Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neuropsychiatry

Objective: This study is an observational, analytic, case-control study aiming at assessment of the cognitive functions and neurophysiological changes in tramadol dependent patients and finding correlation between cognitive functions impairment and seizures in the same patients. Method: Subjects participating in this study were 100 subjects divided into 2 groups: Patient group: (n = 50) patients using tramadol as a primary substance of dependence according to DSM IV TR diagnostic criteria of substance dependence (American psychiatric association, 2000), control group: (n=50) healthy control subjects with negative current and past history of substance abuse/dependence. All participants gave written consent and were subjected to the following interviews, assessments and investigations (except addiction severity index (ASI) done only for patient group: Psychiatric assessment using The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I), addiction severity index (ASI), wechsler memory scale-revised (WMS-R), boston naming test-2 (BNT-2) verbal fluency tests (Letter fluency and category fluency), wisconsin card sorting test (WCST-computer-administered version), urine sampling using drug screening strips, event related potential (P300) and electroencephalography (EEG). Results: Tramadol dependent patients showed significantly worse Wechsler memory, worse boston naming test, worse verbal fluency test and decreased P300 amplitude than the healthy control. Conclusion: Tramadol dependence is associated with deterioration in certain domains of cognitive performance, mainly the general memory assessment, attention, concentration, psychomotor speed, visuospatial function and visual naming ability

Issued also as CD