There are 80.000 patients undergoing replacement opiate programs in Spain, mainly methadone. Gender differences and the ratio of dual diagnosis in this population are unknown.

To describe gender differences in the current therapeutic management of opiate-dependent patients undergoing a replacement therapy program in Spain.

624 patients from 74 centers in Spain were included between September 2008 and February 2009 in an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study. Patients were ≥ 18 years, had a diagnosis of opiate dependence according to DSM-IV-TR criteria, were currently scheduled in a replacement therapy program in Spain and were given written informed consent.

Only 16% of patients were female. Methadone average doses were significantly higher in man (57,59mg ± (SD 46,77) vs 52,81mg ± (SD 50,81) (p< 0.05)). Most women were caretaken by their partner (56.8% vs 34,2%) and man by their parents (61,6% vs 37,8) p< 0,05.Women were found to have significantly more sexual disorders than men (6% versus 2%; p=0.0316); but less delirium, dementia, amnesic and other cognitive disorders (none versus 6%; p=0.0486); schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (3% versus 13%; p=0.0226); and adaptive disorders (2% versus 9%; 0.0427). No significant differences were found between sexes for other psychiatric comorbidities.

The ratio between men and women was close to 5/1, being bigger than that in the general opiate dependent Spanish population. Dual diagnosis rates vary by gender, but not in the number of diagnosis in Axis I or II. Gender differences must be considered when planning dependence services as women.

Drug substance abuse has been related with chronic insomnia and other sleep disorders that are thought to interfere in detoxification treatment and relapse induction. These disorders can persist after drug detoxification.

To describe sleep disorders refered by drug dependents patients in an inpatient detoxification unit.

We prospectively studied drug dependents patients admitted to our Detoxification Unit from January 2005 to March 2009. The first night, patients were asked to complete an 11-item questionnaire measure designed to assess the relationship between sleep disorders and drug use. Responses ranged from 1 to 7. The questionnaire measured the following:

1. a) insomnia before hospitalization;

2. b) patients’ beliefs about the relationship between insomnia and drug use;

3. c) insomnia in previous detoxifications;

4. d) patients’ worry about insomnia;

5. e) treatment of sleep disorder with benzodiazepines.

The study sample included 150 patients (75.3% men). 39% of the patients suffered from alcohol abuse, 34.67% from cocaine abuse, 22.67% from opiod abuse, 21% from cannabis abuse, 18% from benzodiazepine abuse, and 12.67% of patients were polydrug users.Lifetime prevalence of sleep disorders was 68.1%. 64% had suffered insomnia the months previous to detoxification. 80.1% of patients’ refered sleep disorders in relationship with substance abuse. 69.4% were worried about insomnia during detoxification. 75.4% of patients took benzodiazepines without prescription.

Sleep disorders in patients with drug abuse are frequent. A high prevalence of patients having worries about insomnia during the detoxification treatment and believing in a relationship between their sleep disorders and the drug abuse was found.

We aimed to study the relationship between impulsivity and the addiction severity in 3 groups of outpatients attending our clinic, through the Barrat Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) and the standarized, semistructured interview EuropAsi.

174 outpatients were analized (82.6% men, 113 cocaine-dependent as main drug (mean age 32.71 y.o. (31.45–33.96)), 43 cocaine and heroin-dependent (mean age 36.68 y.o. (33.52–39.85)) and 18 heroin dependent (mean age 37.94 (32.71–41.50)). 26.3% were cannabis-dependent and 10.9% abused of Cannabis. Statistical analysis used was the Kruskal-Wallis Test.

Differences in motor impulsivity were found between the 2 groups with cocaine dependency and the only heroin-dependent (mean = 20.59, ST ± 7.7 and mean = 17.11, ST ± 7.3, respectively; W: .019). EuropASI, showed intergroup differences in the medical, use of alcohol and legal areas. In the medical area the most affected were the heroin dependent group (mean score = .40), followed by cocaine and heroin group (mean score = .27) and the cocaine-dependent (Mean = .10). In the use of alcohol area the most affected were the cocaine group (Mean = .16) followed by the cocaine and heroin-dependent (mean = .11) and heroin dependent (Mean = .06). In the legal area the most affected were the the cocaine and heroin-dependent (Mean =.22) followed by heroin-dependent (Mean = .09) and cocaine-dependent (Mean = .07).

