bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sociodemographic and psychopatology features of outpatients dual diagnosis
Authors: Barral C. , Grau-López L. , Miquel L. , Bachiller D. , Gideoni F. , Rodríguez-Domínguez C. , Rodríguez-Martos L. , Ros E. , Laviña L. , Roncero C.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Dual diagnosis patients are characterized by low rates of adherence and treatment compliance. During last years new resources have dedicated to these patients where substance use and mental disorder are treated simultaneously.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to describe sociodemographic and psychopatology features of dual diagnosis outpatient.

Methods

All subjects in the study were outpatients at dual diagnosis program at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain during 2007 to 2008. These patients were following up until December 2009. Sociodemographic data, psychiatric diagnosis and substance abuse were assessed by using EuropASI, SCID-I y SCID-II and by reviewing their medical histories.

Results

A total of 90 patients were recruited for this study during 2007–2008 and were followed one year. 62,5% of them remain until the end of the treatment. 67,9% were men, medium age was 37 years old (± 1.4). Most of them live with their own families (57,1%) and their marital status was single (48,2%). In this sample the most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis was Major Depressive Disorder (36,4%) followed by Psychotic Disorder (36,2%). The most abused substance was cocaine (33,9%) followed by cannabis (26,8%), alcohol (16,1%), heroin (17,9%). More of 60% were polydrug.

Conclusions

The patients who maintained inculcation with the outpatient program of dual diagnosis were men with medium level of academic level and good family and social environment.
Motivation for treatment of addiction may differ according to type of application: results from a Turkish sample
Authors: Bilici R. , Tufan A.E. , Ugurlu G. Karakas , Tan S. , Tuyluoglu E.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

The motivation of the patient may affect response to treatment and prognosis.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to compare the various types of application of patients in terms of their motivation and sociodemographic variables.

Aims

To demonstrate that patients who apply for treatment themselves have greater motivation and less depression and anxiety.

Methods

Patients who applied or were referred for treatment of addiction to the Elazig Hospital for Mental Disorders were included in this study. Patients diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, giving written informed consent and who did not have severe comorbid psychopathology were enrolled. Beck Depression and Anxiety Scales, and Motivation for Treatment Scale (MfT) were used in evaluation. p was set at 0.05.

Results

Forty five male patients with a mean age of 37.9 (S.D. 11.2) were enrolled in the study. The mean scores for Beck Depression and Anxiety Scales and the Motivation for Treatment Scale were 27.7 (S.D. 12.8), 25.2 (S.D. 15.2) and 67.4 (S.D. 11.4); respectively. When the socio-demographic and clinical variables of the patients who applied voluntarily and those who were referred for treatment involuntarily were compared by Mann-Whitney U test, only the total score on the Motivation for Treatment Scale as well as those of its subscales for seeking help and being ready for treatment differed betwen groups (p: 0.01, 0.05 and 0.01; respectively).

Conclusion

Types of application for treatment may affect levels of motivation in patients for treatment. Techniques for motivational interview may especially be important for patients applying involuntarily.
Substance abuse is associated with a higher risk of suicide
Authors: de la Vega Sánchez D. , Urrutia P. Artieda , Arnau J. Gómez , Soler M.R. Gómez , Bonafont A. Regidor , Páez P. Sánchez , Moreno A. Chinchilla
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Suicide is a major and preventable public health problem. Risk factors may vary with age, gender, or ethnic group, being substance abuse one of the most frequent.

Objectives

To investigate the relation of substance related disorder and suicide attempt.

Methods

Review of the suicidal attempts of patients with personal history of substance related disorder attended during the year 2010.

Results

We identified 85 cases.

Alcohol (64″3%) and cocaine (47″7%) were the two most identified substances. Cannabis (17″2%) and heroin (23″06%) were less consumed. Benzodiacepines abuse was very frequent among the patients attended (38″2%).

Previous attempts were found in 43″8% of the patients.

Drug overdose was the most commonly method used (98″4%), especially with benzodiacepines and antidepressants, but non psychiatric drugs were also frequent. Substance overdosage or intoxication was the second most frequent method used (23%), and poisoning the third (9%). Most of times these methods were presented with concomitant drug overdose.

Defenestration threats were very rare (2″34%), and always associated with hospitalization request by the patient.

We did find significant differences when studying triggers (family, partnership, economical or others) compared with non substance abusers suicidal attempts.

Conclusions

- Chronic substance misuse and acute substance abuse is associated with a higher risk of suicide, what may be explained by the disinhibiting effects of psychoactive substances.

- As benzodiazepine misuse is associated with suicide, special care must be taken when prescribing to at risk patients such as substance abusers
Differences of patients with acute alcohol intoxication treated at the departments for psychiatry and internal medicine in Tuzla during 2009
Authors: Delić A. , Hasanović M. , Šahović H. , Kuldija A. , Kravić N. , Pajević I.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Patients with Acute alcohol intoxication (F 10.0) are referred most often to psychiatry or internal departments.

Aim

To examine some epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute alcohol intoxication treated at the admission departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine in Tuzla during 2009 year.

