Dataset Information

Neurocognitive function and medical care utilization in Veterans treated for substance use disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Veterans with substance use disorder (SUD) are at high risk for cognitive problems due to neurotoxic effects of chronic drug and alcohol use coupled in many cases with histories of traumatic brain injury (TBI). These problems may in turn result in proneness to SUD relapse and reduced adherence to medical self-care regimens and therefore reliance on health care systems. However, the direct relationship between cognitive function and utilization of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) SUD and other VHA health care services has not been evaluated. We sought initial evidence as to whether neurocognitive performance relates to repeated health care engagement in Veterans as indexed by estimated VHA care costs.

Methods

Neurocognitive performance in 76 Veterans being treated for SUD was assessed using CNS-Vital Signs, a commercial computerized cognitive testing battery, and related to histories of outpatient and inpatient/residential care costs as estimated by the VHA Health Economics Resource Center.

Results

After controlling for age, an aggregate metric of overall neurocognitive performance (Neurocognition Index) correlated negatively with total VHA health care costs, particularly with SUD-related outpatient care costs but also with non-mental health-related care costs. Barratt Impulsiveness Scale scores also correlated positively with total VHA care costs.

Conclusions

In Veterans receiving SUD care, higher impulsivity and lower cognitive performance were associated with greater health care utilization within the VHA system. This suggests that veterans with SUD who show lower neurocognitive performance are at greater risk for continued health problems that require healthcare engagement. Cognitive rehabilitation programs developed for brain injury and other neurological conditions could be tried in Veterans with SUD to improve their health outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Bjork JM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11363532 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Neurocognitive function and medical care utilization in Veterans treated for substance use disorder.

Bjork James M JM Reisweber Jarrod J Perrin Paul B PB Plonski Paul E PE Dismuke-Greer Clara E CE

Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy 20240830 1

<h4>Background</h4>Veterans with substance use disorder (SUD) are at high risk for cognitive problems due to neurotoxic effects of chronic drug and alcohol use coupled in many cases with histories of traumatic brain injury (TBI). These problems may in turn result in proneness to SUD relapse and reduced adherence to medical self-care regimens and therefore reliance on health care systems. However, the direct relationship between cognitive function and utilization of Veterans Health Administration ...[more]

PMID: 39215320

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Dataset Information

Neurocognitive function and medical care utilization in Veterans treated for substance use disorder.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Neurocognitive function and medical care utilization in Veterans treated for substance use disorder.

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