Patients suffering from stimulant dependency alone or together with heroin dependency show different impulsivity levels. The addiction severity varies depending on the substance of abuse. Treatment programs should be designed attending patients’ needs.

Polyfarmacy is frequent in patients with dual diagnosis.

To quantify the number and describe the treatments prescribed in a cohort of outpatients with dual diagnosis.

A descriptive and transversal study was performed. Patients with dual diagnosis treated at an Outpatient Drug Treatment Center from January 2005 to December 2009 were included. Data from demographic, clinical and therapeutical variables were gathered once. The instruments used for the diagnosis were EuropASI y SCID-I. The number and type of prescript drugs were related with protocol variables.

The study sample included 80 patients (71,6% men, average age 37,2 ± 9). Psychotic disorders (46.8%) and cocaine dependence/abuse (34.6%) were the most frequent comorbid psychiatric illnesses found. 40.8% of patients were polydrug users. The mean of prescript drugs was 3,06 ± 1,4 and only 14% of patients were on monotherapy. The frequency of drugs prescribed was: 68,4% antidepressant, 63,3% antipsychotic, 55,7% antiepileptic and 36,7% anxiolytic drugs. Older patients ( > 45years) took a major number of prescripted drugs (3,88 ± 1,1). Patients with psychotic disorders took the 43.9% of drugs prescripted (p = 0,042). Patients with benzodiazepine abuse took higher number of prescription drugs (5 ± 1,4;p = 0,003) compared with patients with other dependence or abuse.

Patients with dual diagnosis take high quantity of drugs. Older patients, diagnosis of psychosis and benzodiacepine abuse were related with polydrug prescription. Quantification of medication is recommended for treatment optimisation and avoiding yatrogenic.

Many risk factors for cocaine-induced psychosis (CIP)in cocaine-dependent patient (CDP) have been described although there not exactly known. Differences in the personality traits or disorders in CDP with or without CIP has been described. However, there are few studies studding the relationship between CIP and personality with a dimensional approach in order to clarify if there are any personal dimension related with CIP or/and personality disorders (PD) in CDP.

This study the relationship between CIP and personality trails evaluates with ZKPQ, and attempted to identify any personality dimension as a risk factors for CIP.

We performed a cross-sectional, observational study in 260 (75.5% man, 36.5 y.o) CDP according DSM-IV-TR seeking treatment between May 2009 and April 2013. The SCID-I, SCID–II, ZKPQ and a structured interview about CIP were performed.

CIP was reported for 66.4% of the patients. Patients with CIP had an earlier onset of cocaine dependence (p<0.05). Any PD was identified in 46.9% of the sample. Patients with CIP were diagnosed with ASPD more frequently (28.9% vs. 15.6%, X2=9.9, p<0.05). ZKPQ mean were: Sociability (6.3± 3.6), Neuroticism-Anxiety (10.8± 4.8), Impulsive Sensation Seeking (10.8±4.5), Aggression Hostility (9.06±3.2) and Activity (8.3±3.4). Patients with CIP presented higher scores in Neuroticism-Anxiety (11,4±4,7 vs. 9,6±5, t=2.7, p<0.05) and Aggression-Hostility (9,4±3,1 vs. 9,4±3,1, t=2.3, p<0.05) than patients without CIP.

The detection of high scores of neuroticism-anxiety and aggression-hostility trails should lead to evaluate the presence of CIP in CDP in order to alert them of the risk of develop CIP.

It's known that adherence to treatment is a key factor in the treatment of addictions. The presence of comorbid substance dependence disorder and other psychiatric disorder is very high. Comorbid psychiatric disorders interfere with adherence to drug treatment and detoxification.

To analyze the percentage of patients who had a voluntary discharge to Hospital Detoxification Unit and to describe sociodemographic, clinical and diagnostic test characteristics.

We descriptively studied drug dependents patients admitted to our Detoxification Unit from June 2008 to August 2012. Data was gathered at admission on demographic (age), clinical (main abused drug, psychiatric comorbidities, polydrug users, binge consumption previous intake) and alcoholtest and/or urinalysis. Results from patients with and without voluntary discharge were compared.