Methodology

We selected from the admission protocols 91(1.8%) of 5 055 patients examined in Psychiatry, and 76(0.5%) of 14 460 patients examined in Internal Medicine admission, who were diagnosed with F 10.0 according to ICD-10. Observed variables were sex, age, treatment they received at the admission departments and the instructions given for further treatment.

Results

We found that Majority of them were males. Patients referred to the Psychiatry were somewhat older (43.2 years), than patients in the Internal Medicine (38.4 years). The most common referral to the Psychiatry was in March 14(13.4%), and November 11(12.1%), while in the Internal Medicine there were 9(14.28%) in November and 8(12.69%) in December. At Psychiatry, 29(31.86%) patients were hospitalized and 62(68.13%) continued with outpatient treatments. At Internal Medicine 40(52.6%) of 76 patients were detoxified, 30(39.47%) patients were referred to the Department for Psychiatry, while in-home treatment was offered to 40 patients (52.63%).

Conclusion

The prevalence of acute alcohol intoxication compared to other diagnoses is higher in the Psychiatry admission than in the Internal Medicine, males were more frequent patients, and patients referred to Psychiatry were somewhat older. The most frequent alcohol intoxication in Psychiatry was recorded in October and November, while in Internal Medicine it was in November and December.
Early onset of alcohol use: a different personality profile?
Authors: Diaz-Digon L. , Mateu-Codina G. , Martinez-Riera R. , Morro-Fernandez L. , Romero-Sanchez M. , Nascimento-Osorio M.-T. , Forns-Nadal M. , Bulbena-Vilarrasa A. , Torrens-Mèlich M.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Early onset of substances use disorders (SUD) has been related to some personality characteristics and a higher prevalence of social, psychiatric and organic problems.

Objetives

To describe personality differences in early onset of alcohol use (EO, age≤ 15) subjects and late onset of alcohol use (LO, age≥16), both affected of acute non-substance use psychiatric disorders (Non-SUD) and alcohol related substance use disorders (alcohol SUD).

Methods

Data on sociodemographic and clinical factors were gathered among subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria of alcohol SUD. Psychometric characteristics were explored with TCI-R.

Results

The whole sample (N = 188; age 36,8 ± 9,2; 71,4% male) showed mainly hallucinations/delusions (37,7%) at admittance and personality disorders (50,3%) as a most prevalent non-SUD. Most common comorbid SUD were alcohol (59,5%).

EO subjects (N = 103) had more prevalence of legal problems (51,4% vs. 15,9%), sedatives misuse (73,8% vs. 54,1%), polydrug abuse (2 ± 1,1 vs. 1,6 ± 1,0) and higher score in ASI psychopathology (5,8 ± 1,3 vs. 4,8 ± 1,8). Most frequent dual diagnosis in EO subjects were psychosis+cannabis SUD (8,7%).

EO group was characterized by higher impulsiveness (102,9 ± 16,4 vs 97,0 ± 14,5), disorderliness (127,6 ± 19,2 vs. 117,4 ± 21,7), harm avoidance (30,7 ± 4,9 vs. 28 ± 7,6), eagerness of effort (34,7 ± 7,5 vs. 31,6 ± 8,0), ambitious (19,2 ± 4,6 vs. 17,9 ± 3,1), perfectionist (29,8 ± 5,9 vs. 27,8 ± 6,2), responsibility (30,5 ± 6,9 vs. 27,9 ± 7,7), resourcefulness (25,9 ± 6,3 vs. 23,2 ± 6,8), enlightened second nature (17,7 ± 3,9 vs. 13,9 ± 4,6), social acceptance (32,0 ± 5,8 vs. 29,4 ± 7,1) and lower anticipatory worry (71,7 ± 18,5 vs. 79,8 ± 17,9), dependence (54,5 ± 12,4 vs. 59,2 ± 14,9).

Conclusions

EO was characterized by higher scores in impulsiveness, disorderliness, and self-directedness and showed more severity on social, psychopathologic and substance problems.
Alcohol use and Binge Drinking in adolescents living in Germany: A representative study - variation of consumption patterns according to migration background
Authors: Donath C. , Gräßel E. , Baier D. , Bleich S. , Hillemacher T.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Binge Drinking is a constant problem behaviour in adolescents across Europe. However, epidemiological data on alcohol consumption of adolescents with different migration backgrounds are rare.

Objective/aims

Create insight on alcohol consumption patterns in adolescents with different migration backgrounds living in Germany.

Methods

In the years 2007/2008, a representative written survey of N = 44,610 students in the 9th grade of different school types in Germany was carried out (net sample). The return rate of questionnaires was 88% regarding all students whose teachers respectively school directors had agreed to participate in the study. 27.4% of the adolescents surveyed have a migration background whereby the Turkish culture is the largest group followed by adolescents who emigrated from former Soviet Union states.

Results

More than half (57.4%) of the German 9th-graders engaged in binge drinking at least once during the 4 weeks prior to the survey. Students with migration background of the former Soviet Union showed mainly similar drinking behaviour like German adolescents (56.2%). Adolescents with Turkish roots engaged in binge drinking less frequently than adolescents of German descent (23.6%). However, in those adolescents who consumed alcohol in the last 4 weeks, binge drinking is very prominent across cultural backgrounds.

