scholarly journals Is it possible to change the psychopathic traits of substance abusers treated in faith-based therapeutic communities - does the length of treatment matter?

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (9) ◽  
pp. 869-874
Author(s):  
Vojislava Bugarski-Ignjatovic ◽  
Vanja Vajagic ◽  
Zeljka Nikolasevic
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Substance Abusers ◽  
Psychopathic Traits ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Duration Of Treatment ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
History Of ◽  
One Year

Background/Aim. Faith-based therapeutic communities (FBTCs) have been increasingly employed as a modality in the treatment of substance abuse. Their program influences behavioral, psychological, cognitive and social changes among their beneficiaries. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the duration of treatment in a FBTC may contribute to changes in the traits that make the four Hare?s psychopathy dimensions ? Antisocial behavior, Lifestyle, Interpersonal relationships, and Psychopathic affect. Another aim was to assess whether abusers on treatment in a FBTC have more pronounced psychopathic traits compared with subjects with no history of substance abuse. Methods. The study included 59 male subjects, of an average age of 29 years, and of different educational levels, who were divided into three groups: substance abusers who had spent one year in the FBTC; substance abusers who had successfully completed a two-year program in the FBTC; and healthy controls with no history of substance abuse. The Psychopathy Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ) was employed to assess the four Hare?s dimensions of psychopathy. Results. There were statistically significant differences among the groups on the Antisocial Behavior dimension. For this dimension, there were differences among nonabusers and both groups of substance abusers, with nonabusers achieving the lowest average scores. There were no statistically significant differences between two groups of substance abusers in any of the studied dimensions. Conclusion. The longer, two-year treatment in the FBTC did not contribute to changes of the psychopathic traits more than the one-year treatment. In addition, subjects with history of substance abuse undergoing treatment in the FBTC had more pronounced psychopathic traits compared with non-abusers.

Delayed recognition memory span in HIV-1 infection

1995 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 575-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen M. Martin ◽  
David L. Pitrak ◽  
Kenneth J. Pursell ◽  
Kathleen M. Mullane ◽  
Richard M. Novak
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Substance Abusers ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Basal Ganglia Disease ◽  
History Of ◽  
Delayed Recognition ◽  
Hiv Seropositive

AbstractWe administered a spatial version of the Delayed Recognition Span Test (DRST), a working memory task performed abnormally by patients with basal ganglia disease, to a group of 96 HIV-seropositive and 83 seronegative subjects with a high prevalence of substance abuse. For comparison purposes, we also administered the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Trail Making Test (TMT), measures which detect HIV-related mental slowing efficiently in gay men but are nonspecifically impaired in subjects with a history of substance abuse. As predicted, scores on the TMT and the SDMT did not discriminate the groups, but HIV-seropositive subjects had significantly shorter spatial spans (p < .007) and DRST total scores (p < .005). These effects could not be attributed to differences in age, education, estimated intelligence, or psychological distress, because the groups were well matched on these variables. The DRST is a promising measure of HIV-related cognitive dysfunction in substance abusers, who are often nonspecifically impaired on psychomotor tasks. These preliminary data also indicate that working memory function should be studied further in HIV-seropositive subjects. (JINS, 1995, 1, 575–580.)

scholarly journals The SISAP: A New Screening Instrument for Identifying Potential Opioid Abusers in the Management of Chronic Nonmalignant Pain Within General Medical Practice

1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert B Coambs ◽  
Josée L Jarry ◽  
Anusha C Santhiapillai ◽  
Rixi V Abrahamsohn ◽  
Cristina M Atance
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Substance Abusers ◽  
Opioid Analgesics ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Screening Instrument ◽  
Prior History ◽  
History Of