The study sample included 469 patients (77.7% men, average age 38.3 ± 9). 10.7% of the patients had voluntary discharge. We found significant differences between voluntary discharge and the non-voluntary discharge group on younger people (37,6 vs 40,42,p < 0,05), on heroine as main drug of abuse (40% vs 13,4%, p < 0,0001) and psychiatric comorbidities (60,8% vs 39,2%,p = 0,02), being psychotic disorders (26% vs 13,6%,p < 0,02) and borderline personality disorder (56% vs 29,4%,p < 0,0001) the most significant. Also patients who had binge consumption previous intake (84% vs 56.6%,p < 0.0001) and patients with positive urinalysis(84% vs 58.2%,p < 0.0001) had more voluntary discharge. Patients with comorbid depressive disorders had non-voluntary discharge(6% vs 18.4%,p < 0.02).

Few patients had a voluntary discharge. Younger people, opiate dependence, having psychotic and borderline personality co morbidity, binge consumption previous intake and positive urinalysis might be considered as risk factors for voluntary discharge.

The objective of our study is to describe the prevalence of insomnia during active consumption and hospitalisation for detoxification, and its influence on relapses at 3 and 6 months in drug-dependent patients.

We conducted a prospective study of drug-dependence inpatients admitted to the hospital detoxification unit between June 2008 and November 2012, and performed psychiatric follow-up on an outpatient basis over the six months following discharge. Insomnia prior to admission was measured by clinical interview from the patient concerning sleep habits, and during hospital stay using a sleep log filled out by nurse team. Demographic, clinical and diagnostic variables were recorded and a structured clinical interview (SCID) was conducted to assess psychiatric diagnoses. Relapse was deemed to be renewed use of the substance that brought about admission, which was assessed by alcohol testing and/or urinalysis.

We included 434 patients. Insomnia during consumption was reported by 64.3% of patients and 66.1% reported insomnia during hospital stay. Of the patients with preadmission insomnia, 68.3% relapsed at 3 months from discharge, as did 71% of patients with insomnia during hospital stay. Patients who relapsed at 3 months of follow-up showed significantly greater sleep initiation dysfunction prior to and during hospitalisation. Of the patients with preadmission insomnia, 69.2% had relapsed at 6 months from discharge. Patients who relapsed at 6 months of follow-up showed significantly greater sleep initiation dysfunction and global insomnia prior to and during hospitalisation.

Sleep disorders should be study as a prognostic factor in drugdependent patients.

Cocaine induced psychosis (CIP) is common but not developed in all cases. Many risk factors have been linked with CIP. A lifetime diagnosis of ADHD has been associated with the categorical presence of CIP.

The objective of this study is to determinate the relationship between impulsivity and impulsivity-realetd disorders (BPD, BN and ADHD) and CIP.

We study the presence of psychotic symptoms using a clinical interview for psychotic symptoms in a large sample of cocaine-dependent patients. Patients suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar disorders were excluded. Finally we included 287 patients in the study.

A structured interview about psychotic symptoms were systematically conducted. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis I and Axis II disorders were used in order to identify the comorbidity. CAADID-II (Conners’ Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV) were used in order to identify ADHD comorbidity. Barrat impulsivity scale were used for evaluate impulsivity.

BIS total were 63.78. We identify a significant association between CIP and BIS cognitive subscale p < 0.003 and BIS total p < 0.021. We also identify a significant association between CIP and adult ADHD in cocaine-dependent patients p < .0.002. We fail to identify association between CIP and BPD and BN.

CIP is related with BIS cognitive subscale and BIS total scores, and with ADHD comorbidity in cocaine-dependent patients. As well these findings could be useful for a clinical approach to the risks of psychotic states in cocaine-dependent patients.

Little is known about medical students’ interest in their training on drug addiction, their personal experience of consumption and whether these aspects influence the detection of addiction in patients.

To study the interest of medical students enrolled on the psychiatry course in the area of addictions, and evaluate the influence of such interest, a history of personal consumption and gender on the detection of addiction in patients.

Voluntary participation was offered to all students from academic years 2008–2009 to 2012–2013. Of the 505 potential students, 336 questionnaires were collected, of which 71.13% were female.

