Disconnecting Neural Networks May Improve Psychopathology
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Three studies look at functional connectivity with and without treatment in patients with dysthymia, alcohol dependence, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 29, 2013
Covering:
Posner J et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2013 Apr 1; 70:373
Schmaal L et al., Biol Psychiatry 2013 Apr 15; 73:789
Figee M et al., Nat Neurosci 2013 Apr; 16:386
Religious Beliefs Protect Against Peer Influences on College Drinking
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The finding remained significant even when students reported social norms of greater drinking.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 22, 2013
Covering:
Neighbors C et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2013 May; 74:361
Imaging Internet Addiction in Teenagers
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Gaming-addicted adolescents show thinning of the orbitofrontal cortex.
By Barbara Geller, MD
April 12, 2013
Covering:
Hong S-B et al., Behav Brain Funct 2013 Mar 12; 9:11
Benefits of Caffeine for the Long Haul
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Caffeine consumption was associated with lower crash risk in commercial drivers.
Nicotine Reprograms Reward Responses
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Some answers to the question of why it is so hard to quit smoking.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 8, 2013
Covering:
Rose EJ et al., Biol Psychiatry 2013 Feb 1; 73:280
Addy NA and Picciotto MR., Biol Psychiatry 2013 Feb 1; 73:205
A Personalized Approach to Prevention of Alcohol Misuse
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
With group therapy aimed at personality traits, high-risk teenagers were less likely to progress to more risky drinking.
Benefits of Smoking Cessation Prevail over Risks for Subsequent Modest Weight Gain
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Concerns about weight gain should not dissuade clinicians from encouraging patients to quit.
Mentally Ill More Likely to Die by Homicide
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Risk for being a homicide victim is elevated in mentally ill individuals, even among those who do not abuse substances.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
March 25, 2013
Covering:
Crump C et al., BMJ 2013 Mar 5; 346:f557
Webb R et al., BMJ 2013 Mar 5; 346:f1336
An Approach to Solitary Pulmonary Nodules
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Experts have published an exhaustive review, with new algorithms for evaluation and management.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
March 19, 2013
Covering:
Patel VK et al., Chest 2013 Mar; 143:825
Patel VK et al., Chest 2013 Mar; 143:840
Wiener RS et al., Chest 2013 Mar; 143:672
Does School Drug Testing Work?
Yes and no: Testing was often associated with decreased use of marijuana but greater use of other illicit drugs.
An Antinicotine Vaccine?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A proof-of-concept study suggests significant reductions in smoking, desire, and brain nicotine levels after vaccination.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 11, 2013
Covering:
Esterlis I et al., Am J Psychiatry 2013 Feb 22
Extending the Benefits of a Smoke-Free Environment to Those Still In Utero
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Successive public smoking bans in Belgium were associated with reductions in incidence of preterm deliveries.
Acute Kidney Injury Linked with Smoking Synthetic Cannabinoids
These popular drugs of abuse should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute kidney injury, especially in adolescent and young adult males.
By Alain Joffe, MD, MPH, FAAP
February 27, 2013
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2013 Feb 15; 62:93
Who Uses Cannabis?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Patients with mental illness accounted for 83% of all U.S. cannabis consumption.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
February 25, 2013
Covering:
Lev-Ran S et al., Compr Psychiatry 2013 Jan 30
Quadruple Increase in ED Visits Involving ADHD Medications in Young Adults
Between 2005 and 2010, the number of ED visits among 18- to 25-year-olds increased from 2100 to 8000, while increasing only slightly among adolescents.
By Alain Joffe, MD, MPH, FAAP
February 20, 2013
Covering:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality., DAWN Report 2013 Jan 24
Ambulance Transport of Inebriated Patients Directly to Detox from the Field
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
A checklist identified drinkers stable enough to go to a detox facility instead of an ED. (But why bother?)
Alcohol Availability Interacts with Demographic Factors to Predict Violence
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The problem is greatest in low-income, crowded areas with a high density of alcohol outlets, especially bars.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 28, 2013
Covering:
Mair C et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2013 Jan; 74:50
Providing Naloxone to Heroin Users to Prevent Overdose Deaths
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Modeling results suggest that this practice would be cost-effective.
What Types of Brief Interventions for Alcohol Problems Work Best in Primary Care?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A 5- or 20-minute intervention produced the same improvement as assessment plus a booklet.
By Joel Yager, MD
January 18, 2013
Covering:
Kaner E et al., BMJ 2013 Jan 9; 346:e8501
USPSTF Review of Interventions to Prevent Tobacco Use in Children and Adolescents
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
In a draft statement, the USPSTF recommends that clinicians provide educational or counseling interventions to prevent initiation of tobacco use.
How Cannabis Might Increase Schizophrenia Risk in the Developing Mind
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In adolescent mice, a cannabinoid receptor agonist is linked to abnormal prepulse inhibition similar to that found in schizophrenia.
By Barbara Geller, MD
December 21, 2012
Covering:
Gleason KA et al., Transl Psychiatry 2012 Nov 27; 2:e199
For Lowering MI Risk, Not All Smoke-Free Environments Are Equal
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Risk for myocardial infarction was lower only after a complete smoking ban (i.e., in all work settings).
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
December 6, 2012
Covering:
Hurt RD et al., Arch Intern Med 2012 Nov 26; 172:1635
Clean Urines Win the Prize in Patients with Dual Diagnosis
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Contingency rewards can reduce co-occurring stimulant use in the seriously mentally ill.
By Joel Yager, MD
December 3, 2012
Covering:
McDonell MG et al., Am J Psychiatry 2012 Nov 9
Elevated Liver Enzymes with Naltrexone Might Not Indicate Toxicity
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Are we overestimating drug hepatotoxicity?
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
December 3, 2012
Covering:
Mitchell MC et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2012 Nov; 73:991
Using Smokers' Genotypes to Predict Treatment Outcome
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A mathematical model using more than 12,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms predicts the likelihood of quitting smoking and of future substance use by teenagers.
