Integrating Cognitive Dysfunction Accommodation Strategies Into Behavioral Interventions for Persons on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

Testing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of integrating accommodation strategies into an HIV prevention intervention for people who inject drugs with cognitive dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Cognitive profiles of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) limit patients' ability to learn, retain, and recall HIV prevention information. It also limits adherence to medications, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Cognitive dysfunction accommodation strategies have shown promise at reducing HIV-related risk behaviors among individuals with OUD and increasing adherence to PrEP. This study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of integrating accommodation strategies into a behavioral HIV prevention intervention.

METHODS

This 2-arm single blind study provided 50 people who inject drugs (PWID) with OUD linkage to PrEP services and randomized them to a 4-week HIV prevention intervention condition. The active control condition received the HIV prevention intervention as treatment per usual, while the experimental condition received the enhanced HIV prevention intervention with added accommodation strategies. Participants completed acceptability ratings of intervention content and accommodation strategies post-intervention; feasibility was measured via participant recruitment and retention. HIV risk reduction information, motivation, and behavior (IMB) assessments and HIV risk reduction skills assessments were completed pre/post-intervention. Participants also completed weekly PrEP adherence assessments.

RESULTS

The intervention content received a high acceptability rating (89 %). Intervention feasibility was deemed acceptable, with 80 % of participants completing all study protocols. The accommodation strategies integrated into the HIV prevention sessions were also endorsed by 92 % of participants. Participants in the experimental condition had significant increases in retention and recall of how to perform HIV risk reduction skills including how to properly clean a syringe (p = 0.048) and how to accurately apply a female condom (p = 0.025), compared to the control condition. Weekly PrEP adherence was reported by the three (7.5 %) participants who indicated taking PrEP throughout the study. All three participants reported missing doses throughout each of the 4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study highlight the potential for integrating accommodation strategies into behavioral HIV prevention interventions to reduce the risk of HIV among PWID. Future research is needed to evaluate the use of such strategies by larger and diverse samples of PWID, as well as whether accommodation strategies enable the retention and recall of HIV prevention information and HIV prevention skills over longer periods of time.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial has been retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on June 12, 2023. (NCT05912374).

Is Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Effective for Cognitive Dysfunction in Substance Use Disorders? A Systematic Review

Patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) often suffer from cognitive dysfunction (CD), affecting their quality of life and daily functioning. Current treatments, including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, have limited efficacy and notable side effects. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive technique that modulates cortical activity, shows promise in improving cognitive function with minimal side effects and low cost, and could potentially serve as a valuable adjunct to existing therapies. This systematic review aims to evaluate the literature on the effectiveness of tDCS for CD in SUD patients to inform clinical practice and future research. Following PRISMA guidelines, the review includes studies that used tDCS for SUD-related CD. The criteria for inclusion encompassed participants aged 18 and older with a diagnosis of SUD, the use of tDCS (either conventional or high-definition), control groups receiving sham stimulation or no intervention, and cognitive outcome measures for substance-related cognitive function using validated tools. Databases searched were Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and PsycINFO, with specific keywords. Twenty-two studies met the criteria, suggesting tDCS can improve cognitive functions in SUD patients, though results varied. Effectiveness may depend on the brain area targeted, stimulation parameters, task requirements, and individual differences. tDCS shows potential in treating SUD-related CD, but further research is needed to optimize stimulation protocols and address study variability. Future studies should use functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the brain mechanisms by which tDCS improves cognitive function in SUDs and focus on larger, long-term trials to confirm efficacy and refine tDCS treatment parameters.

Social and cognitive determinants of medications for opioid use disorder outcomes: A systematic review using a social determinants of health framework

Disparities exist in the engagement and success of individuals seeking medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment. Existing work suggests that individual-level factors such as cognitive functioning influence MOUD treatment, less is known about the role of environmental factors beyond the individual such as social determinants of health (SDOH). The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the literature of neuropsychological assessment in the context of MOUD treatment using an SDOH framework. We included peer-reviewed articles based in the United States and published in the English language that evaluated neuropsychological assessment on MOUD treatment outcomes. Three electronic databases were searched from January 2022 to September 2023 without restricting the date of publication for article inclusion. We identified 34 empirical articles that met inclusion criteria, the majority being nonrandomized clinical trials. Few studies examined differences in neuropsychological performance over time or in response to an adjunct intervention. Findings comparing cognitive functioning across MOUD and comparisons groups were mixed, as were findings from the studies that examined changes in cognitive functioning over time. Factors represented from the SDOH framework included educational attainment, premorbid intellectual functioning, and employment status. Neuropsychological domains and type of assessments varied, as did inclusion/exclusion and demographic characteristics. Existing literature is mixed on whether neuropsychological deficits in individuals with OUD are amenable to treatment, particularly among populations disproportionally disadvantaged by SDOH. More research is needed on the SDOH and other contextual factors that influence cognitive factors and MOUD treatment engagement and success.

