Alcoholic Psychosis Research Articles

Difficulties in diagnosing rabies using the example of a clinical case in the Omsk region

Rabies is the deadliest zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus, a member of the genus Lyssavirus. The disease occurs after a bite from a wild or domestic animal. The paper presents a clinical case of rabies with early diagnostic difficulties, particularlyclinical, epidemiological, and laboratory diagnostic features, in a patient suffering from alcoholism. The victim sought medical help 20 days after the dog bite. On day 29, a hydrophobia clinic was observed. The patient exhibited signs of visual and auditory hallucinations, aggressiveness, and disorientation in place and time, which resembled the development of alcoholic psychosis. Saliva samples were collected on day 3 of the disease, and its polymerase chain reaction test was negative for rabies virus. On day 29, the patient died. The diagnosis of rabies was confirmed antemortem and posthumously. The virus was detected in the saliva on day 9 of the disease and posthumously in the cerebral cortex, medulla oblongata, cerebellum, and salivary glands. Histologically, Babesh–Negri bodies were found in the brain tissue. Necessary preventive measures were implemented. The unfavorable outcome in the described case of rabies emphasizes the lack of awareness of the population (especially rural) about the risk of contracting rabies infection through contact with animals and the importance of timely post-exposure prophylaxis. Timely anti-rabies care remains the only effective means of preventing related deaths.

Alcohol-Induced Psychosis: Beyond Korsakoff. Case report and Literature Review

IntroductionChronic consumption of alcohol has clear deleterious effects on the nervous system. Among its less-recognized consequences are subacute and chronic alcohol-induced psychotic disorders. Lasègue, Garnier, Magnan, and Michaux provided exhaustive clinical descriptions of different presentations of subacute alcoholic delusional disorder, while Kraepelin, Allamagny, and Neveu defined the characteristics of chronic alcoholic hallucinatory psychosis. Both conditions are characterized by the occurrence of hallucinations and vivid dream-like content in their delusions, along with potential emotional detachment from the symptoms. Presently, both conditions are categorized under the generic term ‘Alcohol-Induced Psychotic Disorder,’ with limited available scientific literature.ObjectivesOur goal is to bring attention to the existence of subacute and chronic alcohol-induced psychosis in individuals with long-term alcohol users.MethodsCase report using clinical records and a non-systematic literature review.ResultsA 63-year-old male, with a forty-year history of chronic alcoholism and no other prior mental health issues, was admitted in the emergency department. He conveyed vague delusional notions regarding his roommate and described vivid morning dreams in which he tried to communicate but couldn’t speak. This led him to believe his roommate harboured harmful intentions. Additionally, he mentioned that for the past two months, he had developed a telepathic connection with his sister and his deceased mother, with whom he felt he communicated without speaking. He described feeling strangement and anxiety concerning these experiences, which he firmly believed to be undeniably real. He reported being able to hear the voices of his mother and sister. He also described short-term memory problems dating back two years. He denied any other psychopathology and exhibited probable ideational and emotional impoverishment secondary to chronic alcohol consumption. Confirmation of the patient’s account was provided by his family members. The prescribed treatment included antipsychotic medication and a recommendation for alcohol abstinence.ConclusionsDescriptions of chronic and subacute alcohol-induced psychoses are found in early psychiatric textbooks but have been omitted from contemporary classifications. While their incidence is low among chronic alcohol users, they represent a severe clinical entity. These disorders are usually distinguished by the presence of delusions and vivid hallucinations characterized by dream-like content. This distinct symptomatology aids in the accurate differentiation from other psychotic disorders and clinicians should be aware of their existence.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Mediating role of anxiety and impulsivity in the association between child maltreatment and lifetime non-suicidal self-injury with and without suicidal self-injury

