Executive Functions among Substance-Induced Psychotic Patients in Jordan: A Clinical Neuropsychological Study

Abstract

This study aims at exploring the executive functions among substance/medication-induced psychotic patients. The sample consists of two groups, a clinical group composed of 27 patients diagnosed with substance/medication-induced psychotic patients. The sample is obtained from the National Center Hospital for Mental Health located in Fuhais and from Hashem Fakhouri’s psychiatric private clinic located in Amman during a 9-month period and is screened for entry in the study. The sample also consists of a comparative group made up from of 27 healthy adults, matched the clinical group in some demographic variables. The following neuropsychological tests are used to measure executive functioning; Stroop Color Word Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and Executive Function Index. The results show that the substance/medication-induced psychotic patients have had poor performance on tasks that requires shifting response, inhibition, resistance, to interference, planning, changing strategies, learning from trials, learning from feedback, impulse control, empathy, organization and motivational drive. This group has performed significantly worse on executive functions tests than the comparative group.