as an index of executive function are discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

Cette étude a examiné P3a amplitude comme un lien direct harmoniques de succès de traitement pour toxicomanie. Les participants ont été 35 adultes (27 hommes, 8 femmes) en traitement pour toxicomanie à un milieu urbain résidentiel installation de traitement entre Octobre, 2005 et Juillet, 2007. DSM-IV-TR critères ont été utilisées pour confirmer la pharmacodépendance. P3a amplitude était considérablement plus petit pour ceux qui ont abandonné de traitement. Analyse discriminante fonction a confirmé que P3a amplitude était un robuste harmoniques de traitement achèvement, plus sensibles que d’autres mesures, y compris la toxicomanie gravité. Implications pour l’interprétation de P3a amplitude comme un indice de fonction exécutive sont discutées.

RESUMEN

Este estudio examinó P3a amplitud como consecuencia directa predictor de éxito del tratamiento de la dependencia de sustancias. Los participantes fueron 35 adultos (27 hombres, 8 mujeres) sometidos a tratamiento para la dependencia de sustancias en un medio urbano residencial instalación de tratamiento entre Octubre de 2005 y Julio, 2007. DSM-IV-TR criterios fueron utilizados para confirmar la dependencia de sustancias. P3a amplitud fue significativamente menor para quienes abandonaron de tratamiento. Análisis de funciones Discriminantes confirmó que P3a amplitud fue un sólido predictor de finalización del tratamiento, más sensibles que otras medidas, como abuso de sustancias severidad. Consecuencias para la interpretación de P3a amplitud como un índice de función ejecutiva.

Keywords :

• event-related potentials
• substance abuse
• P300
• P3a
• treatment success

THE AUTHORS

Nathaniel E. Anderson, M.A., is a doctoral candidate in behavioral neuroscience at Baylor University in Waco, TX, were he has conducted research on the psychophysiological correlates of substance use, impulsivity, psychopathic traits, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Further research interests include the biological basis of personality and individual differences, especially as these relate to affect and behavioral inhibition.

Robyn Baldridge, M.A., is a doctoral candidate in Psychology at Baylor University (Waco, TX). Her research interests include substance abuse populations, electroencephalo-graphic correlates of executive cognitive dysfunction, the P300 event-related potential, impulsivity, aggression, and addictive behaviors.

Matthew S. Stanford, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Studies at Baylor University where he directs the doctoral program in psychology. His research focuses primarily on the biological basis of impulsive and aggressive behavior. He has conducted psychophysiological research in a variety of clinical populations including those with aggression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, stroke, substance dependence, and traumatic brain injury. He is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science.

Notes

3 The reader is reminded that substance use disorder is a relatively new (American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), 4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association: Washington, DC, 1994), consenualized, medicalizing diagnosis, which is not based upon empirical evidence and which does not supply three basic functions of any effective and utilizable diagnosis: etiology, process, and prognosis. Editor's note.