bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is the Capacity of Forming Abstract Concepts Affected by Cocaine Use? Application of Wisconsin Test in a Prospective Study
Authors: Mangado E. Ochoa , Madoz-Gúrpide A. 
Published: March 2009

Cocaine causes cognitive impairment. This affectation becomes evident by failures on several neuropsychological tests. Wisconsin cards test analyzes the capacity for forming abstract concepts. The utility of this test to demonstrate cognitive impairment in cocaine addicts is not fully proved.Objetive:Evaluate the utility of Wisconsin test for the detection of errors in the capacity of forming abstracts concepts in chronic cocaine users.Experiment and method:An observational, prospective, cohorts study was carried out, with a control group (n=27). The case subjects (n=24) are patients with cocaine dependence. The patients underwent the Wisconsin cards sorting test, in the 64 cards version.Results:Among the different results obtained we could remark the differences on the number of errors (mostly the perseverative ones, which would be showing difficulties for finding alternatives and proposals for problems resolutions, more noticeable in the cases group than in the control group) and on the number of conceptual level answers, which shows the comprehension of the basic classification principles, and it would be affected as well in the cocaine users group in comparison with the control group.Conclusions:These results would show a higher difficulty finding alternatives and different proposals when solving problems in the cases group; as well as on the comprehension of basic classification principles.According to the estimations offered on the Test's manual, we demonstrate the existence of cognitive impairment on the cases group, although it is not a severe damage, but could be labelled as medium-mild damage.(Proyecto MSC-2005/465 financiado por DGPNSD)
Family Burden in Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Paparrigopoulos T. , Tzavellas E. , Karaiskos D. , Stefanis N. , Mourikis I. , Stahtea X. , Liappas J. 
Published: March 2009

Objective:There are no published data on how family burden changes over time in alcoholism. We present 6-month follow-up data on the burden of families of alcohol dependent individuals.Methods:The sample comprised 87 caregivers (63 females, 24 males) of alcohol dependent individuals who completed a 4-6 week inpatient alcohol detoxification in the Specialized Drug and Alcohol Addiction Clinic at the Eginition Hospital, Athens University Medical School. During hospitalization, a brief supportive intervention for the relatives took place. After detoxification all participants were followed-up as outpatients for a 6-month period in an affiliated service. Burden and psychopathology of caregivers were assessed with the Burden of Care Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). T-tests for paired samples were used for comparisons between different time points (admission-discharge-six months). A logistic regression model was used to identify factors which influence relatives’ relief.Results:Caregivers exhibited high scores of burden in terms of financial, household, interpersonal relations and parental roles at admission; mild psychopathological symptoms were also recorded. By the end of detoxification scores significantly decreased in most relatives (admission vs. discharge, p< .000); this improvement was determined by the patients’ soberness.Conclusions:Alcohol dependence may have a considerable impact on family interaction as shown by the high scores of burden and mild psychopathology recorded in the caregivers. Our findings suggest that the relatives’ relief was dependent on the achievement of abstinence and the number of relapses. Therefore, a brief supportive intervention is recommended.
Patterns of Substance use in an Immgrant Population in Spain
Authors: Qureshi A. , Rutow N. , Visiers C. , Pedrini E. , Revollo H.W. , Collazos F. , Major X. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:The relationship between immigration and drug abuse and its treatment is complex and poorly understood. The objective of this study is to gain insight into patterns of drug use and service access and how they are influenced by social factors and the migratory process in a population of foreign born drug users in Barcelona, Spain.Methods:An interview protocol was developed for the study which examined drug use patterns, social and health factors, and treatment, and was administered to 118 foreign born users in harm reduction centers. 92% were male and 8% were female. 42% were from Eastern Europe, 35% were from the Magreb, 14% from the European Community, 6% from Subsaharan Africa and 3% from Latin America.Results:With migration opium use decreased whereas cocaine, heroin, and speedball increased, which also constitute the primary drug used by this sample. Social support was correlated with greater consumption of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol, whereas lower social stress was predictive of higher cannabis use. Hard drug use was predicted by illegal status and a lack of stable housing. Acculturation and acclturative stress were not found to be related to substance use. Treatment was positively evaluated, with no perception of lower quality of care.Discussion:Drug use patterns shift with the migratory process, and, it would appear, adapt to the dominant local ones. The unexpecting findings regarding social factors and acculturation and acculturative stress may indicate differences in the Spanish drug use context, and as such warrant further research.
Women Addiction (Alcohol and Opiates) and Defense Mechanism Style
Authors: Raketic D. , Kovacevic M. , Djuric T. 
Published: March 2009