BackgroundChild maltreatment can increase the risk of lifetime non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal self-injury (SSI), but there is limited knowledge regarding the differences of potentially psychological mechanisms between NSSI with and without SSI. MethodsParticipants, 3918 community-based Chinese young men aged 18–34 years in Chengdu, were included in this study. We investigated the association between depression, anxiety, psychosis, child maltreatment, adulthood traumatic events, impulsivity, alcohol dependence, drug abuse, and lifetime of NSSI among participants with and without SSI. Parallel mediation analysis was utilized to explore the mediators for the relation between child maltreatment and NSSI. ResultsThe prevalence of lifetime NSSI was 6.1 % (95 % CI: 5.4 %–6.9 %) among young men. Anxiety and impulsivity partially mediated the effect of child maltreatment on NSSI either with (indirect effect: 51.2 %) or without SSI (indirect effect: 34.3 %). Depression was independently and significantly associated with only NSSI but not with NSSI+SSI. Alcohol dependence and psychosis were independently and significantly associated with NSSI+SSI and mediated the effect of child maltreatment on NSSI+SSI. LimitationsThe cross-sectional survey data limits the robustness of the proof to the causal relationships. ConclusionsAnxiety and impulsivity are associated with NSSI either with or without SSI and partially mediate the effect of child maltreatment on NSSI. Depression is associated with only NSSI, while alcohol dependence and psychosis are only associated with NSSI+SSI. It could be crucial to improve treatment and recovery of alcohol dependence and psychosis for preventing young men engaged in NSSI from attempting SSI.

Why Culture and Context Matters: Examining Differences in Mental Health Stigma and Social Distance Between Latino Individuals in the United States and Mexico.

This study examines the influence of cultural context on social distance and perceptions of stigma towards mental health conditions among Latino populations in Houston, TX, USA and Mexico City, Mexico. We employed a community-based experimental vignette survey to assess perceptions towards individuals experiencing symptoms of alcohol misuse, depression, and psychosis. Participants (n = 513) from Houston and Mexico City were asked about their willingness to accept community members experiencing mental health symptoms in various social roles, their perceptions of stigma related to these symptoms, anticipated danger, possible positive outcomes, and the community member's ability to change. Findings demonstrate significant differences in stigma perceptions between Latino respondents in the US and in Mexico. Houston participants reported lower public stigma and perceived dangerousness of someone with mental health concerns compared to respondents in Mexico City. Furthermore, the cultural context may influence the association between various dimensions of stigma, with some inverse relationships occurring based on location of data collection. Findings illuminate the complex interplay between cultural context, mental health symptoms, and stigma, and underscores the need for culturally nuanced interventions to reduce mental health stigma and promote service utilization in Latino communities.

The impact of alcohol pricing policies on public health in Hong Kong, China: A modelling study

SummaryBackgroundContrary to most developed economies, Hong Kong has reduced and eliminated taxes on beer and wine over the last 15 years and observed increasing alcohol consumption.MethodsWe applied econometric epidemiological modelling to assess the impact of reverting ad valorem taxation to pre-2008 levels (20% on wine and 40% on beer) on consumption and health outcomes. We used 15 years of industry sales and pricing data (2004-2018) to derive 25 own-price and cross-price elasticity estimates. We applied risk functions from the World Health Organization 2018 Global Status Report to assess the impact on 25 alcohol-attributable conditions.FindingsAn estimated 616 deaths (91.3% in men) were attributable to alcohol in 2018. Raising taxes to pre-2008 levels is estimated to reduce consumption of pure alcohol consumption by 8.0%, 15.9%, and 31.1%; and reduce alcohol-attributable deaths by 11.6%, 21.8%, and 40.2% assuming 25%, 50% and 100% pass through rates of taxes to consumers. The largest projected decreases in alcohol-attributable mortality in absolute numbers are alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, and alcoholic psychoses (wholly alcohol-attributable disorders). The largest absolute number of new alcohol-attributable cases in 2018 were hypertension, alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse; which are estimated to be reduced by 31.3%, 34.2%, and 34.3% respectively by raising taxes to pre-2008 levels. The alcohol-attributable health burden and absolute reductions in health harms are far greater in men.InterpretationReversing the 2008 alcohol tax reductions is potentially effective in averting the alcohol-attributable health burden and thus mitigate against the avoidable harms of alcohol-related disease.FundingHealth and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR, China [03170067].