Conclusions

Common expectations concerning drinking behaviour of adolescents of certain cultural backgrounds (‘migrants with Russian background drink more’/‘migrants from Islamic imprinted countries drink less’) are only partly affirmed. Possibly, the degree of acculturation to the permissive German alcohol culture plays a role here.
Relationship of social anxiety severity with drinking motives among male alcohol dependent inpatients
Authors: Evren C. , Aksoy R. , Celik S. , Cetin T. , Tamar-Gürol D.
Published: May 2011

Objective

Aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of social anxiety (SA) severity with drinking motives in male alcohol dependent inpatients.

Method

Participants were 155 consecutively admitted male alcohol dependents. Patients were investigated with the Drinking Motives Questionnaire—Revised (DMQ-R), the Social Phobia Scale (SPS), and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS).

Results

Mean scores of DMQ-R subscales were positively correlated with social anxiety scales in different degrees. Conformity motives predicted both SPS (together with social motives) and SIAS.

Conclusions

SPS which evaluates social phobia-circumscribed type was predicted by conformity and social motives, whereas SIAS which evaluates social phobia-generalised type was predicted by only conformity motives. This suggests that different types of motivation may be related with different types of social phobia.
Alexithymia and drinking motivations among male patients with alcohol dependency
Authors: Evren C. , Aksoy R. , Celik S. , Cetin T. , Tamar-Gürol D.
Published: May 2011

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and drinking motivations among male patients with alcohol dependency.

Method

Participants were 136 male patients consecutively admitted to an alcohol dependency treatment unit. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Drinking Motives Questionnaire—Revised (DMQ-R) were administered to all participants.

Results

In alexithymic group (N = 44, 32.4%) duration of education was lower, whereas current age, age onset of regular alcohol use, marital and employment status did not differ between groups. Scores of drinking motives and severity of general psychopathology were higher in alexithymic group. Alexithymia total and factors of alexithymia (other than thirth factor) were positively correlated with drinking motives. TAS- difficulty in identifing feelings was significant covariant for enhancement, coping and confirmity motives, whereas TAS- difficulty in describing feelings was significant covariant for only confirmity motives in MANCOVA analysis.

Conclusions

These suggest that drinking motives may be a mediator in the relationship between alexithymia alcohol dependence.
A Qualitative assessment of crack supply in tehran
Authors: Farhoudian A. , Sefatian S. , Movaghar A. Rahimi , Mohammadi F.
Published: May 2011

Supplies of illegal drugs play determinant roles in developing new cases, relapse after treatment and some health criteria. Recently, Iran has encountered an illicit new comoing drug which belongs to opioids. This article presents the crack supply in retail market in Tehran.

This is a qualitative study based on the grounded theory which was conducted in 2009 in Tehran. Deep interviews with drug dealers, drug users and key informants were performed by open questionnaires as well as some checklists.

Crack accessiblity was expressed as “easily”. Lack of money and police presence are the problems of obtaining. Most of informants believed that the price, purity, and color had changed during time and the quality had decreased. The major impurity added to crack was pills. Crack dealing is more beneficial in comparison with other drugs and it was due to poverty and need of the users resulting from addiction. In general, there was a wide variety of controversial opinions regarding the method of production as well as quality of crack in respondants.

Regarding the recent considerable increase in crack availablity in Iran, rapid changes in crack quality and production has happened. Considering the top priority for the battle against this hard drug supply in comparison with softer drugs like opium, providing proper information and teaching it to clinicians and mainstream is highly recommended.
Comparisonal investigation of emotional intelligence in addicted and nonaddicted people
Authors: Homayouni A.
Published: May 2011

Introduction & objectives

Emotional intelligence (E/I) consists of appraisal of emotion in the self and others, regulation of emotion in the self and others and utilization of emotion in solving problems. Subsumed under these branches are functions such as verbal and non verbal appraisal and expression of emotion and using emotions to motivate as part of the utilization of emotions. (Salovey & Mayer's, 1990). Emotional intelligence components are important in psychological functions such as problem-solving, happiness, stress-tolerance, self-actualization and interpersonal relationship. So the research aimed to investigate role of Emotional intelligence in tendency to addiction.

Methods

In sampling process a total of 73 addicted people and 73 non-addicted people were randomly selected. All participants were requested to complete Schutte’s Self- Report E/I Test (SSREIT) (33 item). The test measures ability of E/I in three fields: Appraisal of emotion, regulation of emotion and utilization of emotion. In order to analyzing the data independent T test was used to compare means of two groups.

Results

Findings indicated significant differences between two groups in components of emotional intelligent. Nonaddicted people had more scores in appraisal of emotion, utilization of emotion and general score of emotional intelligence. But there was no significant difference in regulation of emotion in two groups.