Exploring user experiences of a text message-delivered intervention among individuals on opioid use disorder treatment in Kenya: A qualitative study

Opioid use disorder causes significant burden of disease and treatment comprises pharmacotherapy and psychosocial treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective psychosocial intervention used in substance use disorders treatment and can be delivered using digital approach. There is limited use of digital treatment among individuals with opioid use disorder in Kenya. This study aimed to describe the experiences and feedback from participants with opioid use disorder enrolled in a text-message intervention in Kenya. Qualitative data was collected from participants in the intervention arm of a feasibility trial testing a text-message intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy. Data was collected using open-ended questions in a questionnaire and structured in-depth interviews amongst those who received the intervention. Framework method was applied for analysis. Twenty-four participants (83.3% males) were enrolled with a mean age of 32.5 years (SD9.5). Five themes were identified namely: (1) Gain of cognitive behavioral therapy skills which included: identification and change of substance use patterns; drug refusal skills; coping with craving and self-efficacy; (2) Therapeutic alliance which included: development of a bond and agreement on treatment goals; (3) Feedback on intervention components and delivery such as: frequency, and duration of the text message intervention; (4) Challenges experienced during the intervention such as: technical problems with phones; and barriers related to intervention delivery; (5) Recommendations for improvement of intervention in future implementations. The findings demonstrated participants' satisfaction with intervention, gain of skills to change substance use patterns, highlighted challenges experienced and suggestions on improving the intervention among individuals with opioid use disorder. The feedback and recommendations provided by the participants can guide implementation of such interventions to allow acceptability, effectiveness and sustainability. Trial registration: This study was part of a randomized feasibility trial. Clinical trial registration: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry: Registration number: PACTR202201736072847. Date of registration: 10th January 2022.

Application of the multiphase optimisation strategy (MOST) to optimise HIV prevention targeting people on medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) who have cognitive dysfunction: protocol for a MOST study

INTRODUCTION

People who inject drugs (PWID) have remained a contributor to the consistent HIV incidence rates in the US for decades. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a promising biomedical intervention for HIV prevention among individuals at risk for HIV infection, including PWID. However, PWID report the lowest rates of PrEP uptake and adherence among at-risk groups. Tailored HIV prevention interventions must include strategies that compensate for cognitive dysfunction among PWID.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Using the multiphase optimisation strategy, we will be conducting a 16-condition factorial experiment to investigate the effects of four different accommodation strategy components to compensate for cognitive dysfunction among 256 PWID on medication for opioid use disorder. This innovative approach will inform optimisation of a highly effective intervention to enhance PWID's ability to process and utilise HIV prevention content to improve PrEP adherence and HIV risk reduction in a drug treatment setting.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The institutional review board at the University of Connecticut approved this protocol (H22-0122) with an institutional reliance agreement with APT Foundation Inc. All participants are required to sign an informed consent form prior to engaging in any study protocols. The results of this study will be disseminated on national and international platforms through presentations at major conferences and journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05669534.

Integrating Cognitive Dysfunction Accommodation Strategies into an HIV Prevention Session: A 2-Arm Pilot Feasibility Study

Cognitive dysfunction is prevalent among persons on medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). This cognitive dysfunction has been shown to reduce HIV treatment engagement and medication adherence. We investigated the impact of integrating specific behavioral strategies into an HIV prevention session to accommodate cognitive dysfunction among people on MOUD. Patients on MOUD (n = 20) were randomized to one of two different HIV prevention conditions. The same HIV risk reduction content was presented to both conditions; however, the experimental condition had accommodation strategies integrated into the session. Participants completed a skills checklist at pre-, post-, and 2-week follow-up to examine the level of HIV risk reduction content learned and utilized over time. Participants in the experimental condition indicated high acceptability (95%) for the accommodation strategies. These participants also demonstrated greater improvement in the ability to properly clean a syringe, from pre- to post- (p < 0.02) and from pre- to follow-up (p < 0.02) when compared to participants in the standard condition. Results from this pilot study indicate that accommodation strategies improved participants’ ability to learn, retain, and utilize risk reduction skills over time. This foundation of research indicates a promising, innovative strategy to increase the ability for persons on MOUD to engage in HIV prevention behaviors.