Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Journal

en Attention Deficits in Chronic Methamphetamine Users as a Potential Target for Enhancing Treatment Efficacy Cellular and molecular Neuroscience Cellular and molecular Neuroscience Original Original Methamphetamine (MA) is a potent, addictive psychostimulant that has dramatic effects on the central nervous system (CNS). The onset of methamphetamine use has been linked to heightened attention, and chronic methamphetamine use has been associated with deficits in different aspects of attention that can significantly persist into abstinence. Attention deficits in chronic methamphetamine users may be associated with severity of methamphetamine use, craving, relapse, and as a result, poor treatment outcomes. This review summarizes evidence that the continuity of attention deficits, especially during abstinence, should be considered as a potential target during methamphetamine use treatment. Implementing attention rehabilitation techniques during treatment may enhance motivation for treatment in chronic methamphetamine users, and may facilitate treatment adherence, craving control and promote relapse prevention. This issue has important clinical implications for enhancing treatment efficacy and as a result, increasing treatment outcomes. Methamphetamine, Attention Deficits, Abstinence, Treatment Efficacy 5 14 http://bcn.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-114&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zahra Alam Mehrjerdi 1370031947532846002035 1370031947532846002035 No Alireza Noroozi 1370031947532846002036 1370031947532846002036 No Alasdair M. Barr 1370031947532846002037 1370031947532846002037 No Hamed Ekhtiari 1370031947532846002038 1370031947532846002038 Yes