Very few researches concerning women addictions are done up to day. This paper tries to define basic similarities and differences in defense mechanisms used by women alcohol and opiate addicts.Method:Sample of alcohol and opiate female addicts (30 patients in each group) plus control group (30 women) with no psychiatric diagnosis were questioned with Defense Style Questionnaire - DSQ 40 (Andrews, Singh, Bond, 1993).Results:There were found no statistically relevant differences between two experimental and one control group concerning mature defense mechanism use. Significant differences were found in neurotic and immature defense mechanism use: alcohol addicts use prevalently neurotic mechanisms and immature mechanisms prevail among opiate addicts.Conclusions:In our research mostly used neurotic defense mechanisms by alcohol addicts were: pseudoaltruism, idealization, and undoing. The mostly used immature defense mechanisms among opiate addicts were: phantasy, isolation, devaluation, denial and splitting.
Physical and Mental Health in Severe Opioid Dependent Patients Within a Randomised Controlled Maintenance Treatment Trial
Authors: Reimer J. , Verthein U. , Karow A. , Schäfer I. , Naber D. , Haasen C. 
Published: March 2009

Background:Injection drug users (IDUs) frequently suffer from somatic and mental co-morbidity. The effects of different opioid maintenance protocols on these parameters have not been systematically studied yet.Methods:This study was conducted as a 12-month open-label multi-centre randomised controlled trial to test a heroin- vs. methadone based protocol.Results:515 patients were randomised to the heroin-assisted and 500 to the methadone-assisted treatment program. Baseline scores were as follows: OTI-HSS 19.0 (±5.2), BMI 22.6 (±3.5), pathologic electro-/echocardiogram 20.4% (n=582) / 13.9% (n=491), positive HBV-, HCV- and HIV-serology 65.7% (n=863) / 86.5% (n=855) / 9.2% (n=951), positive tuberculin test 9.1% (n=318), KPS 71.4 (±12.9), Global Severity Index (GSI; SCL-90-R) 69.2 (±10.6), GAF 53.6 (±11.7) (all parameters not significant between treatment groups). Improvement after 12 months of treatment differed significantly between treatment groups (heroin vs. methadone): OTI-HSS 8.1 (±5.2) vs. 10.6 (±6.4), BMI 24.5 (±4.3) vs. 23.7 (±4.1), KPS 78.2 (±12.8) vs. 74.2 (±13.3), GSI 58.6 (±13.7) vs. 62.0 (±13.2), GAF 63.0 (±13.3) vs. 56.2 (±15.0) (ANOVA, all p=.000). The frequency of pathologic echocardiograms after 12 months was significantly lower in the heroin compared to the methadone group. Within the heroin group, completers benefited stronger than drop-outs. The remaining parameters did not differ between baseline and 12 months and between treatment groups.Conclusion:Integration of severe injection drug users either in methadone or heroin assisted maintenance treatment has positive effects on most change sensitive physical and mental variables. In this patient group heroin assisted treatment showed superior results compared to methadone.
Children of Bacchus - withdrawal in the ER
Authors: Roque M. , Craveiro A. 
Published: March 2009

