Variation in neurophysiological function and evidence of quantitative electroencephalogram discordance: predicting cocaine-dependent treatment attrition

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006 Spring;18(2):208-16. doi: 10.1176/jnp.2006.18.2.208.

Abstract

Cocaine treatment trials suffer from a high rate of attrition. We examined pretreatment neurophysiological factors to identify participants at greatest risk. Twenty-five participants were divided into concordant and discordant groups following electroencephalogram (EEG) measures recorded prior to a double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment trial. Three possible outcomes were examined: successful completion, dropout, and removal. Concordant (high perfusion correlate) participants had an 85% rate of successful completion, while discordant participants had a 15% rate of successful completion. Twenty-five percent of dropouts and 50% of participants removed were discordant (low perfusion correlate), while only 25% of those who completed were discordant. Failure to complete the trial was not explained by depression, craving, benzoylecgonine levels or quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) power; thus cordance may help identify attrition risk.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Cerebral Cortex / blood supply*
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Electroencephalography / statistics & numerical data*
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Neuroprotective Agents / administration & dosage
  • Patient Dropouts* / psychology
  • Patient Dropouts* / statistics & numerical data
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Risk Assessment
  • Selegiline / administration & dosage
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Selegiline