Clinical variants of acute psychotic conditions in alcohol withdrawal patients

The aim of the study was to examine the variety of acute psychotic disorders in patients with alcohol dependence and clinical variants of alcohol withdrawal with delirium, hospitalized in a specialized hospital. Under observation were 560 men addicted to alcohol, in a state of withdrawal with acute psychotic disorder (primary hospitalization in this study); average age — 38.7 ± 2.9 years, average experience of alcoholism — 9.4 ± 0.9 years. Patients were examined in the dynamics of re-hospitalization after 5 years, the average age — 43.7 ± 2.9 years, the average experience of alcoholism — 14.4 ± 0, 9 years. The psychopathological typology of acute psychotic disorders, the dependence of the course of acute psychotic disorders on the characteristics of the temporal characteristics of alcohol dependence, the presence of somatic diseases and lesions of the nervous system were studied. Peculiarities of alcohol dependence after acute psychotic disorder have been studied. The clinical and psychopathological structure of acute psychotic disorders in patients with alcohol dependence in the state of alcohol withdrawal was studied. A comparison of clinical and dynamic patterns of alcohol dependence and psychopathological disorders in the structure of alcoholic psychosis were done. The influence of permanent and temporary factors on the clinical picture and pathoplasty of alcohol withdrawal with delirium has been studied. It is proved that in re-hospitalizations metal-alcoholic psychoses in most cases repeat the clinical picture of the primary clinical episode. This is evidenced by the fact that in the group of patients with psychotic conditions due to alcohol use (F10.5 according to ICD-10) in the subsequent 95 % of cases were diagnosed and diagnosed with acute psychotic disorders. In the group of patients with withdrawal from alcohol with delirium in the future in 93 % of cases were diagnosed with withdrawal from alcohol with delirium.

Current state of prevalence and dynamics of alcohol-associated narcopathology: a retrospective study

Background. The population prevalence of alcohol abuse-associated drug-related diseases bears high social impact. This indicator holds special value both as a potential indirect estimator of the quality of life, availability and efficiency of drug addiction treatment, a well as parameter for qualitative prognostic models of social and economic development. The burden of alcohol-associated drug diseases is typically ambiguous in prevalence estimation, both across Russian Federation and worldwide.Objectives. A study of the alcohol abuse-associated drug-related morbidity prevalence in Krasnodar Krai for period 2000–2020.Methods. A retrospective descriptive study included legal-paper data of the “Information on Drug-Related Disorders” federal statistics survey (Form 11) of Krasnodar Krai, years 2000-2020, describing the re-registration rate of alcohol use-associated drug disorders. The inclusion criterion was an established drug-related disease among all age cohorts. The main study indicators were regional prevalence values of alcoholic psychosis, alcohol dependence syndrome and harmful alcohol use relative to gender, area and age.Results. Prevalence trends in alcohol use-related drug pathology were more favourable in Krasnodar Krai over Southern Federal District and country-wide. The decline rate among males was significantly higher (22.1-fold) vs. the female population (3.0-fold). The prevalence of alcohol use-related drug pathology remained higher in urban vs. rural areas, with higher rural vs. urban decline rates. Over the entire study period, the 40–59 years-age population was leading by the incidence of overall alcohol use-related drug pathology and, separately, of alcoholic psychosis and alcohol dependence syndrome. Highest harmful alcohol use values were registered for 20–39-year population.Conclusion. The revealed dynamics of legal-registered alcoholic drug pathology prevalence has a multifactorial origin. The changes are conditioned by improvement in the narcological aid institutional regulation within the state guarantee programme, federal and regional preventive measures, current progress in drug therapy, regional demography, as well as underreporting of alcohol-associated drug diseases due to a missing strict vertical statistic registration at the level of any-type medical institutions.

The relation between socio-economic indicators, the incidence of alcoholism and alcoholic psychosis in Russia, 1992-2020

