P-1121 - Effect of a Single Therapeutic Dose of Methadone on Hand-eye Coordination and Motor Learning in Opioid-addicted Subjects

Abstract

Introduction

Various psychomotor dysfunction are observed in opioid-addicted patients. Therefore it is important to determine the effect of psychoactive substance administered therapeutically in substitution therapy.

Aims

This study aims to assess the impact of a single therapeutic dose of methadone on hand-eye coordination and motor learning in opioid-addicted patients treated in substitution therapy.

Methods

Was examined 72 patients and 60 healthy subjects. The Pursuit Rotor Task (PRT) was used. The PRT was conducted twice: before and about 1 hour after administration of methadone in the opioid-addicted patients and at an about 1 hour interval in the control group. The study was performed for both the dominant and non-dominant hand.

Results

The statistical significantly (p < 0.05) influence of administration of methadone on the growth of motor control and to reduce the tremor of high amplitude and increase low-amplitude tremor was found. The opioid-addicted individuals have obtained more than 50% lower scores on psychomotor performance in hand-eye coordination task compared to the healthy subjects. The dynamics of motor learning in opioid-addicted individuals is similar to the healthy subjects and tends to go up, but without reaching a stable level of learning like was observed in the healthy subjects. In the opioid-addicted patients compared to persons from the control group there are more tremors of high amplitude and low frequency and fewer tremors of low amplitude and high frequency.

Conclusions

Administration of a single therapeutic dose of methadone in opioid-addicted patients may reduce high amplitude tremor and improve hand-eye coordination.