Memory function in patients with opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine and methadone in comparison with healthy persons
Abstract Methadone and buprenorphine are commonly used for drug abuse treatment but may impair cognitive function. This study assessed memory performance in patients receiving these treatments compared to healthy controls. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 93 buprenorphine- and 120 methadone-...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02832-z |
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| author | Sara Kamali Ardakani Sara Mahmoudi Khaled Rahmani Narges Shamsalizadeh |
| author_facet | Sara Kamali Ardakani Sara Mahmoudi Khaled Rahmani Narges Shamsalizadeh |
| author_sort | Sara Kamali Ardakani |
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| description | Abstract Methadone and buprenorphine are commonly used for drug abuse treatment but may impair cognitive function. This study assessed memory performance in patients receiving these treatments compared to healthy controls. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 93 buprenorphine- and 120 methadone-treated patients, compared with 120 healthy controls. The Wechsler Memory Scale was used, and scores were compared among the study groups using Kruskal–Wallis with Tukey’s post-hoc test. Maintenance therapy duration was compared between case groups using an independent t-test or Mann–Whitney U test. Healthy controls were superior to both treatment groups in mental control. The methadone group surpassed controls in personal and general information (P < 0.05), while buprenorphine-treated patients scored lower in associate learning. Patients receiving methadone for > 2 years had a higher mean score of awareness of place and time than those on long-term buprenorphine (P = 0.034). Longer buprenorphine treatment correlated with improved total memory scores (P = 0.03). The mental test showed no significant adverse effect for either medication on most mental aspects, except for mental control, which was worse than the control group in both medications. In some aspects, treated patients even outperformed controls. Buprenorphine preserves memory function better than methadone over time. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cceb776126ae4a1492cfdb839ffdfee4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-cceb776126ae4a1492cfdb839ffdfee42025-08-20T02:29:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-011511610.1038/s41598-025-02832-zMemory function in patients with opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine and methadone in comparison with healthy personsSara Kamali Ardakani0Sara Mahmoudi1Khaled Rahmani2Narges Shamsalizadeh3Neurosciences Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Student Research, Kurdistan University of Medical SciencesLiver and Digestive Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Psychiatry, Neurosciences Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical SciencesAbstract Methadone and buprenorphine are commonly used for drug abuse treatment but may impair cognitive function. This study assessed memory performance in patients receiving these treatments compared to healthy controls. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 93 buprenorphine- and 120 methadone-treated patients, compared with 120 healthy controls. The Wechsler Memory Scale was used, and scores were compared among the study groups using Kruskal–Wallis with Tukey’s post-hoc test. Maintenance therapy duration was compared between case groups using an independent t-test or Mann–Whitney U test. Healthy controls were superior to both treatment groups in mental control. The methadone group surpassed controls in personal and general information (P < 0.05), while buprenorphine-treated patients scored lower in associate learning. Patients receiving methadone for > 2 years had a higher mean score of awareness of place and time than those on long-term buprenorphine (P = 0.034). Longer buprenorphine treatment correlated with improved total memory scores (P = 0.03). The mental test showed no significant adverse effect for either medication on most mental aspects, except for mental control, which was worse than the control group in both medications. In some aspects, treated patients even outperformed controls. Buprenorphine preserves memory function better than methadone over time.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02832-zAddictionMethadoneBuprenorphineMaintenance therapyMemory function |
| spellingShingle | Sara Kamali Ardakani Sara Mahmoudi Khaled Rahmani Narges Shamsalizadeh Memory function in patients with opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine and methadone in comparison with healthy persons Scientific Reports Addiction Methadone Buprenorphine Maintenance therapy Memory function |
| title | Memory function in patients with opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine and methadone in comparison with healthy persons |
| title_full | Memory function in patients with opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine and methadone in comparison with healthy persons |
| title_fullStr | Memory function in patients with opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine and methadone in comparison with healthy persons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Memory function in patients with opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine and methadone in comparison with healthy persons |
| title_short | Memory function in patients with opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine and methadone in comparison with healthy persons |
| title_sort | memory function in patients with opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine and methadone in comparison with healthy persons |
| topic | Addiction Methadone Buprenorphine Maintenance therapy Memory function |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02832-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarakamaliardakani memoryfunctioninpatientswithopioiddependencetreatedwithbuprenorphineandmethadoneincomparisonwithhealthypersons AT saramahmoudi memoryfunctioninpatientswithopioiddependencetreatedwithbuprenorphineandmethadoneincomparisonwithhealthypersons AT khaledrahmani memoryfunctioninpatientswithopioiddependencetreatedwithbuprenorphineandmethadoneincomparisonwithhealthypersons AT nargesshamsalizadeh memoryfunctioninpatientswithopioiddependencetreatedwithbuprenorphineandmethadoneincomparisonwithhealthypersons |