Conclusions

Considering the results, it is recommended EI education programs and applying the plans for enhancing emotional intelligent components in order to increasing abilities and competencies in confronting with crisis and bad events and reducing risk of abnormal behaviors, specially addiction.
Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with alcohol dependence a cross sectional study
Authors: Kahl K.G. , Greggersen W. , Schweiger U. , Balijepalli C. , Lösch C. , Moebus S.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

There is a long debate about putative cardioprotective effects of alcohol. However, prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in men and women that use alcohol has been inconsistent in the literature.

Objectives/aims

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of MetS in patients with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence, who are currently abstinent in a controlled environment, and in control subjects followed in primary care from a similar region in Northern Germany.

Methods

One-hundred ninety seven men and women with alcohol dependence during behavioural treatment in a controlled environment were compared to 1158 subjects from primary care from a similar region in northern Germany. We used the AHA/NHBLI criteria to determine the rate of MetS and each single criterion of MetS in both groups.

Results

The prevalence of MetS was almost twice as high in men and women with alcohol dependence compared to control subjects (30.6% vs. 17.0%). With respect to the single criteria, elevations were found for fasting glucose and blood pressure in both genders and for triglycerides in women only. HDL-cholesterol was higher in men and women with alcohol dependence.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate an increased rate of the MetS, increased blood pressure and dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in alcohol dependent patients. Whether high HDL-cholesterol in this context has cardioprotective effects remain doubtful.
Methadone centre of the psychiatric clinic of the clinical centre in Banja Luka
Authors: Maglov T. , Dragojevic S. , Vukic M.
Published: May 2011

Advantages and disadvatanges of methadone treatment

Objectives

The paper aims to provide the actual operation of the Methadone Centre established in Banja Luka in 2009. as part of the international Global Fund Project and titled as Coordinated National Response to HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in the war-ravaged and extremely stigmatized areas. The overall objectives of such programs is the reduction of harmful effects of opiate usage. The psychosocial treatment plan improves heroin withdrawal syndrome, implies a long-term treatment, and weakens the opiate abstention symptoms in general. Our studies have described the operation of the Methadone Centre from its opening until the present day with a reference to the structure of consumers, the number of patients undergoing certain types of treatment, the length of stay in these types of addiction treatment programs, the ways of leaving treatment programs, the number of patients involved in the psychosocial treatment programs. We have also given our estimation of the Centre's efficency with possibilities of its further development. At the beginning of the implementation phase we were facing a lot of technical problems. During the progress of the project all the advantages and disadvatanges of the Centre's operation under the roof of Clinical Centre of Banja Luka were shown. There are still certain problems we are facing on a daily basis which need to be solved, and all that is affecting the quality of treatment service and treatment outcome.
Addiction and pain
Authors: Masmoudi J. , Damak R. , Mnif L. , Charfi N. , Baati I. , Jaoua A.
Published: May 2011

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with existing or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.

Objective

To define the nature and severity of substance abuse in patients attending detox cure and the importance of pain during the weaning.

Materials and methods

This is a cross-sectional study done in March 2010 over 30 patients hospitalized in the “center of help and listening to Tina-Sfax”.

Through a questionnaire, we collected the biographical data, the drugs used and ways of administration, the association of toxic and the characteristics of pain: type, location, extension.

We spent the TDEA: test of alcohol dependency, the DAST: screening for drug abuse and the scale of overall pain intensity.

Results

The mean age of patients was 24.5 years, 86.7% of our sample were men. 47% of our patients consulted by their own and 47% at the request of one third. 76.7% of patients consuming the Subutex. Poly drug was present in 50%. The intravenous way was present in 76.7% cases.

46.7% of our patients had twice-daily dosing, 33.6% consumed a daily basis and 100% were addicted.

The pain was constant among 63.3% of patients, it was in kind of burning and tearing in 60% of patients. She was paroxysmal and in type of electrical discharge in 63.3% of cases.

Conclusion

The cure of detox can cause various types of pain, which can lead to relapse or failure of the process of weaning.
Investigation the role of psychological, environmental and physical factors in tendency to addiction
Authors: Amiri S.J. Mosavi
Published: May 2011

Introduction & objectives

For better understanding of the effective factors in tendency to addiction, the research aimed to survey this question what is the first cause of addiction? Psychological, Environmental or Physical causes.

Method

80 addicted people were randomly selected and Abuse Drug Assessment Inventory (ADAI) was administered on them. Chi Square formula was used to analyze the results.

Results

Findings showed 55 percent of tendency to addiction was psychological. Also more analyzing showed 65 percent of continuing causes of addiction were psychological factors such as fear, anxiety, sorrow.

Conclusion

In regard to results we should put more emphasis on psychological prevention and treatment methods so that both tendency to addiction and continuing causes of addiction decrease and control.
Acute effects of alcohol in sexual behavior
Authors: Moutinho A. , Jorge G. , Pereira A.V.
Published: May 2011

The belief that alcohol can lead to sexual risk and/or sexual inadequate behaviors is nearly ubiquitous. But can we talk about causality? Several studies, with different methodology, have been developed during the last decades in an effort to understand the relationship between alcohol and sexual behaviors and function. From the knowledge that we already have, it is worth it to highlight alcohol consumption effects on cognitive appraisals, based on Response Conflict Model or Alcohol Myopia Model, as well as the expectancies effect. Future research is essential, specially to overcome the failures and limitations of the previous studies.
Adolescence and addiction
Authors: Tefahi B. , Yahiouche A. , Kacha F.
Published: May 2011

Adolescence and addiction are two different entities. Adolescence is a period characterized by a realignment risk of psychic structures, physiological and morphological. It is constructed using a reference model via the values inherited from the parents and new behaviors including consumption of drug abuse “addiction”.

