Extended Buprenorphine-Naloxone Treatment for Opioid-Addicted Adolescents: A Qualified Success
Fewer adolescents who received treatment for 12 weeks than for 14 days had opioid-positive urine tests at 4 and 8 weeks, but not at 12 weeks or 1 year.
Can Naltrexone Reduce Amphetamine Abuse and Dependence?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The answer might be yes.
By Joel Yager, MD
December 1, 2008
Covering:
Jayaram-Lindström N et al., Am J Psychiatry 2008 Nov; 165:1442
Naltrexone for Amphetamine Dependence
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Naltrexone blocks endorphin receptors in the pleasure pathways where all drugs of abuse have effects.
Outcomes of Health Programs for Physicians with Substance-Use Disorders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The primary problem substances were alcohol, opiates, and stimulants.
Choose to Chew: Nicotine Gum and Pregnancy
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women who chewed nicotine gum cut their daily smoking more than did women who chewed placebo gum.
Anabolic Steroids and Violent Behavior
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Anabolic steroids might be bad for mental as well as physical health.
By Joel Yager, MD
November 17, 2008
Covering:
Beaver KM et al., Am J Public Health 2008 Dec; 98:2185
Another Reason Not to Smoke, As If You Needed One
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Smoking is not good for your cognitive health.
By Joel Yager, MD
November 17, 2008
Covering:
Nooyens ACJ et al., Am J Public Health 2008 Dec; 98:2244
Cost-Effectiveness of Alcoholism Treatments
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Researchers attempt to develop clinician-focused cost-benefit ratios of several common treatments.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
November 10, 2008
Covering:
Zarkin GA et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008 Oct; 65:1214
The More You Drink, the More You Shrink
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Alcohol consumption might decrease brain volume.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
November 3, 2008
Covering:
Paul CA et al., Arch Neurol 2008 Oct; 65:1363
CBT for Insomnia: Taper the Sleeping Pills at the Same Time
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Guidance on how clinicians should handle chronic use of hypnotics when providing cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 27, 2008
Covering:
Zavesicka L et al., BMC Psychiatry 2008 Sep 18; 8:80
Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome: Reefer Madness?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An epidemiologic study uncovers evidence for the syndrome.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 27, 2008
Covering:
Hasin DS et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2008 Sep; 69:1354
Reviews of Note
Naltrexone; genetics of bipolar disorder and depression; new drug development; stress; psychotherapy; renal effects of lithium; cognition in twins; and the geography of genetics
Cigarette Smoking and Stroke Risk in Young Women
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Stroke risk was substantially higher in current smokers than in never smokers or former smokers and increased sharply with number of cigarettes smoked daily.
Personalized Medicine for Quitting Smoking
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Another step toward personalized medicine
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
September 29, 2008
Covering:
Patterson F et al., Clin Pharmacol Ther 2008 Sep; 84:320
Acute HCV Infection in HIV-Positive Men
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
More than 80% of HIV-infected men with newly acquired HCV had moderately advanced fibrosis.
Healthy Lifestyle’s Effect on Mortality Risk
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Five lifestyle factors had individual and combined effects on risk for all-cause, CV, and cancer mortality.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
September 16, 2008
Covering:
van Dam RM et al., BMJ 2008 Sep 17; 337:a1440
Animal Study Explains Relapse After Rehab
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Rats are conditioned to respond to the context as well as to the cue.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
September 15, 2008
Covering:
Chaudhri N et al., Biol Psychiatry 2008 Aug 1; 64:203
Smoking Enhances Platelet Inhibition by Clopidogrel
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Results of an observational study substantiate a possible contributor to the variation in patient response to clopidogrel.
By Howard C. Herrmann, MD
September 10, 2008
Covering:
Bliden KP et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Aug 12; 52:531
IDUs and IE Site: Does Drug Choice Matter?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Use of heroin, but not of other injection drugs, is associated with right-sided endocarditis.
A Sobering Report on College Drinking
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The high rate of binge drinking has deleterious effects on drinkers and nondrinkers alike.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
September 8, 2008
Covering:
Wechsler H and Nelson TF., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2008 Jul; 69:481
No MJ for MS
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Cannabis users with MS have impaired cognition.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
August 25, 2008
Covering:
Ghaffar O and Feinstein A., Neurology 2008 Jul 15; 71:164
Arnett PA., Neurology 2008 Jul 15; 71:160
Alcohol Problems in Military Personnel
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Combat exposure is associated with risk for new-onset alcohol-related problems in National Guard and Reserve personnel.
Smoking Bans and Acute Coronary Syndrome
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Results of a prospective observational study in Scotland confirm that banning smoking in public places reduces hospital admissions for ACS.
IDUs Benefit Fully from ART
Mortality curves after starting ART are similar for IDUs and non-IDUs.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
August 18, 2008
Covering:
Wood E et al., JAMA 2008 Aug 6; 300:550
Postdeployment Drinking
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A prospective study shows increased risks for alcohol problems after combat exposure.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
August 18, 2008
Covering:
Jacobson IG et al., JAMA 2008 Aug 13; 300:663
Corrigan JD and Cole TB., JAMA 2008 Aug 13; 300:720