BACKGROUND:Many physicians are overly cautious about prescribing opioids for chronic pain because of fears of iatrogenic addiction. However, in patients with chronic pain, addiction to opioid analgesics is exceedingly rare when there is no prior history of alcohol or drug abuse.OBJECTIVE:To validate an instrument that separates possible opioid abusers from those who are at low risk.DESIGN/METHODS:The Screening Instrument for Substance Abuse Potential (SISAP) was designed to identify individuals with a possible substance abuse history quickly and accurately. It is based on the National Alcohol and Drug Use Survey (n=9915). Using the first half of the sample (n=4967), two previously validated alcohol use items were combined with three illicit drug use items. These five questions identified those with a history of alcohol and/or illicit drug use.RESULTS:Using the second half of the sample (n=4948), the validation procedure showed that the five combined items correctly classified 91% of substance abusers and had a low rate of false negatives.DISCUSSION:The SISAP is brief and resistant to misrepresentation or falsification. The SISAP is expected to improve pain management by facilitating focus on the appropriate use of opioid analgesics and therapeutic outcomes in the majority of patients who are not at risk of opioid abuse, while carefully monitoring those who may be at greater risk.

scholarly journals Chronic tiagabine administration and aggressive responding in individuals with a history of substance abuse and antisocial behavior

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 982-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua L Gowin ◽  
Charles E Green ◽  
Joseph L Alcorn ◽  
Alan C Swann ◽  
F Gerard Moeller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
History Of

scholarly journals Clozapine Treatment in Patients with Prior Substance Abuse

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deanna L Kelly ◽  
Elizabeth A Gale ◽  
Robert R Conley
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Research Unit ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Clozapine Treatment ◽  
History Of ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
One Year

Objective: This study examined outcomes following discharge on clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients with and without diagnosed substance abuse histories. Methods: Those discharged on clozapine from a research unit between April 1991 and March 1996 were followed with respect to hospitalization status. Of the treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia, 19 were diagnosed as individuals with substance abuse, while 26 patients had no history of abuse. Patients were openly treated with clozapine and were included in the study if they were stabilized and discharged on the medication. Results: Patients who had histories of abuse exhibited a better treatment response and a lower total Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score at discharge, compared with the non–substance abuse group. One-year readmission rates were 21% and 23% in patients with and without prior substance abuse histories, respectively ( P = ns). Conclusions: Clozapine may be a therapeutic option for the dually diagnosed population and may offer benefits to patients with schizophrenia who have a history of substance abuse.

Validity Issues in Using the Millon-II with Substance Abusers

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Russell Bishop
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Substance Abusers ◽  
Neuropsychological Functioning ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Motor Functioning ◽  
Personality Functioning ◽  
Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
History Of ◽  
Or History

This study addressed the use of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (Millon-II) in assessing 73 substance abusers. The influence of neuropsychological functioning on personality functioning is discussed and evaluated. Reported history of substance abuse did not significantly relate to measures of neuropsychological or personality functioning. Of the sample, 16.9% produced invalid Millon-II scores; invalidity was not significantly related to demographic characteristics or history of substance abuse. Millon-II profile validity was related to verbal and perceptual-motor functioning. Some neuropsychological variables significantly predicted Millon-II scale scores but with little consistency.

Substance abuse is associated with a higher risk of suicide

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 21-21
Author(s):  
D. de la Vega Sánchez ◽  
P. Artieda Urrutia ◽  
J. Gómez Arnau ◽  
M.R. Gómez Soler ◽  
A. Regidor Bonafont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Drug Overdose ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Substance Abusers ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
List Type ◽  
Related Disorder ◽  
Suicidal Attempts ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
History Of

IntroductionSuicide 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.ObjectivesTo investigate the relation of substance related disorder and suicide attempt.MethodsReview of the suicidal attempts of patients with personal history of substance related disorder attended during the year 2010.ResultsWe 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

scholarly journals Drink, Drugs and Disability: An Introduction to the Controversy

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 9-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon R. Hunt ◽  
Jim Baumohl
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Federal Government ◽  
Drug Addiction ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Substance Abusers ◽  
Supplemental Security Income ◽  
Medical Assistance ◽  
History Of ◽  
Legal Barriers

This paper reviews the history of the drug addiction and alcoholism (DA&A) program within Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the controversies that dogged the years before its termination in 1996. The DA&A program began in 1972, and for reasons understood early on, it was susceptible to rapid growth and discrediting scandal. Through the mid-1980s, the program remained very small, mainly because of a conservative judicial climate that limited the grounds for claiming substance abuse as a disabling impairment. Once the legal barriers were breached, SSI became an attractive welfare alternative for impoverished substance abusers and for local governments seeking to shift welfare and medical assistance costs to the federal government. By the early 1990s, program growth was extraordinary, and oversight bodies deemed the program “out of control.” This was compounded by highly publicized misuse of funds by beneficiaries. Seen as an instance of state-induced harm, the program became an early target of the conservative welfare reformers who took control of Congress after the 1994 elections.