We illustrate our presentation with a literature review done on the PubMed database using keywords such as “adolescent, addiction, neurobiologic,pathogenesis, treatment” to study all the parameters that explain the link between adolescence and addiction from a causal model neurobiology and pathophysiology to develop in a particularities of the therapeutic management of drug abuse among adolescents.
Attentional bias in pathological gambling. A review
Authors: Vizcaino E.J.V. , Mayor M.M. , Gras I.M. , Alfaro G.P. , Valladolid G.R.
Published: May 2011

Rationale

Pathological gambling (PG) is a relatively prevalent psychiatric disorder, which is included in the category of Impulse Control Disorders of the DSM-IV TR. It's prevalence is 1%. Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter involved in it. Attentional bias (AB) is a phenomenon whereby attentional channelling is directed toward personally valued stimuli, despite an individual's efforts to ignore them. AB have been previously described in several Substance Use Disorders (SUD) such as alcoholism and cocaine use disorders.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the current evidence of the presence of AB associated to PG.

Methods

We performed a systematic search in PubMed (1980-Present) to identify publications that examined the existence of AB in PG.

Results

To date, two studies have found the existence of an AB in pathological gamblers. Both studies have been performed using a modified Stroop procedure, and report that gamblers show an automatic interference when naming the color of gambling-related words.

Conclusions

PG could be conceptualized as an addictive behavior and we can hypothesize a link between addiction and automaticity. There is a relationship between AB (cognitive dimension) and subjective craving (emotional dimension), so that high levels of craving can be both, a cause of, and a consequence of, an elevation of AB of gambling-related cues. Even so, there is little research in this field to date. Further studies are warranted using new paradigms for the assessment of AB in PG.
Codependency, traumatic experiences and the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in hospitalized and non hospitalized women from alcoholic families
Authors: Załuska M. , Kossowska-Lubowicka A. , Traczewska Z. , Kszczotek M. , Zaniewska-Chłopik U. , Poświata E.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Codependency is a dysfunctional style of close relation with alcoholic, as so risk factor of stress related mental disturbances.

Aim

Assessment of general health, as so the occurrence and correlation of the codependency features, traumatic experiences and the symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder -PTSD in the women from alcoholic families.

Method

39 women from alcoholic families and 18 controls were screened with the General Health Questionnaire GHQ-28. In the group of women from alcoholic families the occurrence and correlation of: the features of codependency, traumatic experiences and PTSD symptoms, were compared in 12 psychiatrically hospitalized and 27 non hospitalized women from alcoholics families.

Results

The average total GHQ-28 scores were significantly higher in the both groups of hospitalized (9,58) and non hospitalized (6,46) women from alcoholics families comparing with the controls (1,72). The percentages of: women with codependency features, women reporting traumatic experiences as so women reffering symptoms of PTSD did not differ significantly in hospitalized and non hospitalized groups. There was correlation between the number and intensity of traumatic experiences, PTSD symptoms and features of codependency in women from alcoholic families.

Conclusion

Codependency in the women in alcoholic families is frequently co-occurring with increased number of traumatic experiences, and PTSD symptoms. In the cases of mentally ill women living in alcoholic families the appropriate psychotherapy is needed besides the pharmacological reduction of the psychopathological symptoms. Usefulness of the GHQ-12. in screening mental disturbances in the persons from alcoholic families was confirmed.
Tobacco withdrawal program at an inpatient alcohol therapy unit
Authors: Zoghlami A. , Oitzinger B. , Blauensteiner D. , Hofstätter A. , Mazhar A. , Musalek M.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Alcohol and tobacco dependence are correlated: Alcohol addicted subjects are three times more likely to be smokers than the general population, and people who are dependent on tobacco are four times more likely to suffer from alcohol dependency than the general population.

Some authors indicate it is too difficult to quit both alcohol and tobacco and that tobacco withdrawal may jeopardise the alcohol recovery. Numerous studies however showed the benefit of tobacco cessation by subjects with alcohol use disorder.

Aims

The aim of this study was to examine the outcome of tobacco withdrawal in patients addicted to alcohol and tobacco in an inpatient alcohol therapy unit.

Material and methods

Patients admitted to our institute for alcohol dependence were invited to participate in a smoking withdrawal program after completing alcohol withdrawal therapy.

Results

106 subjects could be reached. 31.1% were female and 68.9% male.

67% have completed the 3 week tobacco therapy program, 33% withdrew.

22.6% found it difficult to quit smoking after alcohol withdrawal.

53.8% accomplished abstinence for at least 1 week, 27.6% remained abstinent for more than 1 year.

71.7% of the subjects who still smoked could reduce their cigarette consume.

