A Genetic Predictor of Medication Effectiveness in Smoking Cessation?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Clinicians still wait for a useful marker of drug effectiveness for smoking cessation.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
November 19, 2007
Covering:
Lee AM et al., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Sep 15; 62:635
Coronary Heart Disease Linked to Colorectal Tumors
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Evidence from a prospective study implicates common risk factors, notably metabolic syndrome and smoking.
Random Alcohol Testing Protects Our Roads
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Mandated alcohol testing of truck drivers significantly reduced related motor vehicle fatalities.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 22, 2007
Covering:
Snowden CB et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2007 Sep; 68:634
Topiramate and Alcohol Dependence
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Heavy drinking days decreased and abstinent days increased with doses up to 300 mg daily.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
October 18, 2007
Covering:
Johnson BA et al., JAMA 2007 Oct 10; 298:1641
Willenbring ML., JAMA 2007 Oct 10; 298:1691
Topiramate or Quetiapine for Alcohol Dependence?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Early results are promising, especially for patients with difficult-to-treat Type B alcoholism.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 15, 2007
Covering:
Johnson BA et al., JAMA 2007 Oct 10; 298:1641
Kampman KM et al., J Clin Psychopharmacol 2007 Aug; 27:344
Prolonged Military Deployment in Iraq Increases Mental Health Problems
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Soldiers deployed to combat for longer than 1 year reported more psychological and physical symptoms.
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate: A Prodrug for Children with ADHD
LDX appears to be as effective as extended-release mixed amphetamine salts, with a similar side-effect profile.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
October 3, 2007
Covering:
Biederman J et al., Clin Ther 2007 Mar; 29:450
Biederman J et al., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Jul 11
Directly Administered ART Improves Short-Term Outcomes
Monitored antiretroviral dosing improved treatment response in a randomized, controlled trial of HIV-infected drug users.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
October 1, 2007
Covering:
Altice FL et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Sep 15; 45:770
Alcohol Use and Progression of HIV Disease
Among HIV-infected patients who had a history of alcohol dependence and were not receiving ART, current heavy drinking was associated with lower CD4-cell counts than was abstinence.
By Keith Henry, MD
September 17, 2007
Covering:
Samet JH et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2007 Jul 19
Cannabis and Psychosis: Two Studies
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Evidence for the association is consistent across population-based studies, and cannabis use is associated with later worsening of psychosis.
By Deborah S. Cowley, MD
September 17, 2007
Covering:
Moore THM et al., Lancet 2007 Jul 28; 370:319
Degenhardt L et al., Psychol Med 2007 Jul; 37:927
Shortening N -Acetylcysteine Therapy for Acetaminophen Overdose
General Medicine Summary and Comment
None of 205 selected patients treated with a shortened course of <$EMPH_O>N<$EMPH_C>-acetylcysteine therapy developed liver injury.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
September 13, 2007
Covering:
Betten DP et al., Ann Emerg Med 2007 Sep; 50:272-9
Dart RC and Rumack BH., Ann Emerg Med 2007 Sep; 50:280-1
Genetic Vulnerabilities to Methamphetamine Abuse and Psychosis?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Researchers look at genetic polymorphisms associated with a protein implicated in schizophrenia.
By Joel Yager, MD
September 10, 2007
Covering:
Matsuzawa D et al., Am J Psychiatry 2007 Jul; 164:1105-14
Survival Improving Among HIV-Infected IDUs
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Summary and Comment
Free
A report from Spain confirms significant reductions in mortality in a large cohort of HIV-infected injection-drug users who were enrolled in a substance-abuse treatment program.
By Peter A. Selwyn, MD, MPH
August 30, 2007
Covering:
Muga R et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Aug 1; 45:370-6
Kirk GD and Vlahov D., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Aug 1; 45:377-80
Young-Adult Gambling Is a Bad Bet!
College students who gamble also engage in a host of other risk behaviors.
By M. Susan Jay, MD
August 22, 2007
Covering:
Huang J-H et al., J Adolesc Heath 2007 May; 40:390-7
Do Teens Get the Message?
If alcohol advertisers are serious about protecting youth, responsibility and moderation messages included in alcohol advertisements must be visible, prominent, and memorable.
By M. Susan Jay, MD
August 22, 2007
Covering:
Thomsen SR and Fulton K., J Adolesc Health 2007 Jul; 41:27-34
Crystal Methamphetamine Use Among Young Adults
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Rates are higher than previously thought.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
August 13, 2007
Covering:
Iritani BJ et al., Addiction 2007 Jul; 102:1102-13
College Drinking Predicts Abuse of Prescription Drugs
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Misuse of prescription drugs is high among students with drinking problems.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
August 13, 2007
Covering:
McCabe SE et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2007 Jul; 68:543-7
Childhood Abuse and Antisocial Alcoholism in Women: A Genetic Link
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An <$EMPH_O>MAOA<$EMPH_C> polymorphism predicted psychopathology, but only among women with histories of childhood sexual abuse.
By Barbara Geller, MD
August 13, 2007
Covering:
Ducci F et al., Mol Psychiatry 2007 Jun 26
Big Brother May Be Watching What You Prescribe
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Although rare, excessive prosecutions of physicians who prescribed high-dose narcotics for chronic pain may have a chilling impact on clinical practice.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
July 30, 2007
Covering:
Reidenberg MM and Willis O., Clin Pharmacol Ther 2007 Jun; 81:903-6
Benjamin DM., Clin Pharmacol Ther 2007 Jun; 81:797-8
Hoffmann DE., Clin Pharmacol Ther 2007 Jun; 81:799-801
Detecting Problem Drinking
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Even psychiatrists can improve. . . .
By Deborah S. Cowley, MD
July 30, 2007
Covering:
Hill KP and Chang G., Am J Addict 2007 May/Jun; 16:222-6
Alcohol Dependence: Chronic Disorder or Not?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Many people with alcohol use disorders report one episode lasting up to several years.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
July 24, 2007
Covering:
Hasin DS et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007 Jul; 64:830-42
Targeting High-Risk Drinking in Fraternities
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A peer-to-peer intervention produces some temporary improvement in drinking behaviors.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
July 16, 2007
Covering:
Caudill BD et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2007 May; 68:399-409
"Why Do You Think They Call It Dope?"
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Even light use of MDMA can result in problems with verbal memory.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
July 9, 2007
Covering:
Schilt T et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007 Jun; 64:728-36
Paying Attention to Meth Abuse
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An animal and a human study show the deleterious effect of methamphetamine on brain structure and function, especially attention.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
July 9, 2007
Covering:
Deng X et al., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Jun 1; 61:1235-43
Salo R et al., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Jun 1; 61:1272-80
HIV Infection Is Linked to Lung Cancer Risk Again
In a cohort comprised mostly of smokers, HIV infection was an independent risk factor for lung cancer. Message for patients: Time to quit!
By Abigail Zuger, MD
July 2, 2007
Covering:
Kirk GD et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Jul 1; 45:103-10
