UM Home |  A to Z Index |  Academic Index |
 

Psychology Colloquia

19 September 2006

Title

"A Sample of Methamphetamine and Non-Methamphetamine Users in a Missoula Treatment Setting: Similarities, Differences, and Future Research Directions"
 

Speaker

Michelle Peavy, M.A., is a 4th year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at the University of Montana. Her research interests include substance abuse treatment, etiology of addiction and methamphetamine use. Her academic supervisor is Dr. Bryan Cochran.
 

Time & Venue

4:10pm, SS 356
 

Abstract

Recent increases in methamphetamine use and growing evidence of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial effects of the drug indicate an urgent need for treatment research targeting methamphetamine users.  The objective of this study was to compare methamphetamine using and non-methamphetamine using substance users in the areas of psychological functioning and response to treatment.  It was hypothesized that the methamphetamine users would exemplify a more severe course of addiction, resulting in more compromised psychological functioning and overall more substance use at follow-up.  Fifty substance abusers seeking treatment at an outpatient treatment facility were recruited into the study [methamphetamine using (n = 30) and non-methamphetamine using (n = 20)]. Each group was assessed upon entrance to treatment in the following domains: cognitive functioning, severity of psychosocial problems related to substance use, psychological status, personality characteristics, and etiology of addiction.  Individuals were assessed one month later to determine response to treatment, as measured by changes in psychological functioning and substance use.  Results indicated no differences between groups on the variables of interest; therefore the hypotheses were not substantiated.  Methamphetamine users tended to be younger, have less years of education, and have worse cognitive impairment than a normative reference group.  Possible reasons for nonsignificant findings are discussed, specifically participants’ status in jail or prison before treatment and how that related to high rates of abstinence in the sample.  Implications for future research in controlled environments are discussed.

Return to Psychology Colloquia

last revised 29 August 2006

Department of Psychology Main Site | The University of Montana Main Site