Brains on Cannabis
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An animal study elucidates mechanisms of cannabinoid-induced cognitive impairment.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
August 24, 2009
Covering:
Puighermanal E et al., Nat Neurosci 2009 Aug 2
Heroin Injection vs. Methadone for Opioid Addiction
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Prescribing the active ingredient in heroin provides superior outcomes but isn't feasible in the U.S. today.
Ghrelin: It's Not Just for Food; Let's Drink to That
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In an animal study, central ghrelin signaling activates the mesolimbic reward system for alcohol.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
August 3, 2009
Covering:
Jerlhag E et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Jul 7; 106:11318
Maternal Smoking Rates During Pregnancy Drop . . . A Little
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Rates of smoking during and after pregnancy declined somewhat from 2000 through 2005, but smoking prevalence before conception did not change.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
July 30, 2009
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Surveill Summ 2009 May 29; 58:1
Validation of a Single-Question Alcohol Screening Test
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
One short simple question effectively identified patients with unhealthy alcohol use.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
July 28, 2009
Covering:
Smith PC et al., J Gen Intern Med 2009 Jul; 24:783
Smoking Cessation in the CCU
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Intensive smoking cessation efforts had some success among patients recruited during inpatient cardiac care.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
July 28, 2009
Covering:
Smith PM and Burgess E., CMAJ 2009 Jun 23; 180:1297
Sex-Drug Use Increases HIV Risk for MSM
In a cohort of HIV-uninfected MSM, the use of poppers, stimulants, or erectile dysfunction drugs significantly increased the risk for acquiring HIV.
By Keith Henry, MD
July 27, 2009
Covering:
Ostrow DG et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Jul; 51:349
Even Fruit Flies Love Happy Hour
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An animal study uncovers a gene that regulates signaling pathways involved in alcohol intoxication and preference.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
July 27, 2009
Covering:
Corl AB et al., Cell 2009 May 29; 137:949
Palfreyman MT., Cell 2009 May 29; 137:802
Smoking Cessation: How Much Evidence Do We Need to Act?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In patients hospitalized for MI or CABG, an intensive intervention produced higher abstinence rates than a typical intervention.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
July 22, 2009
Covering:
Smith PM and Burgess E., CMAJ 2009 Jun 23; 180:1297
Rigotti NA., CMAJ 2009 Jun 23; 180:1283
More About Cannabis and Psychosis
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Acute exposure increases psychosis-like symptoms, especially among those with high-trait schizotypy.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
July 13, 2009
Covering:
Mason O et al., Psychol Med 2009 Jun; 39:951
Morrison PD et al., Psychol Med 2009 Apr 1
Drinking and College Don’t Mix
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Heavy drinking worsens academic performance, in part by disrupting students’ sleep schedules.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
June 1, 2009
Covering:
Singleton RA Jr and Wolfson AR., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2009 May; 70:355
Laws on Alcohol Availability Might Reduce Suicide Rates
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
If it works in Slovenia, could it work here?
By Joel Yager, MD
June 1, 2009
Covering:
Pridemore WA and Snowden AJ., Am J Public Health 2009 May; 99:915
Schizophrenia-Associated Violence and Comorbid Substance Abuse
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
The risk for violence is small in the absence of substance abuse.
Is Any Amount of Prenatal Alcohol Consumption Safe?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A community-based study and two animal studies show the detrimental effect of prenatal alcohol on development.
By Barbara Geller, MD
May 11, 2009
Covering:
Sayal K et al., Pediatrics 2009 Feb; 123:e289
Youngentob SL and Glendinning JI., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Mar 31; 106:5359
Kot-Leibovich H and Fainsod A., Dis Model Mech 2009 May/Jun; 2:295
Intensive Efforts Could Improve Smoking-Cessation Rate
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Both outreach programs and the intense cessation programs affect the proportion of smokers who succeed in quitting.
USPSTF Reaffirms Recommendations to Screen for Tobacco Use and to Intervene
General Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
For adults (and pregnant women especially) the benefits of smoking-cessation counseling far outweigh any harms.
Cocaine-Related Chest Pain: The Year After
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
During 1 year after an ED visit for low-risk cocaine-related chest pain, patients had a very low rate of MI but a high rate of repeat ED visits, often for cocaine-related chest pain.
Benefits of a Housing Intervention for Chronically Homeless Alcoholics
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
A housing intervention reduced use and costs of healthcare and public services; longer stays in housing were associated with greater benefits.
Pregnant? Quitting Smoking Early Matters
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Rates of preterm delivery and small-for-gestational-age babies were similar in women who quit smoking before 15 weeks’ gestation and in nonsmokers.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
April 9, 2009
Covering:
McCowan LME et al., BMJ 2009 Mar 26; 338:b1081
Do You Drink Because You’re Depressed, or Are You Depressed Because You Drink?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Sophisticated statistical modeling of longitudinal data suggests that alcohol misuse causes depression more than depression causes alcohol misuse.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 6, 2009
Covering:
Fergusson DM et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 Mar; 66:260
Modafinil Might Increase Brain Dopamine Levels
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A PET study supports the hypothesis that this drug acts at the same site as cocaine.
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 30, 2009
Covering:
Volkow ND et al., JAMA 2009 Mar 18; 301:1148
Are Psychiatric Patients Really Dangerous?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Substance use and history of violence play important roles in a patient’s risk for violent behavior.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 16, 2009
Covering:
Elbogen EB and Johnson SC., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 Feb; 66:152
Hookah Smoking Is Still Smoking
Ten percent of surveyed Arizona high-school students reported ever smoking water-pipe tobacco.
Nature vs. Nurture: What IVF Can Reveal
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A unique study provides insights into genetic and environmental factors in human development.
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 9, 2009
Covering:
Rice F et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Feb 17; 106:2464
A New Medication for Alcohol Dependence?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Prazosin shows promise in a pilot study.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
March 9, 2009
Covering:
Simpson TL et al., Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2009 Feb; 33:255
