Effect of long-term sustained release naltrexone on semantic recognition of opioid addicts / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Long-term sustained release naltrexone has been reported in clinical application near one year that it can improve emotional state and relieve addiction; therefore, the effect of long-term sustained release naltrexone on memory restoration at neuropsychology level were explored. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of long-term sustained release naltrexone on memory ability of opioid addicts. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A contrast observational study was performed at Drug Rehabilitation Centers of Wuhan, Changde, Zhengzhou, and Jiangyang between October and December 2006. Healthy controls were tested in Shenzhen Hospital of Peking University in October 2006. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 88 males with opioid addicts were divided into naltrexone group (n=35), compulsory detoxification group (n=26), and non-treatment group (n=27). Another 22 healthy subjects were considered as the controls. METHODS: At 6-12 months before testing, naltrexone (3.1 g) was subcutaneously implanted into bilateral abdominal wall in the naltrexone group; patients in the compulsory detoxification group underwent completely compulsory detoxification for 6 months, and the examination results, including diamorphine, methadone, and buprenorphine in urine, were negative on the immediately testing day. Event related potential and its wave form were recorded from the opioid addicts in the three groups and from healthy controls who finished semantic recognition between new and old words using portable-type event related potential working system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correct rate and response time of semantic memory; latency and amplitude of language related potential-N400. RESULTS: ①There were significant differences in correct rate and response time between three expedmental groups and healthy control group (P ＜ 0.001 ); in addition, correct rate was significantly increased, and response time was significantly shortened in the naltrexone group compared to compulsory detoxification group and non-treatment group (P＜ 0.05). ② N400 latency in the three experimental groups was significantly longer than healthy control group (P ＜ 0.01), while N400 amplitude in the naltrexone group was increased, which was no significant difference compared to healthy control group (P> 0.05) but was significant difference compared to compulsory detoxification group and non-treatment group (P ＜ 0.01). CONCLUSION: Long-term sustained release naltrexone can effectively improve neural function and enhance semantic memory of the opioid addicts.