Treatment of varicose tributaries with sclerotherapy with polidocanol 0.5 % foam

VASA ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reich-Schupke ◽  
Weyer ◽  
Altmeyer ◽  
Stücker
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Severe Adverse Effect ◽  
Safe Procedure ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Foam Sclerotherapy ◽  
History Of ◽  
One Year ◽  
Additional Therapy

Background: Although foam sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries is common in daily practice, scientific evidence for the optimal sclerosant-concentration and session-frequency is still low. This study aimed to increase the knowledge on foam sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of foam sclerotherapy with 0.5 % polidocanol in tributaries with 3-6 mm in diameter. Patients and methods: Analysis of 110 legs in 76 patients. Injections were given every second or third day. A maximum of 1 injection / leg and a volume of 2ml / injection were administered per session. Controls were performed approximately 6 months and 12 months after the start of therapy. Results: 110 legs (CEAP C2-C4) were followed up for a period of 14.2 ± 4.2 months. Reflux was eliminated after 3.4 ± 2.7 injections per leg. Insufficient tributaries were detected in 23.2 % after 6.2 ± 0.9 months and in 48.2 % after 14.2 ± 4.2 months, respectively. Only 30.9 % (34 / 110) of the legs required additional therapy. In 6.4 % vein surgery was performed, in 24.5 % similar sclerotherapy was repeated. Significantly fewer sclerotherapy-sessions were required compared to the initial treatment (mean: 2.3 ± 1.4, p = 0.0054). During the whole study period thrombophlebitis (8.2 %), hyperpigmentation (14.5 %), induration in the treated region (9.1 %), pain in the treated leg (7.3 %) and migraine (0.9 %) occurred. One patient with a history of thrombosis developed thrombosis of a muscle vein (0.9 %). After one year there were just hyperpigmentation (8.2 %) and induration (1.8 %) left. No severe adverse effect occurred. Conclusions: Foam sclerotherapy with injections of 0.5 % polidocanol every 2nd or 3rd day, is a safe procedure for varicose tributaries. The evaluation of efficacy is difficult, as it can hardly be said whether the detected tributaries in the controls are recurrent veins or have recently developed in the follow-up period. The low number of retreated legs indicates a high efficacy and satisfaction of the patients.

Substance Abuse in Older Psychiatric Inpatients

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilman Wetterling ◽  
Klaus Junghanns
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Substance Abusers ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatients ◽  
Severe Withdrawal ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment ◽  
Clinical Diagnoses ◽  
Multiple Substance ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
Substance Abuse Disorders

Abstract. Aim: This study investigates the characteristics of older patients with substance abuse disorders admitted to a psychiatric department serving about 250.000 inhabitants. Methods: The clinical diagnoses were made according to ICD-10. The data of the patients with substance abuse were compared to a matched sample of psychiatric inpatients without substance abuse as well as to a group of former substance abusers with long-term abstinence. Results: 19.3 % of the 941 patients aged > 65 years showed current substance abuse, 9.4 % consumed alcohol, 7.9 % took benzodiazepines or z-drugs (zolpidem and zopiclone), and 7.0 % smoked tobacco. Multiple substance abuse was rather common (30.8 %). About 85 % of the substance abusers had psychiatric comorbidity, and about 30 % showed severe withdrawal symptoms. As with the rest of the patients, somatic multimorbidity was present in about 70 % of the substance abusers. Remarkable was the lower rate of dementia in current substance abusers. Conclusion: These results underscore that substance abuse is still a challenge in the psychiatric inpatient treatment of older people.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document