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Abstract
Background: Inhalant users have multiple comorbid issues (e.g., polydrug use) that complicate identifying inhalant-specific cognitive deficits. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to use signal detection theory to identify inhalant-specific differences in executive control. Methods: We examined three well-matched groups: 19 inhalant users, 19 cannabis users, and 19 controls using Stroop and Go/No-Go tasks. Results: Inhalant users demonstrated significantly lower d-prime scores relative to controls, but not cannabis users, on both tasks, suggesting possible executive deficits relative to controls. Conclusions/Importance: The results of this study raise questions regarding inhalant toxicity and the vulnerability of the adolescent brain to drugs of abuse.
THE AUTHORS
Michael J. Takagi is a post-doctoral research associate at the Murdoch Children's Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Takagi completed his PhD in 2008 investigating the neuropsychological and neurobiological effects of volatile substance misuse during adolescence. His main interest is the cognitive and neurobiological effect of drugs of abuse on the developing brain.
Professor Dan Lubman has worked across mental health and drug treatment settings in both the UK and Australia. His research is wide ranging and includes investigating the impact of alcohol and drug use on brain function, the relationship between substance use and mental disorder, as well as the development of targeted intervention programs within school, primary care, mental health, and drug treatment settings. He is regularly contacted for policy advice and community comment, and sits on numerous expert reference committees.
Associate Professor Sue Cotton is a Principal Research Fellow in the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne. She is a NHMRC Career Development Fellow. She is a psychologist (who has training in clinical neuropsychology) and senior biostatistician. Her work involves the integration of the fields of biostatistics, clinical research methodology, psychology, and psychiatric research. Findings from her research activities have contributed to the scientific literature and reflect her areas of strength in these fields.
Antonio Verdejo-Garcia is an associate professor in the School of Psychology and Psychiatry at Monash University (Melbourne, Australia). He has an MSc in Psychological and Biomedical aspects of Health and Illness and a PhD in Psychology. His PhD training focused on Clinical Neuropsychology and Neuroscience, and included research internships in the following international centers: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa, USA), Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK) and Johns Hopkins Medical Institute (Baltimore, USA). After obtaining his PhD by the University of Granada, Antonio has held a competitive post-doctoral research fellow position in the IMIM-Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, where he developed strategic research collaborations in the fields of genetics, pharmacology, and functional neuroimaging as well as senior lecturer and associate professor positions in the Department of Clinical Psychology of the University of Granada. His current research program is focused on the role of executive functions in addiction treatment outcomes.
Raquel Vilar is an associate professor of Psychology at the University of Granada. She is a member of several research projects about addictions and obesity, and has published about 20 papers in several journals. Her actual areas of interest are the neuropsychological characterization of obese individuals and drug dependents, and the efficacy of the Brief Motivational Intervention.
Prof Yücel is a clinical neuropsychologist currently appointed as a professorial fellow within the School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University where he directs the Monash Clinical and Imaging Neuroscience (MCIN) laboratory. He also holds an appointment within the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia fellowship scheme. He is an expert in the area of biological psychiatry and addiction neuroscience.
GLOSSARY
Cognitive control: Refers to processes that allow information processing and behavior to vary adaptively from moment to moment depending on current goals, rather than remaining rigid and inflexible.
d-Prime: A sensitivity index used in signal detection theory.
Inhalants: Inhalants are chemical substances that give off fumes or vapors at room temperature.
Signal Detection Theory: A statistical technique designed to locate a signal against a background of noise.