<b>Introduction.</b> Alcoholism is still a pressing socio-medical problem in Russia that needs to be considered within the broader socio-economic context. Therefore, this study focuses on socio-economic indicators and their association with the incidence of alcoholism and alcoholic psychoses. <b>Aim.</b> To study the correlations of socio-economic indicators with the incidence (the number of new cases) of alcoholism and alcoholic psychoses in Russia, 1992-2020. <b>Materials and methods.</b> Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationships between a set of socio-economic indicators, cases of alcoholism and alcoholic psychoses. Data analysis was conducted using the SPSS software package. <b>Results.</b> The incidence of alcoholic psychoses correlates with the Index of Economic Freedom (r= -0.427 | moderate association), Human Development Index (-0.629 | noticeable), unemployment rate (0.655 | noticeable), poverty level (0.482 | moderate). The incidence of alcoholism correlates with Gini coefficient (-0.595 | noticeable), Human Development Index (-0.975 | strong), unemployment rate (0.765 | high), poverty level (0.803 | high), price of vodka (0.769 | high). Public health expenditure in relation to GDP (%) does not correlate with the incidence of alcoholic psychoses and alcoholism. <b>Conclusion.</b> The results of the study showed significant associations with 6 out of 7 socio-economic indicators. This may indicate that the incidence of alcoholism and alcoholic psychoses is largely caused by the socio-economic situation.

Modern Approach towards Clinical Evaluation and Treatment of Alcohol Psychoses

Based on the literature and our own data in article outlines current clinical picture of alcoholic psychosis (delirium tremens, hallusinosis, alcohol delusion psychoses, jealousy), and theirs modem treatment methods. To give separate recommendation on the therapy of the delirium tremens, hallusinosis, alcohol delusion psychoses, jealousy etc. These data are of great practical and theoretical significance.

Prolonged ethanol exposure alters glutamate uptake leading to astrogliosis and neuroinflammation in adult zebrafish brain

High ethanol (EtOH) consumption is a serious condition that induces tremors, alcoholic psychosis, and delirium, being considered a public health problem worldwide. Prolonged EtOH exposure promotes neurodegeneration, affecting several neurotransmitter systems and transduction signaling pathways. Glutamate is the major excitatory amino acid in the central nervous system (CNS) and the extracellular glutamatergic tonus is controlled by glutamate transporters mostly located in astrocytes. Here, we explore the effects of prolonged EtOH exposure on the glutamatergic uptake system and its relationship with astroglial markers (GFAP and S100B), neuroinflammation (IL-1β and TNF-α), and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the CNS of adult zebrafish. Animals were exposed to 0.5% EtOH for 7, 14, and 28 days continuously. Glutamate uptake was significantly decreased after 7 and 14 days of EtOH exposure, returning to baseline levels after 28 days of exposure. No alterations were observed in crucial enzymatic activities linked to glutamate uptake, like Na,K-ATPase or glutamine synthetase. Prolonged EtOH exposure increased GFAP, S100B, and TNF-α levels after 14 days. Additionally, increased BDNF mRNA levels were observed after 14 and 28 days of EtOH exposure, while BDNF protein levels increased only after 28 days. Collectively, our data show markedly brain astroglial, neuroinflammatory and neurotrofic responses after an initial impairment of glutamate uptake following prolonged EtOH exposure. This neuroplasticity event could play a key role in the modulatory effect of EtOH on glutamate uptake after 28 days of continuous exposure.

Concentration of Circulating Cell-Free DNA in the Peripheral Blood Plasma of Patients with Acute Endogenous and Exogenous Etiology Psychoses

Introduction: cell-free plasma DNA (cfDNA) is used as a marker refl ecting the level of apoptosis in the human body under stress. Acute psychosis caused by endogenous (schizophrenia) and exogenous (alcohol intoxication) factors in the patient’s body is associated with oxidative stress. Presumably, cfDNA concentration in the blood plasma of patients with acute psychoses of endogenous and exogenous etiology is increased. The purpose of the study: comparative analysis of the cfDNA concentration in the blood plasma of treated and untreated patients with paranoid schizophrenia during the disease exacerbation, patients with alcoholic psychosis and healthy volunteers. Patients and methods: the concentration of cfDNA was determined in the blood plasma samples of 476 people: control group (n = 95); patients with schizophrenia in the acute stage of the disease (n = 334); patients with alcoholic psychosis (n = 47). Results: the concentrations of cfDNA in the plasma of patients with schizophrenia (median 931 ng/ml) is 2.2 times higher than in the control group (median 428 ng/ml) and 1.8 times higher than in the patients with alcoholic psychosis (504 ng/ml). For the patients with schizophrenia with high PANSS, we found the highest values of the cfDNA concentration in the blood plasma during psychosis, which indicates a more pronounced systemic process, which is accompanied by the cell death level increase. Conclusions: the concentration of cfDNA in the blood plasma could be used as a biochemical marker that refl ects the severity of the schizophrenia patient’ state upon admission to the hospital.