Through the ages, Portugal's History, geography, industry and mysticism are intertwined with viniculture. Legends proclaim Lusus the founding father of its inhabitants, who answer to this day to the designation of "Lusos". Lusus was said to be a companion of Bacchus, the Roman God of Wine. Portugal was the 7th major alcohol consumer, according to data by the world Drink Trends 2005. Facing these numbers, it is fairly understood the morbidity and lethality potential of multi-organic diseases, neurologic entities, accidents, suicides, and familial disfunction. Alcoholic Delirium may be caused by alcohol withdrawal, or by a sudden increase in consumption, or phenomena where tolerance to alcohol is diminished. These complex states are affluent in symptomatology, which can evolve to critical life threatening stages.Objective:The authors’ aim is to present a clinical case of Delirium by alcoholic withdrawal.Methods:The authors undertake a revision of this topic in the literature and clinical files review.Conclusions:Delirium is not uncommon in Portuguese emergency rooms, though often misdiagnosed. The knowledge tools should be shared by other specialities besides Psychiatry or Liaison Mental Health for treatment may be life-saving. After crisis, the treatment should proceed, based on maintaining abstinence by medication and therapy.
The Role of Family and Psychoticism in Poly-toxicomania
Authors: Sapic R. , Krivokapic Z. 
Published: March 2009

Abuse of psychoactive substances, according to its spreading shows epidemic character. Drug addicts are mainly young adults, between 15 and 25 years old, have a predisposition to all kind of addiction, acting in public, without hiding their addiction and very often acting in crime way.The aim of this research is to examine the stage of addict delinquency, his family functionality and the level of psychoticism as person disintegration phenomenon. Three groups were examined: poly toxicoman, psychotic patients and health control group, with use of General questionnaire, GRADIR scale for family functional examination and DELTA scale for grading the grade of psychoticism, as a person disintegration phenomenon.The results showed high level of delinquency among addicts and addict family showed dysfunction. The results showed high level of delinquency among drug addicts and their families are dysfunctional. They are not so defect in emotional exchange as in structure, which is disorder amplification factor leading to addiction. It could be that, if family was more structured and organized, they would not end up as drug addicts.Psychoticism has components of autism, apathy, aggressiveness, asociality. This disorder in cognitive processing, confirmed by DELTA test, showed higher psychoticism dimensions: general executive functions (GEI), schizotypal personality disorder (SHD), paranoia (P) and depression (D), as significant factors for addict development and for the longtime stabile abstinence, which is hard to gain.Pilot study abstinent retesting, one year after the treatment, confirmed their behavior altered (improved results on DELTA scale of psychoticism).
Characteristics of Sexual Functioning of Alcoholics
Authors: Krivokapic Z. , Sapic R. 
Published: March 2009

Consequences of the alcohol illness are evident on psychic, physical and social plan. Sexual behaviour is also changed. Our research aimed at complex recognition of sexual functioning, usual behaviour in all revealing spheres, normal aspects: dreams, imagining, masturbation, foreplay, coitus and sexual attitudes. 200 persons were sample in this research: 100 alcohol addicts and 100 persons of the control group. Following results were obtained:•dreams of sexual contents are rare both with addicts and other population, but significantly larger percent of alcoholics has “wet or orgasmic” dreams,•day-dreaming is less noticed with alcoholics, meaning that the need for raising sexual vigilance is reduced,•alcoholics masturbate more, they start to masturbate in later stage,•addicts rarely have foreplay and its duration is shorter, as a consequence of disturbed intimacy and impossibility of total harmony and exchange with a partner,•alcoholics have less sexual intercourses and feel different during them•there are no great differences in opinions about sex,•structural personal characteristics also have effect on sexual behaviour and alcoholism. Alcoholics have certain personal characteristics that clearly define them and which, because of their nature, influence addiction development and sexual behaviour.We can conclude from the research that a tendency in behaviour is evidenced, and for which can be said that it is "pattern of sexual functioning of alcoholics". Except difficulties in genital response, "pattern" refers to emotional component, meaning closeness or a level of intimacy with partner, as well as modification of "normal” sexual aspects.
Internet-based Screening and Intervention for Alcohol- and Drug- related Problems
Authors: Sinadinovic K. , Berman A.H. , Wennberg P. , Hasson D. 
Published: March 2009

