Substance Abuse
The latest information on addiction, alcoholism, opioids, psychotherapy, and more, drawn from across our primary care and specialty care areas. Sign up now for monthly e-mail alerts on new content.
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Cannabinoid System Dysregulation in PTSD
- June 10, 2013
- Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
- Psychiatry
Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder have more cannabinoid receptors and fewer endocannabinoids in plasma than people without the disorder.
- Reviewing:
- Neumesiter A et al. Mol Psychiatry 2013 May 14
CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE WATCH
Screening and Intervention to Prevent Alcohol MisuseFree
- June 4, 2013
- Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
- General Medicine
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults be screened; evidence is insufficient to recommend screening for adolescents.
- Reviewing:
- Moyer VA. Ann Intern Med 2013 May 14
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Prescribing Opioids at Discharge: Most Patients Do Not Have a History of Overuse
- May 31, 2013
- Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
- Emergency Medicine
A prescription database shows that although most patients prescribed opioids at discharge from a single ED had no history of overuse, nearly 10% had received more than 7 opioid prescriptions in the previous 6 months.
- Reviewing:
- Hoppe JA et al. West J Emerg Med 2013 May; 14:247
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Vaccinating Against Heroin Addiction: A Promising Approach
- May 24, 2013
- Barbara Geller, MD
- Psychiatry
An animal study shows some benefits from a vaccine active against heroin and its metabolites.
- Reviewing:
- Schlosburg JE et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013 May 6
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
More Data from the National Lung Screening TrialFree
- May 22, 2013
- Allan S. Brett, MD
- General Medicine
This report focuses on findings and follow-up testing during the first round of computed tomography screening.
- Reviewing:
- The National Lung Screening Trial Research Team. N Engl J Med 2013 May 23; 368:1980
CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE WATCH
2013 ACCP Guideline on Screening for Lung CancerFree
- May 22, 2013
- Allan S. Brett, MD
- General Medicine
The American College of Chest Physicians recommends screening with low-dose computed tomography — but only in a carefully defined population.
- Reviewing:
- Detterbeck FC et al. Chest 2013 May; 143:e78S
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Disconnecting Neural Networks May Improve Psychopathology
- April 29, 2013
- Steven Dubovsky, MD
- Psychiatry
Three studies look at functional connectivity with and without treatment in patients with dysthymia, alcohol dependence, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Reviewing:
- Posner J et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2013 Apr 1; 70:373
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Religious Beliefs Protect Against Peer Influences on College Drinking
- April 22, 2013
- Steven Dubovsky, MD
- Psychiatry
The finding remained significant even when students reported social norms of greater drinking.
- Reviewing:
- Neighbors C et al. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2013 May; 74:361
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Imaging Internet Addiction in Teenagers
- April 12, 2013
- Barbara Geller, MD
- Psychiatry
Gaming-addicted adolescents show thinning of the orbitofrontal cortex.
- Reviewing:
- Hong S-B et al. Behav Brain Funct 2013 Mar 12; 9:11
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Benefits of Caffeine for the Long Haul
- April 9, 2013
- Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
- General Medicine
Caffeine consumption was associated with lower crash risk in commercial drivers.
- Reviewing:
- Sharwood LN et al. BMJ 2013 Mar 19; 346:f1140