3.8% suffered from alcohol craving.

We can see a tendency that the risk of relapse is lower for tobacco abstinent patients than for smokers.

Conclusion

The results showed a clear tendency that the risk for alcohol relapse in tobacco abstinent patients is lower than for smokers. We recommend withdrawing alcohol and nicotine during an inpatient stay.
Testing an aetiological model of social phobia: a study in the kingdom of saudi arabia
Authors: AlZahrani A.A.
Published: May 2011

The aim of this study was to test an aetiological model of social phobia (SP) and related phobias in a Saudi Arabia population. Based on the existing literature several variables - behavioural inhibition, neuroticism, parental rejection, fear of negative evaluation and victimization - were selected for inclusion in a model which was tested with 240 diagnosed anxious and depressed medical patients (both men and women) in Saudi Arabia. The current study found that three antecedents, behavioural inhibition, neuroticism, and parental rejection, did not have a direct path to social phobia (except for behavioral inhibition which had a direct link to the physical sub-scale of social phobia), but they were mediated by two causal variables. The first mediator was fear of negative evaluation, which was directly associated with social phobia, physical phobia, and psychological phobia in the present study, and was influenced by one of the antecedent variables (neuroticism). The second mediator, victimization, had a link with social phobia only, via behavioural inhibition, and parental rejection. The current study found that fear of negative evaluation and victimization appear to play a significant role in the development of social phobia, commencing in early life, during childhood, and developing in later life. The current study suggests that parents and clinical therapists should work to find solutions earlier, starting first with the family environment and continuing with schooling, where interventions to enhance self-image and promote optimism among school children are made part of the normal curriculum
Early negative life events during childhood and social anxietyin adulthood
Authors: Binelli C. , Ortiz A. , Gelabert E. , Crippa J.A. , Subirà S. , Martin-Santos R.
Published: May 2011

Background

Although there is considerable evidence on the impact of negative life events during childhood on the etiology of psychiatric disorders, little is known about the specific influence on the social anxiety disorder. The objective of the study was to examine this association.

Method

In a cross-sectional survey in 571 university students we analysed the association between loss of someone close, emotional abuse, physical abuse, family violence and sexual abuse with social anxiety assessed by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale.

Results

Twenty percent of the sample had social anxiety and 50,6% had an early negative life events in childhood. After controlling for family psychiatric history and gender only family violence was associated with an increased risk of social anxiety (OR = 4.63; 95%CI = 1.13–18.9).

Conclusions

This study found childhood family violence associated with social phobia in university students.
The hamilton anxiety scale in patients with graves basedow disease
Authors: Danciulescu Miulescu R. , Calarasu M.E. , Rosca R.I. , Danoiu S.
Published: May 2011

Background and aims

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease characterized by goitre with hyperthyroidism, Graves ophthalmopathy and pretibial myxedema The patients with Graves’ disease frequent develop a psychiatric manifestations such as mood and anxiety disorders and, cognitive dysfunction. The aims of the study is to estimate the prevalence of anxiety in patients with Graves’ disease.

Materials and methods

66 patients with Graves’ disease (46 women and 20 men) were recruited to this study. The subjects were between 32 and 61 years. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) is a used interview scale that measures the severity of a patient’s anxiety, based on 14 items, including anxious mood, tension, fears, insomnia, somatic complaints and behaviour at the interview. The HAM-A was completed prior and after the treatment. Results were compared with measurements of HAM-A in 24 subjects without Graves’ disease.

Results

Mild anxiety was present in 24 patients with Graves’ disease (36.66%-16 women and 8 men) moderate anxiety in 13 patients (19.69% - 7 women and 6 men) and severe anxiety in 3 patients (4.54%- 2 women and 1 men) prior to treatment of hyperthyroidism. After treatment of hyperthyroidism 12 patients presented mild anxiety, 6 moderate anxiety and 3 severe anxiety. The prevalence of mild anxiety was present in 2 subjects(8.33%-2 women) without Graves’ disease.

Conclusion

A significant proportion of patients with Graves’ disease shows an altered mental state after treatment of hyperthyroidism. When psychiatric disorders persists after restoration of euthyroidism specific treatment for the psychiatric symptoms may be needed.
No evidence for deficient set-shifting in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Fadda E. , Sottocorno S. , Martoni R. , Galimberti E. , Bellodi L.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Various neurocognitive deficits have been identified across several domains in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including memory, response inhibition attentional processing and cognitive flexibility.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate Set Shifting in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder compared with Healthy Controls (HC).

Methods

44 OCD patients, according to DSM-IV criteria (APA, 1994) and 32 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Information Sampling Task (IST) selected from Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was administered to all participants to assess cognitive flexibility. The two IST versions were counterbalanced in the samples. Delta index has been calculated as the difference between the number of the boxes opened in the fixed condition and the number of boxes opened in the decrease condition.

Results

Group differences in Delta IST were assessed within an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model including Groups (control vs. OCD) as between-subject factor and age as a covariate. Results show a no significant main effect for group on IST Delta index (p = 0.26). A significant effect of the covariates (age) on Delta IST(p = 0.027) was found.

