Attention Problems and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Methamphetamine Users: Implications for Treatment

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive psychostimulant drug with dramatic effects on attention. Impaired attention is a serious health concern among regular methamphetamine users especially when they are referred to cognitive-behavioural therapy. This review summarizes evidence that problems in different aspects of attention can significantly persist into abstinence and recovery. Continued problems in sustained attention, selective attention, focused attention, divided attention and alternating attention could result in treatment failure and returning to regular methamphetamine use. Impaired attention could prevent the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy which is the most common method to treat regular methamphetamine use. The continuity of attention problems especially in cognitive-behavioural therapy should be considered as a potential target for treatment. Rehabilitating attention including using environmental modification and support, attention process training, self-management strategies, orienting procedures, and psychosocial support may contribute to treating attention problems among regular methamphetamine users in cognitive-behavioural therapy. This issue may also increase treatment adherence and outcomes. No single technique of rehabilitation is universally accepted for treating attention problems in regular methamphetamine users but long-term attention rehabilitation is required in cognitive-behavioural therapy. Applying attention rehabilitation techniques could be associated with improved functioning in attention on a day-today basis as well as engagement of regular methamphetamine patients in cognitive-behavioural therapy. Attention rehabilitation techniques should be used as adjunct treatment services during implementing cognitive-behavioural therapy for regular methamphetamine users. Nonetheless, further studies on the effectiveness of the available attention rehabilitation techniques for regular methamphetamine users are still suggested.