The paper sums up the most interesting results of a seven-year follow-up of the patients dependent on methamphetamine at the Dpt. of Psychiatry in Hradec Kralove. One hundred and twenty-three patients entered the study.
Their average age was 24 years. The average duration of methamphetamine abuse was 7 years.
We did not prove the assocication of methamphetamine abuse with the Val158Met COMT gene polymorphism. The personality of the patients is typical with increased novelty seeking, harm avoidance and self-transcendence as against healthy people.
We found a cognitive weakening in the patients. The test results also evidence for a cognitive impulsivity in the patients.