Resting State EEG Activity Related to Impulsivity in People with Prescription Opioid Use Disorder. (April 2022) - Corace, Kim
Highlights: Resting EEG and impulsivity ratings were collected in 18 patients diagnosed with prescription OUD and in 18 controls. Compared to controls, patients exhibited greater β and δ amplitude density. Patients scored higher on ratings of attentional, motoric, and self-control impulsivity dimensions. Only observed in patients, and not in controls, increases in β and δ amplitude density were associated with greater impulsivity ratings. Abstract: Previous studies on EEG activity in prescription opioid use disorder (OUD) have reported neuronal dysfunction related to heroin use, most consistently reflected by increases in β-brain oscillations. As similar research has yet to examine EEG associated with non-medical use of prescription opioid and as inhibitory deficits are associated with OUD, this pilot study compared quantitative EEGs of 18 patients with prescription OUD and 18 healthy volunteers and assessed relationships between oscillatory activity and impulsivity with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Spectral EEGs showed greater amplitude density in β1, β2, and β3 frequencies across frontal, temporal-central and posterior recording areas in patients. Similar abnormal amplitude density increases were seen in δ but not in θ or α frequency bands. Patients exhibited greater scores (impaired impulse control) on BIS-11 subscales (attention, motor, self-control) and impairment of these impulsive subtypes was associated with increases in β and δ oscillations. In patients, β1, β2, and δ activity was positively associated with disorder severity. Taken together, the results suggest that altered brain oscillations in persons with prescription OUD show some similarities with reported oscillatory changes in heroin use and may indicate a chronic state of imbalance in neuronal networks regulating impulsive and inhibitory control systems.