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Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is famously known as a treatment for depression; however, memory impairments have always been a point of concern. The use of opioid antagonists may protect against the development of memory deficits after ECT. The current study aimed at assessing the effect of Naltrexone in diminishing memory impairments. Methods: This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial took place at Imam Hossein hospital of Tehran/Iran. Patients diagnosed with MDD, were assigned to either Naltrexone or placebo and received 6 sessions of ECT within 2 weeks. Wechsler Memory Scale was performed the day before the first session of ECT, as well as 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months after finishing the 6th session. The Hamilton depression rating scale was performed 2 times to examine the possible interference caused by depression or to relapse as a confounding variable. Results: Patients receiving Naltrexone and placebo showed no significant difference in WMS scores. However, after further assessment, changes of WMS scores in every round were compared; the results showed that after 2 weeks from baseline, the amount of the reduction of total WMS scores from baseline was significantly lower in the Naltrexone group (P = 0.04). Conclusions: This study suggests that Naltrexone as compared to placebo has no advantageous effect on attenuating memory deficits in the long term. It is a smaller degree of memory decline that makes Naltrexone superior to placebo.

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Background: Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is one of the most common treatments for drug use complications. Sexual disorders are reported as common side effects of these treatments, the most important of which is erectile dysfunction. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dose-dependence and duration of methadone treatment on erectile dysfunction in patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 192 opioid-dependent men undergoing methadone maintenance treatment at Shariati Hospital in Fasa (Iran) in 2018. Samples were randomly selected by the available sampling method. Each individual was given a demographic questionnaire, methadone consumption questionnaire, and standard erectile dysfunction questionnaire. Results: Mean age of patients was 41.41 ± 8.41, the mean duration of MMT was 60.53 ± 37.8 months, and the mean therapeutic dose was 83.68 ± 27.07mg. 171 (86.8%) were married, 13 (6.8%) had no erectile dysfunction. While 37 (19.3%) had mild, 78 (19.3%) mild to moderate, 48 (25%) moderate, and 16 (8.3%) had severe erectile dysfunction. The results showed that erectile dysfunction was significantly associated with age and duration of consumption. However, the type of methadone and marital status had no significant association with erectile function. Conclusions: Erectile dysfunction is common in men receiving MMT. The severity of erectile dysfunction is related to the duration of MMT and is not dose-dependent. Therefore, subjects who are on long-term MMT need more frequent erectile dysfunction assessment.