Of the respondents, 88.5% considered that drug dependence issues are important to their professional future and 63% that the approach to drug-related diseases is important. A total of 34% of the students had already assessed addicted patients in their previous clinical training. The students report consuming alcohol(69%), cigarettes(19.5%) and illegal drugs(15.8%). The female students consumed fewer illegal drugs than the men(p0.022) and more frequently considered that the list of topics to be covered was appropriate(p0.021). The male students consumed more illegal drugs more frequently(p 0.005), knew more consumers(p 0.023), and those who drink alcohol consumed more illegal drugs than women(p < 0.005). However, the men seemed to have assessed fewer addicted patients in their previous clinical experience(p0.094).

Consumption among medical students may have a normalizing role on consumption and prevent the detection of addicts. It is important to educate and raise awareness on drugs, as this may influence detection. The focus should be particularly on the male group.

Substance-dependent patients(SDP) have more personality disorders(PD) than general population; and they present more frequent and severe levels of depression and anxiety.

To study cluster C personality disorders in SDP.

We included a clinical sample of 822(621 males) SDP according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria seeking treatment in the Outpatient Drug Clinic Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain.

The assessment process consisted of three interview sessions conducted by trained psychiatrists and psychologists using SCID I and II, BDI, STAI-R/S. Exclusion criteria were:intoxication at baseline examination, severe somatic disease at baseline examination and low language proficiency.

39.2% of the sample presented at least one PD and 9.55% presented a cluster C PD. Of them the found prevalence were Avoidant(44.9%), Dependt(11.5%), Obssessive-compulsive(37.2%), comorbidity (6.4%). The addiction prevalences that Cluster C PD patients show were: dependent of alcohol 9.4%, benzodiazepines 18.5%, opioids 6.1%, cocaine 9.7 and cannabis 12.3%.

70.5% of the PD cluster C group were men, however differences according to the cluster C PD were found, being higher the proportion of men in Obsessive-compulsive PD (85.7%) and fewer in Dependent PD patients (33.7%)(χ2 =12.19, p = .007).

Cluster C PD patients presented more depressive symptoms and showed higher scores in anxiety-trait than patient with Cluster A or B PD, being this difference statistically significant.

There is a high rate of cluster C personality disorders among addicted patients. Higher levels of anxiety depression are detected in these patients. Clinicians should be check systematically this symptoms and traits in addicted patients.

Sleep disturbances have been described in drugdependent patients and mainly, in alcoholics. Few studies describe the hypnotic treatment used in this setting.

Describe the prevalence of insomnia in drugdependent inpatients. Describe the hypnotic treatment, according to the substance abuse and the psychiatric comorbidity.

Descriptive study performed in drugdependent inpatients between June, 2008 and August, 2011. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders was obtained in order to ensure the clinical diagnosis. Hypnotic treatment was dispensed to those patients who complain of insomnia according to the Psychiatric prescription. Demographic data, type of abuse drug and the hypnotic dispensed was obtained.

298 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria (71.8% men, 39.22 ± 10.13 years). The principal substances of consumption were stimulants(36.2%), followed by alcohol(34.9%), heroine(14.4%), cannabis(9.4%) and benzodiazepines(5%). 60.4% of the patients complained of insomnia during the hospital admission. The most used drugs for insomnia were mirtazapine(19.8%), trazodone(14.8%), quetiapine(14.1%), clotiapine(7.4%) and olanzapine(4.4%). Alcohol, cocaine and benzodiazepines addicted patients were treated with antidepressants as mirtazapine(17.3%, 18.5% and 40% respectively); heroin addicts were treated with antipsychotic drugs as quetiapine(27.9%). Cannabis addicts took antidepressant and antipsychotic (mirtazapine (21.4%) and olanzapine(21.4%))

61.7% of the patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria of dual diagnosis. Patients with psychotic disorder used quetiapine(17.4%); those with depressive and bipolar disorder were treated with trazodone(30.2% and 33.3% respectively), those who complain of anxious disorder and personality disorder took mirtazapine(50% and 17.4% respectively).

Sleep disturbances are frequent in drugdependent inpatients. Mirtazapine was the most frequently used drug to treat insomnia.

Drug use among medical students is partially unknown. However, consumption among medical students may have a similar role if compared with the rest of population.

To study drugs use among medical students comparing gender and evolution on drugs use.

Students enrolled in the fifth year of the medical studies at the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, from the course 2008-2009 to 2014-2015, were offered the chance to participate voluntarily in the study.

