DELAY DISCOUNTING & IMPULSIVENESS IN METHADONE PATIENTS

描述：（申请人摘要） 成瘾者倾向于冲动地选择小的立即 而不是更大但延迟的奖励。一种似乎有用的方法是， 在理解冲动选择的过程中， 诸如现金或毒品的奖励的主观价值通过延迟来调制， 奖励研究表明，成瘾者的特点是， 延迟折扣率和冲动性得分高于非成瘾者。但据 尚不清楚这些分数是否与药物成瘾的严重程度相关，如果 他们预测成瘾治疗的成功率，或者有效的药物 成瘾治疗改变延迟折扣率或冲动性。的目的 这个项目是比较未经治疗和成功治疗的阿片类药物成瘾者 延迟折扣率和冲动性得分。30例未治疗 鸦片成瘾者，30名接受美沙酮维持治疗的患者 治疗和戒毒至少两年，和20个匹配的非物质 滥用药物者将作为对照。所有受试者将 提供尿液样本，用于测试滥用药物。数据收集 将在一个2小时的会议中完成。延迟贴现率将是 在固定的延迟金钱奖励， 还有各种小额现金所有的选择都将是 假设的奖励之间。两种延迟的货币奖励 将研究8个延迟间隔。冲动性将通过 艾森克人格问卷。所获得的结果将解决 在美沙酮患者中：a）延迟折扣和冲动 可能是固定的人格特质，B）延迟折扣率和/或 冲动性评分可能会受到药物滥用的不同影响，以及c） 延迟折扣率和/或冲动性分数可以通过以下方式修改： 治疗从这项研究中获得的结果将揭示 延迟折扣率、冲动性和成瘾之间的关系 治疗，并将有助于确定是否需要进一步的研究。

DESCRIPTION: (Applicant's Abstract) Addicts tend to respond impulsively in the sense of choosing small immediate rewards over larger but delayed rewards. One approach that appears to be useful in understanding impulsive choices is the study of delay discounting, or how the subjective value of a reward such as cash or drugs is modulated by delay to the reward. Research shows that addicts are characterized by higher delay-discounting rates and impulsivity scores than non addicts. However, it is still unknown if such scores correlate with the severity of drug addiction, if they predict rates of addiction treatment success, or if effective drug addiction treatment modifies delay-discounting rates or impulsivity. The aim of this project is to compare untreated, and successfully treated opiate addicts in terms of delay-discounting rates and impulsivity scores. Thirty untreated opiate addicts, thirty patients who have been in methadone maintenance treatment and drug-free for at least two years, and 20 matched non substance abusers serving as controls will be enrolled in the study. All subjects will provide a urine sample that will be tested for drugs of abuse. Data collection will be done during a single 2-hour session. Delay-discounting rates will be assessed with a choice procedure between a fixed delayed monetary reward, and various smaller amounts of cash to be had immediately. All choices will be between hypothetical rewards. Two magnitudes of the delayed monetary reward and 8 delay intervals will be investigated. Impulsivity will be assessed with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. The obtained results will address the possibility that in methadone patients: a) delay-discounting and impulsivity might be fixed personality traits , b) delay-discounting rates and/or impulsivity scores might be differentially affected by drug abuse, and c) that delay-discounting rates and/or impulsivity scores might be modifiable by treatment. The results obtained from this study will shed light on the relationships between delay-discounting rates, impulsivity, and addiction treatment, and will be useful in determining the need for further research.