Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo 2011 Volume 139, Issue 1-2, Pages: 69-75
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1102069M
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Reaction time in relation to duration of heroin abuse
Martinović-Mitrović Slađana (Klinika za psihijatriju, Klinički centar Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Dickov Aleksandra (Klinika za psihijatriju, Klinički centar Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Mitrović Dragan (Klinika za psihijatriju, Klinički centar Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Dickov Veselin (Fakultet za internacionalni menadžment, Evropski univerzitet, Beograd)
Jovanović Mirjana 
(Klinika za psihijatriju, Klinički centar Kragujevac, Kragujevac)
Petrović Dušan (Klinika za psihijatriju, Klinički centar Kragujevac, Kragujevac)
Introduction. Consequences of heroin abuse include organic damage of cerebral
structures. The level of impairments is in a direct and positive relation
with the length of heroin abuse. Objective. The aim of this research was the
evaluation of the reaction time with heroin addicts with different length of
substance abuse. Methods. Research method: 90 examinees were divided into
three groups with relation to the length of heroin abuse. Data collection
included a questionnaire referring to socio-demographic and addictive
characteristics. A specially designed programme was used for the evaluation
of reaction time to audio/ visual signal. Results. In relation to the
reaction time as overall model, the difference between examinees with
different length of heroin abuse can be found on the marginal level of
significance (F=1.69; df=12; p=0.07). In visual modality, with the increase
of length of heroin abuse leads to a significant prolongation of simple (the
first visual sign: F=3.29; df=2; p=0.04) and choice reaction time (the second
visual sign: F=4.97; df=2; p=0.00; the third visual sign: F=3.08; df=2;
p=0.05). Longer heroin consumption also leads to the prolongation of the
simple (the first auditory task: F=3.41; df=2; p=0.04) and the complex
auditory reaction time (the second auditory task: F=5.67; df=2; p=0.01; the
third auditory task: F=6.42; df=2; p=0.00). Conclusion. Heroin abuse leads to
the prolongation of both simple and choice reaction time in visual as well as
auditory modality. The average daily dose of opiates was the most important
predictor of the abovementioned cognitive dysfunction.
Keywords: reaction time, heroin, addiction disorders
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