The students agreed to participate anonymously in a survey filled in during the beginning days of the psychiatry classes. They were asked about their drug consumption, including legal drugs (alcohol and tobacco) and illegal drugs. During the seven study years, 469 questionnaires were collected (74.1% of women) and mean age was 22.77 (20-35) yearsold.

The students reported consuming alcohol (66.7%; 65.5% women, 70.4% men), tobacco (18.6%; 18.1% women, 20% men) and illegal drugs (15.1%; 12.4% women, 22.8% men). The female students consumed fewer illegal drugs than the men (p 0.008) as showed above. Comparing 2008/2009 and 2014/2015 courses, the consumption was: alcohol 75.5% and 65.7%, tobacco 24.5% and 13.2% and illegal drugs 22.4% and 14.7%.

Drug consumption is an important problem among medicalstudents who will becomeprescribing doctors in a few months after the survey. There is a decreased tendency to use illegal drugs. Due to the gender differences on illegal drug use a special focus must be placed on the male group.

Cocaine consumption can induce transient psychotic symptoms. Cocaine induced psychosis (CIP) is common but not developed in all cases. However, prevalence and clinical features are not well known. In psychiatry settings different studies have reported prevalence ranging between 29%–86.5%.There are few samples including more than 150 patients for studding this topic.

The objective of this study is to determinate the CIP prevalence and the most prevalent psychotic symptoms.

We study presence of psychotic symptoms using a clinical interview for psychotic symptoms in a large sample of 287 cocaine-dependent patients.

We study the presence of psychotic symptoms using a clinical interview for psychotic symptoms in a large sample of cocainedependent patients. Patients suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar disorders were excluded. Finally we included 287 patients in the study. (80.8% men and 35.77 yo).

A structured interview were systematically conducted. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis I and Axis II disorders were used in order to identify the comorbidity.

Psychotic symptoms were detected in 59.9% of the sample. The most frequent symptoms reported lifetime was suspiciousness 38.6% and paranoid beliefs 27.2% Auditory hallucinations were reported by 23.6%, visual hallucinations by 13.3%, and kinesthetic hallucinations by 7.8%. Motor alterations were not evaluated.

Our dates confirm previous study. CIP prevalence is high. Motor alterations were not evaluated, so symptoms could be underestimated. Identifying this kind of symptoms can be useful in order to minimize risks of psychotic states for the patients or others.

The aim of this study is to describe the features of cocaine-dependent patients who have had cocaine-induced tactile/somatic hallucinations (CITSH), and to analyze the association with addiction-related variables and psychiatric comorbidity, comparing patients with CITSH, patients with cocaine psychotic symptoms (CIP) and no CITSH, and patients without any psychotic symptom.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 767 cocaine-dependent patients in an outpatient treatment center for addictions. The following data were obtained: sociodemographic characteristics, CIP information, addiction-related variables and psychiatric comorbidity. A bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed.

Of the whole sample, 6.6% reported CITSH at some point of their lives, 48.4% had suffered some CIP other than CITSH, and 45% had not experienced any psychotic symptom. According to multivariate analysis, risk of overdose increases by 12.1 (OR) times the probability of having had CITSH compared patients with CIP-no-CITSH. Other variables associated to patients with CITSH were: age of drug use onset, presence of episodes of overdose, prevalence of psychotic disorder induced by cocaine. In general, in all variables studied, patients with CITSH presented worse clinical features (addiction variables and psychiatric comorbidity) than patients with CIP without CITSH and non-CIP group.

CITSH are usually associated with other psychotic symptoms induced by cocaine. The patients who experienced CITSH are more severe cases compared both with patients with CIP without CITSH and patients without CIP. Increased risk of overdose is an important issue in this type of patients.

Legal and illegal drugs can cause psychotic symptoms, in cocaine-dependent patients the prevalence of these symptoms may reach 86% (Vorspan, 2012). It is estimated that 13–32% of cocaine-dependent patients have kinaesthetic hallucinations (Siegel, 1978; Mahoney, 2008; Roncero, 2012).

To compare the prevalence of substance-induced psychotic symptoms and compare the use of welfare/social resources and social adjustment among cocaine-dependent patients (CD) and other substances dependences (OtherD).