Conclusion

Results suggests that cognitive flexibility, assessed by Information Sampling Task, was not impaired in OCD patients. Future research should evaluate this evidence, taking in account for OCD clinical subtypes.
Are acute involuntary hospitalization related to anxiety disorders?
Authors: De Vitton I. , Delavenne H. , Garcia F.D.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Acute involuntary hospitalization is perceived as a threatening event for most of patients. Acute involuntary hospitalization of psychiatric patients is probably a major source of anxiety and may be related to anxiety disorders. Further knowledge on the anxiety disorders secondary to involuntary hospitalization may limit traumatic experience and is, indeed, of considerable importance.

Methods

Bibliographic review of the existing literature was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed (1969-2010). The following key words were used “involuntary hospitalization”; “coercion”; “patient admission”; “stress disorder” “anxiety” and “posttraumatic stress disorder”. All papers in English and French were considered in this review.

Results

Although the impact of diverse stressful or traumatic events has been the subject of numerous publications, we found only one study in the literature dealing with PTSD symptoms related to acute involuntary hospitalization. In this article involuntarily admitted patients were not more traumatized than voluntarily admitted ones. Although coercive measures can be traumatizing, but forced medication, seclusion, or application of any coercive measure were not significantly associated with traumatizing. Reviews on involuntary hospital admission’ demonstrated negative and positive consequences on various outcome domains. Findings highlight the predominantly negative impact of physical restraint on the person restrained and their family. These findings support minimal use of restraint in health care to a relatively vulnerable group of people. But coercion can also lead to positive outcomes.

Conclusions

Specific studies concerning the impact of involuntary hospitalization, coercitive measures and forced treatment causing anxiety disorders are still needed. Discussion about its methodology and ethical aspects remains necessary.
Efficacy and safety of silexan, a new, orally administered lavender oil preparation, in subthreshold anxiety disorder
Authors: Kasper S. , Gastpar S.M. , Müller W.E. , Volz H.P. , Möller H.J. , Dienel A. , Schläfke S.
Published: May 2011

A number of studies has been performed recently on the efficacy and tolerability of silexan, a novel preparation from lavender oil for oral use, in the treatment of anxiety disorders and related conditions with particular attention to subthreshold generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Three randomized, double-blind clinical trials were identified which investigated the efficacy of silexan in subsynromal anxiety disorder (vs. placebo; 10 weeks’ treatment), in GAD (vs. lorazepam; 6 weeks), and in restlessness and agitation (vs. placebo; 10 weeks) according to DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria. One open-label pilot study assessed the potential of the medicinal product in neurasthenia, posttraumatic stress disorder and somatization disorder (6 weeks). All trials assessed the participants’ anxiety levels using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) or the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) as well as measures of co-morbidity and clinical global impressions. Across all trials 280 patients were exposed to silexan 80 mg/day, 37 were treated with lorazepam 0.5 mg/day and 192 received placebo. Average within group HAMA total scores at baseline ranged between 24.7 and 27.1 points. Patients treated with silexan showed average HAMA total score decreases by between 10.4 ± 7.1 and 12.0 ± 7.2 points at week 6 and by between 11.8 ± 7.7 and 16.0 ± 8.3 points at week 10. In subthreshold GAD silexan was significantly superior to placebo, with a mean value difference of at least 4 points (lower bound of 95% confidence interval (CI)) after 10 weeks. In GAD silexan and lorazepam showed comparable HAMA total score reductions (90% CI for mean value difference: -2.3; 2.8 points). The decrease of anxiety levels was accompanied by a reduction of restlessness and co-morbidity, and by improvements in general well-being. The anxiolytic effect of silexan is superior to placebo and comparable to lorazepam in subthreshold and threshold GAD, respectively. The medicinal product also improved associated symptoms like restlessness, disturbed sleep and somatic complaints, and had a beneficial influence on general well-being and quality of life. Silexan may offer interesting perspectives particularly in the treatment of subthreshold GAD.
Predictors of fear of flying
Authors: Latas M. , Pantic M. , Starcevic V.
Published: May 2011

Background

It seems that flying phobia is relatively common in general population. Studies show the lifetime prevalence rates of flying phobia in general population ranging from 2.5 to 2.9%

Aim

To ascertain in a sample of an urban general population.

Method

The subjects in this study were participants from non-clinical, urban general population in Belgrade, Serbia. The sample consisted of 216 participants who were assessed in 2010. The assessment of the participants was done by the following instruments: Socio-demographic and flight history questionnaire and The Visual Analogue Flight Anxiety Scale.

