A prospective four-year follow-up of neuropsychological function in HIV seropositive and seronegative methadone-maintained patients

• Published in: General hospital psychiatry Vol. 15; no. 6; p. 351
• Main Authors: Silberstein, C H, O'Dowd, M A, Chartock, P, Schoenbaum, E E, Friedland, G, Hartel, D, McKegney, F P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-11-1993
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS Dementia Complex - diagnosis; AIDS Dementia Complex - psychology; Ambulatory Care; Female; Follow-Up Studies; HIV Seronegativity; HIV Seropositivity - diagnosis; HIV Seropositivity - psychology; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Methadone - therapeutic use; Neuropsychological Tests; New York City; Opioid-Related Disorders - complications; Opioid-Related Disorders - psychology; Opioid-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Prospective Studies; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - psychology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - rehabilitation; New York City
• ISSN: 0163-8343
• DOI: 10.1016/0163-8343(93)90001-5

The evolution of central nervous system (CNS) impairments associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was assessed by a prospective, longitudinal study of patients in a methadone maintenance clinic. At a mean of 47 months after baseline testing, which included physical exams, HIV antibody testing and a neuropsychological (NP) screening battery, 121 subjects received a second NP assessment. Forty subjects (33%) who were seropositive at baseline showed statistically significant declines in NP function over the 4 years compared with 81 seronegatives, on the Finger Tapping and Trail Making B tests. This relatively long-term follow-up suggests that subtle cognitive deficits develop over time and can be identified early, but their course is slow and appears generally to parallel that of non-CNS symptoms/signs of HIV infection.