Two hundred and six patients seeking treatment at the Addictions and Dual Diagnosis Unit of the Vall d’Hebron. Patients were assessed by ad hoc questionnaire designed to collect demographic data and psychotic symptoms associated with consumption, a record of the care/social resources used by the patient and the scale of social adaptation (SASS). A descriptive and bivariate analysis of the data was performed.

CD were 47.1% vs. 52.9% OtherD (66.1% alcohol, 17.4% cannabis, 8.3% opioid, 8.3% benzodiazepines/other drugs). Of cocaine dependent-patients, 65.6% present psychotic symptoms vs. 32.1% for the OtherD. Different exhibiting psychotic symptoms are: self-referential (69.7% vs. 30.7%), delusions of persecution (43.4% vs. 12.2%), hallucinations (49.4% vs. 14.3%), auditory hallucinations (43.5% vs. 11.4%), visual hallucinations (30.4% vs. 5.7%) and kinaesthetic hallucinations (7.2% vs. 2.9%).

Cocaine-dependent patients significantly use more health care resources in reference addiction unit (76.3% vs. 62.4%, P:.035) and infectious diseases (22.7% vs. 5.5%, P:.000) and justice-related (50.5% vs. 26 resources 0.6%; P:1.001) and less resources and mental health (25.8% vs. 43.1%; P:.013).

Regarding social adaptation, no differences were found in the SASS. Kinaesthetic hallucinations do not appear to be related to a greater use of resources and in social adaptation.

References not available.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Accident rate have a high social cost. Cocaine consumption increases the risk of traffic crashes (Monras, 2011; Fierro, 2011). However, there is not extensively studies in addicts.

Compare and analyze the history of accidents and risk behaviors while driving in cocaine dependent patients (DC) and of other substances (OtherD).

One hundred and eighty-two patients seeking treatment since January 2014 to September 2015. Sociodemographic and accident-related variables were collected, also administered the MDBQ. Descriptive analysis and bivariate analysis using Chi-square test for categorical variables and Student t test was performed for quantitative.

Of women, 30.3%, and 69.7% men, mean age 43.67 years (SD = 13). 65.6% currently driving or above. 45.2% DC vs. 54.8 DOther (35.6% alcohol, cannabis 8.3%, 5.8% opioid and 5.1% other drugs).

Comparing accident rate on the DC is a tendency to have suffered more accidents (χ2: 2.62 P=.072). Patients addicted to cocaine referred further potentially dangerous activities both under the influence of consumption (65.9% vs. 33.3%) and abstinence (41.7% vs. 12%).

As for the results of MDBQ, it has been detected that cocaine addicts show more errors and traffic violations. No differences in the lapses identified by patients of different groups.

Patients with cocaine dependence have more accidents, reduced risk perception and recognize more mistakes and traffic violations. Cocaine implies a high risk of road accidents and exposure to high-risk situations compared to the use of other substances.

References not available.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Substance use disorder is a growing phenomenon among old adults. It is usually significantly undervalued, misidentified, under diagnosed and poorly treated. It has been related to cognitive impairment but there are few studies focused on the elderly.

To evaluate the relationship between drug use and cognitive impairment in old adults.

We conducted a prospective study (basal and 6 month follow up) in 67 patients over 65 years old seeking for treatment for drug misuse (alcohol and prescription drugs, mainly benzodiacepines) in addiction and dual diagnosis unit in Barcelona. A specific protocol was performed to evaluate attention, executive function, working memory, learning capacity, fonetic and visual fluency, decision-making, visual construction and cognitive flexibility (FCT, CPT-II, N-BACK, COWAT FAS, TAP, SDMT, IGT, CVLT, TOL, RFFT, STROOP). Patients were compared with a control group (healthy non drug users) with same characteristics (gender, age range and education status). The protocol consisted in two separated sessions of 90 minutes each one performed by a neuropsychologist.

Results obtained suggested that patients under drug misuse had worse scores in fluency, visual construction, memory and attention compared with controls. After 6 month treatment and achieving abstinence patients improve in cognitive skills as verbal learning, short-term memory and free recall of verbal information. Cognitive impairment profile changes depending on the substance abused (alcohol or benzodiacepines).

Drug use can produce deleterious effects in old adults. However, those who achieve abstinence may improve some cognitive functioning as verbal learning, short-term memory and free recall of verbal information.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.