Background:Swedish accommodation to EU-policy has weakened state control over the alcohol supply as well as increased the inflow of drugs. Limiting alcohol and drug consumption must thus occur through reducing demand. As the Internet is virtually a universal phenomenon, influencing alcohol and drug behaviors via an Internet-based service is therefore a natural next step. A new Swedish website for self-screening via the AUDIT- and DUDIT-questionnaires is eScreen (www.escreen.se).Method:Self-screening via eScreen generates user feedback and treatment recommendations. In-depth self-report is possible using the Alcohol-E and DUDIT-E. Site users can follow their progress over time in diagrams showing personal risk level as well as by writing a personal electronic diary.Results:During the first 18 months, 2492 user-accounts were registered, evenly distributed between genders. With regard to selection bias, approximately 65% of adult site users over 18 report harmful alcohol consumption, compared to 63% of female and 51% of male adolescent users. Screening suggests that 11% of female and 16% of male adult users are dependent on illicit drugs; for adolescents the rates are virtually identical. These results will be compared to rates from an ongoing general Swedish population study.Conclusions:Internet-screening for alcohol and drug problems appeals to people with harmful alcohol and drug use. Low cost combined with the potential to reach many people could make Internet-based self-help services a cost-efficient self-help tool as well as a complement for patients in treatment for substance abuse.
Cocaine Dependence Produce Psychiatric Symptoms - a Case Report
Authors: Stankovic M. , Vucetic-Arsic S. , Alcaz S. , Cvejic J. 
Published: March 2009

Aim:We want to present a polymorphic clinical features like: hallutinations, paranoid ideas, agitation and violence as a result of prolonged cocaine intranasal consumption.Methods:We exposed a 30-year old male patient with ICD-X diagnostic criteria for cocaine dependence (intranasal consumption) that treated in the outpatient unit of Special Hospital of Addicitons, Belgrade, Serbia from April to July 2008. We used the medical records, psychical examination, psychiatric interwievs, standard blood sampling and cocaine urine detections sample (positive).Results:Observations a specific and polymorphic clinical features with presence of psychotic symptoms after cocaine consumptions in our male patient, for the first time after 5 years of cocaine dependence: auditory hallucinations (two- voice speakers), paranoid persecution ideas and suspiciousness, agitation with appearance of vegetative symptomatology (palpitations, sweating, pupil dilatation), extremely violence behavior to other people, complete social reductions (“armed to the outside world”, refused any personal contact and isolated from friends and family, permanent outdoor checking). There was an intensive fear too and impaired judgment.Conclusions:Permanent cocaine consumption can result with produce a numerous of psychiatric symptoms and syndromes as our experience does. It is similar to the findings of other studies and papers reviewed. It is suppose that cocaine has numerous effects on important neurotransmitters in the brain, such as increase as well as the release of dopamine and it related with aggressiveness, hallucinations and other psychiatric symptoms.
Comorbid Substance Dependence and Posstraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a Brazilian Sample
Authors: Pulcherio G. , Strey M. Neves , Sarti P. , Fensterseifer D. , Pinent C. 
Published: March 2009