Results

On the Visual Analogue Flight Anxiety Scale participants mostly rated their intensity of flight anxiety on the low level. The mean value was 1.24 (SD = 1.42) and almost 2/5 of participants reported that they do not have any flight anxiety. But, 60.6% of sample reported that they have some level of flight anxiety. The statistically significant predictors of the flight anxiety were female gender and older age of the first flight. The other of socio-demographic (Age, Marrital status, Parenthood status, Education level, Employment) and flight history (History of flying, Age of first flight, Flying in the last 10 years and Traumatic experiences) variables did not emerge as possible predictors of the flight anxiety.
A quantitative analysis about the prevalence of PTSD after the chemical attack in halabja
Authors: M-Hasan F.
Published: May 2011

The March 1988 genocide in Halabja, in which 4000–7000 Kurdish women, children and men were killed by the then Iraqi regime, was the most brutal gas attack on a civil population in modern history. This study challenges currently held understandings of PTSD and how traumatic transformations are expressed in other parts of the world; thereby contributing to the new field of traumatology. The study is quantitative analysis of the prevalence of PTSD, measured using (IES), in two Kurdish towns; Halabja and Suleimaniyah, encompassing 110 participants. The study's primary aim was to compare the prevalence of PTSD in Halabja with that in Suleimaniyah which was not attacked, the expectation being that PTSD would be more prevalent in Halabja than in Suleimaniyah. secondly, that women and those with shorter education would report a higher prevalence of PTSD symptoms, and thirdly that participants with higher levels of social support would report a lower prevalence of PTSD symptoms. The results showed that the prevalence of PTSD symptoms in total, of reliving and of hyperarousal in the trauma exposed town was significantly higher than in Suleimaniyah, thus supporting the primary hypothesis. The results further showed a significant connection between sex and PTSD symptoms and a clear linear relation between education and prevalence of PTSD symptoms, thus supporting the second hypothesis. However, the results showed no support for the third hypothesis. The study thus indicates that researchers and practitioners working with PTSD need a broader cultural understanding to carry out studies in best possible manner.
Refractory compulsive disorders and multi target areas treated with deep brain stimulation
Authors: Moura A. , Gonzalez V. , Cif L. , Ionita A. , Sanrey E. , Coubes P.
Published: May 2011

Background

Obsessive compulsive -disorder (OCD) is a group of highly debilitating condition characterized by intrusive troubling thoughts, repetitive, compulsive behaviours or mental rituals. According to the OMS, this is the tenth disease which produces a social incapacity. This behavior is associated with other diseases of the motor pathway as Parkinson, Tourrete, Lesh-Nyhan, PKAN, Huntington disease. A notable percentage of patients are refractory to pharmacological treatment and cognitive behaviour therapy. Increasing attention has been paid to the efficacy of DBS therapies in alleviating pharmacoresistant psychiatric disorders including OCD.

Purpose

This prospective study was to determine the efficacy of DBS using multiple targets in a pharmacoresistant compulsion behavior population with heterogeneous symptoms in a multidisciplinary team.

Population and methods

Five patients. Patients were classified according to their prominent features as follows: contamination/cleaning, symmetry/checking, exactness/counting and forbidden thoughts. The entire surgical procedure was performed under general anesthesia. Direct targeting based on sterotactic MRI without microelectrode recordings was done. A combination of two of the following targets was simultaneously implanted for all 5 patients: subthalamic nucleus, accumbens nucleus and bed nucleus of stria terminalis, limbic globus pallidus internus.All the patients have been assessed pre-and postoperatively using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale.

Results

Mean age at surgery was of 42.6 ± 12.68 years. Mean follow-up with DBS was of 21 ± 14.88 months.Mean preoperative Y-BOCS scores was 31.6 ± 2.70 and of 11 ± 7.97 postoperative (p = 0,057, Wilcoxon signed Rank test). Conclusion: Subthalamic nucleus and accumbens nucleus targets seem to be comparable in alleviating several subtypes of compulsions (checking, cleaning, counting) as well as obsessions.
Comparative effects of pregabalin on anxiety and sleep disturbance: Results of a path analysis
Authors: Wittchen H.-U. , Prieto R. , Emir B. , Donevan S.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Sleep disturbance is one of the key DSM-IV criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and represents the chief complaint in approximately one-third of patients presenting in the primary care setting.

Objectives/aims

To evaluate the extent to which improvement in anxiety is a direct effect of treatment with pregabalin, or is an indirect effect mediated by improvement in sleep disturbance, and vice-versa.

Methods

Data were pooled from 4 double-blind, placebo-controlled (n = 406) short-term trials of pregabalin (all doses combined; n = 853) in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The effect of treatment on anxiety was measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), effect of treatment on sleep disturbance was measured using the 3-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) sleep factor. Path analyses, using a set of multivariate regression models, were used to evaluate the reciprocal effects of pregabalin on improvement in anxiety in the presence of improvement in sleep disturbance, and vice-versa.

Results

Sleep disturbance was common in this GAD sample, with 51.2% (placebo) and 52.2% (pregabalin) of patients, respectively, reporting moderate-to-severe insomnia (HAM-D sleep factor score ≥3). The results of the path analysis indicated that 91.7% (P < 0.0001) of improvement in anxiety was a direct effect of treatment with pregabalin, while 8.3% of improvement in anxiety was an indirect effect, mediated by improvement in sleep disturbance.

Conclusions

In this pooled 4-study data set, the anxiolytic efficacy of pregabalin appears to be primarily a direct effect, with only a small (8.3%) indirect effect, mediated by improvement in sleep disturbance.