EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS OF PEOPLE WITH DRUG ADDICTION

Abstract

This study aimed to see the impairments of executive functions in people
with drug dependence. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling
method and the sample size was 120, among them 60 were in drug user group
and 60 were healthy control. Neuropsychological assessment tools were used –
Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure Test
(RCFT), for assessing the executive functioning of the participants. Data were
analyzed using SPSS software, version 20. Independent-Samples t-test was
carried out and the result has shown that the control group performed better in
all tests. In FAB, significant difference was found in performance between the
drug users and control group, t (90.9) = 9.89, p = 0.00, α = 0.01. Both in copy and
immediate recall phase of RCFT, there were significant differences of
performance between the drug users and control group, t(70.9) = 8.11, p = 0.00,
α = 0.01 and t (118) = 11.9, p = 0.00, α = 0.01, respectively. Results indicate that the
executive functions of drug dependent people are significantly impaired.
Therefore, this issue should be taken in consideration for creating individualized
treatment programs and can also assist in taking preventive measures.