Abstract

RODRIGUES, Viviane Samoel; CAMINHA, Renato Maiato  and  HORTA, Rogério Lessa. Cognitive deficits in crack users. Rev. bras.ter. cogn. [online]. 2006, vol.2, n.1, pp.67-72. ISSN 1808-5687.

This paper has the objective of researching cognitive deficits in patients who are crack cocaine users. The use of smoked crack cocaine has been increasing in Brazil. Cognitive functions compromises come as a result. Attention, memory, executive function and problem solving deficits are frequently stressed problems. This was a transversal study of case-control type. The sample was constituted by the snowball effect strategy with crack cocaine users and alcohol and/or tobacco (non cocaine) users, all under hospital or ambulatory treatment. A neuropsychological battery, composed of: Raven General, Wais-R (Vocabulary, Comprehension, Cubes and Numerical Symbols) and Rey Complex Figure was applied to each subject and his or her performance was compared to that of the non user control group. The users were under abstinence for no less than seven days. The results evidence significant prejudice of the group of users in relation to the control group in terms of non-visual memory and visual-constructive functions.

Keywords : Cognitive deficits; Cocaine; Crack.