UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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UCLA UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Examination of the Effects of Methamphetamine Use Severity on Executive Functioning and Impulsivity Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5bm9n0q1 Author Correa, Nathasha Roya Moallem Publication Date 2016 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Examination of the Effects of Methamphetamine Use Severity on Executive Functioning and Impulsivity A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology by Nathasha Roya Moallem Correa 2016 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Examination of the Effects of Methamphetamine Use Severity on Executive Functioning and Impulsivity By Nathasha Roya Moallem Correa Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology University of California, Los Angeles, 2016 Professor Lara Allison Ray, Chair Background: Abuse of psychostimulants, including methamphetamine (MA), has been linked to cognitive deficits. However, there is ongoing debate that evidence for the relationship between MA and cognitive deficits is limited. While previous research has demonstrated neurocognitive differences between MA users and non-substance users, less is known about variability in cognitive functioning within MA users and whether the severity of MA-related problems predicts cognitive functioning within individuals who regularly use MA. Objective: This study aims to elucidate neurocognitive deficits, specifically impulsivity and executive functioning, as a function of MA use severity. This study used a multivariate approach that simultaneously accounts for clinical variables (e.g., frequency of use, craving, and diagnostic symptoms) as well as outcome variables related to impulsivity and executive function. Method: Non-treatment seeking individuals who reported regular MA use (n = 177) completed an impulsivity battery comprised of self-report (Barratt Impulsivity Scale-II (BIS)) and behavioral measures (Stop Signal Task (SST), Delay Discounting Task (DDT)) and a sub-sample ii (n = 63) completed an in-depth neuropsychological battery. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to (1) test the relationship between the MA-use problem severity and measures of impulsivity; and (2) examine the association between MA-use problem severity and tests of executive functioning. Results: The final SEM model of impulsivity and MA use problems revealed that greater MA use severity was associated with greater self-reported impulsiveness (ß = 0.51 and ß= 0.42), but no relationship was found between MA use severity and the behavioral measures of impulsivity (SST and DDT). Analyses of neuropsychological functioning suggested that MA use severity was not significantly associated with either executive functioning factor; however follow-up analyses revealed that gender and frequency of MA use may moderate the relationship between MA use severity and measures of executive functioning. Conclusions: The current findings extend previous research by providing additional evidence that MA use is associated with greater self-reported impulsivity and highlights the importance of evaluating impulsivity as a multidimensional construct. The lack of relationship between MA use severity and executive functioning suggest that individual differences in MA use may not be directly related to neuropsychological functioning, although previous literature has shown performance on neuropsychological tests can differentiate between MA users and non-substance users. Future studies should expand on the current findings by comparing neurocognition across substances and by utilizing the MA Use Severity factor in longitudinal and biologically informative approaches, such as genetic and neuroimaging studies. iii The dissertation of Nathasha Roya Moallem Correa is approved. Adriana Galvan Rena L. Repetti Steve J. Shoptaw Lara Allison Ray, Committee Chair University of California, Los Angeles 2016 iv Table of Contents Curriculum Vitae .........................................................................................................................ix! Introduction ...................................................................................................................................1! Methamphetamine use is highly prevalent in the U.S. and worldwide.................................1! Methamphetamine has widespread effects..............................................................................2! Methamphetamine use disorders are brain disorders............................................................5! Methamphetamine neuromodulates the dopaminergic system.............................................8! Drug use and neurocognitive deficits: Cause, consequence, or both ..................................11! Methamphetamine use affects neurocognitive functioning .................................................13! Many criticisms of the current literature remain.................................................................21! Methamphetamine and impulsivity .......................................................................................23! The Dissertation...........................................................................................................................27! Specific aims and hypotheses..................................................................................................27! Methods ........................................................................................................................................28! Participants...............................................................................................................................28! Procedures ................................................................................................................................29! Measures...................................................................................................................................29! Data Analysis Plan...................................................................................................................32! Results...........................................................................................................................................35! Descriptive statistics ................................................................................................................35! Aim 1 SEM model results........................................................................................................36! Aim 2 SEM model results........................................................................................................41! Discussion.....................................................................................................................................46! v Strengths and Limitations.......................................................................................................59! Conclusion ................................................................................................................................62! References ....................................................................................................................................96! vi List of Tables and Figures Table 1 ..........................................................................................................................................67! Table 2 ..........................................................................................................................................68! Table 3 ..........................................................................................................................................69! Table 4 ..........................................................................................................................................71! Table 5 ..........................................................................................................................................72! Table 6 ..........................................................................................................................................73! Table 7 ..........................................................................................................................................75! Table 8 ..........................................................................................................................................76! Table 9 ..........................................................................................................................................77! Table 10 ........................................................................................................................................78! Table 11 ........................................................................................................................................79! Table 12 ........................................................................................................................................80! Table 13 ........................................................................................................................................81! Figure Captions ...........................................................................................................................82! Figure 1.........................................................................................................................................84!