Assessment of cognitive functions in individuals with substance use disorder and HIV

Abstract

We conducted a systematic analysis of the studies, which utilized the methods of cognitive function assessment in Russianspeaking practice for the identification of cognitive impairments in patients with substance use disorder and HIV infection. We searched the relevant studies in the following electronic database: ELIBRARY, PubMed, Embase, and PsycInfo (searched in April 2020). We included articles published in the past 20 years (from 2000 to 2020). The literature review, data extraction, and presentation were conducted based on the PRISMA statement. The majority of the papers included cross-sectional studies. In the studies, they included patients with substance use disorder, the co-occurrence of HIV infection was not controlled as a potential confounder. Researchers applied qualitative or quantitative methods and their combination, as well as screening instruments. The most popular cognitive assessment methods in research among the Russian-speaking population included the following: Luria memory words test, Schulte table, WAIS subscales, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The important future direction is the development of the standardized assessment specifically designed to use in patients with substance use disorder, including those who also live with HIV infection.