Objective:The present study investigated the demographic characteristics of a sample with posstraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that seeking treatment for alcohol and others drugs dependence.Methods:Forty drug-addicted men participated of this study. All the subjects were psychiatric outpatients of IPPAD, Porto Alegre, Brazil. They were invited to play a part in a research. They completed the following instruments: Specific Traumatic Events Scale, Davidson Trauma Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Sociodemographic characteristics. The Sociodemographic instrument had questions about the justice involvement. The measures were a self-report. SPSS 12.5 was used by the statistical analyses. Descriptive statistics include frequency, percents and means. Significance of 5%.Results:Twelve patients had PTSD. Aged 25 to 60 years; low income; 41,7% were married. About sixty seven per cent had some member on family with alcohol or other substance abused. The half patients (n=10) are used various psychoactive substances. 16,7% used alcohol only. The drugs more used were: alcohol (91,7%); tobacco (75,0%); cocaine (58,3%); marihuana (58,3%); Don't have related about the use of ecstasy and inhalants. The half of the sample related that was arrested due to drugs use.Conclusions:The literature shows that patients with Posstraumatic Stress Disorder have more drug use, interpersonal difficulties, legal problems, more relapses or worse prognostic when compared without PTSD. It's very important to determine the psychosocial characteristics of patients seeking treatment to ascertain if these characteristics reflect a group at risk for premature termination therapy.
Cognitive Functions, Impulsivity and Personality Traits in Alcohol Dependent Subjects
Authors: Struglia F. , Tomassini A. , Stratta P. , Spaziani D. , Rossi A. 
Published: March 2009

The term ‘decision making’ indicates the aspects of executive functions related to the ability to modulate the reward and punishment perception, in order to operate advantageous choices.Subjects with alcoholism exhibit poor decision making and high level of impulsivity.This study assesses the relationship between decision making ability, as measured by Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), and impulsivity and others temperamental and character traits in a long-term abstinent alcohol dependent sample.30 abstinent alcohol dependent subjects, referred to Drug Addiction Unit of National Health Service of L'Aquila were assessed using IGT, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11-item version (BIS-11) and the Temperament and Character Inventory - 125 items (TCI-125). The mean age was 44.53 (8.66 SD) years and educational level was 9.03 years (2.52).15 control subjects were recruited from general population and assessed with IGT only (age 41.38±11.10; educational level 12.23±3.44).The clinical and the control samples significantly differ in their performance on the IGT, the former making disadvantageous choices in the task leading to lower scores. We found only a significant correlation between IGT total score and the BIS factor Non-Planning Impulsivity.The alcoholic subjects, although in a abstinent status, show difficulties to learn the task strategies and/or earn from experience to orient toward an advantageous choice pattern, supporting the hypothesis of a decision making impairment.The lack of correlation with impulsivity factors and personality traits supports the results of other studies concluding that, at dimensional level, decision making abilities may be a distinct construct.
The Vincent Van Gogh Model in the Treatment of Adolescents with Dual Diagnoses
Authors: Coetzee M. , Tuinier S. 
Published: March 2009

Treatment of adolescents with addiction and comorbid disorders is notoriously difficult. In clinival practice one or the other diagnoses remain unnoticed and untreated. The reason for this the unfortunate focus on just one identifiable disorder. The resulting treatment remains suboptimal because state of the art evidence based parallel treatment programs for adolescents with dual diagnosis have not been adequately developed and implemented. In addition the long term development of psychopathology in adolescents due to addiction is unclear and needs to be elucidated. Addiction can lead to psychopathology of different kinds, such: as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, bipolar disorders and psychoses or the look-alikes. The opposite is also true: ADHD combined with a conduct disorder leads to addiction. Post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and antisocial personality disorder are alle associated with increased rates of substance abuse or addiction.What is missing is an integrated continuity of care program with seamless transferral from ambulant to clinic to independent living to aftercare. This program will be affiliated with other caresystems in the community such as child and family services, juvenile justice and multisystemic therapy (MST). The adolescent is in a critical developmental stage of attaining a healthy personal identity. Keywords are: continuity of care, parallel treatment and long term intensive inpatient treatment of recalcitrant patients.The role of expressive therapies, motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and cognitive behavioral therapy is emphasized. Several new exciting medications are avalilable and will be used in individual treatment strategies.