The usefulness of cognitive training in organic amnestic syndrome (pathology associated with alcoholism - epilepsy)

We propose to present the results of a study conducted in the psychiatric clinic on a group of 30 patients diagnosed with chronic alcoholism, who in the first days of hospitalization presented epileptic seizures of grand mal type, later developing various psychiatric pathologies: delirium tremens in the following days, alcoholic psychoses with prolonged evolution, Wernicke Korsakoff type pathology, prolonged organic amnestic syndrome, organic personality disorder, organic affective disorders, mixed dementia (combined ethanolic background + epileptoid).

On the issue of alcoholic psychoses in children and alcoholism among young people

While on a business trip for agricultural health care. workers in the spring sowing campaign in 1931 (Kolpakovsky state farm Sakhkombpnata "Collectivist" Ivaninsky district Ts. Ch. O), I observed a case of acutely developed alcoholic psychosis in a peasant boy of 3 years of age.

Sleep disturbances by disease type and stage in Huntington's disease

IntroductionSleep disturbances are a common symptom in patients with Huntington's disease (HD). However, it is unclear when in the disease course of HD sleep disturbances become more frequent compared to the general population. This study investigated the frequency and odds of developing sleep disturbances between adults with HD or at-risk for HD and non-HD controls. MethodsParticipants from the Enroll-HD study were split by both disease type and disease severity using CAG length, diagnostic confidence level, and total functional capacity score. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios adjusted for age, sex, tobacco and alcohol use, depression and psychosis scores, and cognition to compare HD groups to non-HD controls. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan Meier curves were used to determine differences in probabilities of developing sleep disturbances and how sleep disturbances are related to age at motor onset. ResultsThere were significant differences between HD participants and non-HD controls in both the disease type and disease stage analyses (p < 0.001). The odds of a sleep disturbance increased with worsening disease stage and was highest in those with juvenile HD. The development of a sleep disorder in manifest HD participants was observed to be around the time of disease onset. ConclusionsSleep disturbances are more frequent in HD patients than those without HD. There are also differences based on disease type and stage. This is supplemented by the finding that the onset of sleep disturbances occurs near the time of motor onset of HD.

Associations Between Bed Bugs and Mental Illness Among Emergency Department Patients.

BackgroundBed bugs are common urban pests associated with stress, anxiety, depression, and some reports of suicidality. The emergency department (ED) treats patients with both acute mental illness and bed bug infestations. There have been few studies examining associations between bed bug infestations and mental illness.MethodsA case-control study involving 332 adult ED patients infested with bed bugs and 4,952 uninfested control patients matched on sex, age (±1 year at the time of the ED visit), and the specific ED was completed. All clinic encounters occurred in northeast Ohio between February 1, 2011, and February 1, 2017, from a single health system. Univariable and multivariable regression analysis looked for associations between bed bug infestation and different psychiatric diagnoses and medications.ResultsBed bug infested patients were more likely than uninfested patients to screen positive for an unsafe home and needing an abuse consult at ED triage (P≤.03 for both). ED psychiatric evaluations were not significantly more common among those with (2.4%) and without (1.3%) bed bugs (P=.14). Bed bug infested patients were significantly more likely to have an ED or inpatient diagnosis of alcohol abuse and psychosis (P≤.03 for both), but not for depression or suicidality. On univariable analysis, among ED patients not admitted to the hospital, bed bug infested patients were more likely to be diagnosed with psychosis or schizophrenia/schizoaffective disease (P≤.02) than uninfested patients. Among ED patients that received an ED or inpatient psychiatric evaluation and were admitted to the hospital, bed bug infested patients were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with depression and suicidality (P≤.03 for both). However, they were not significantly more likely to have insomnia or anxiety.DiscussionAmong ED patients, bed bug infestations were not associated with an ED or inpatient diagnosis of depression or suicidality. On univariable analysis, some mental health diagnoses such as anxiety and insomnia were more common among ED patients with bed bugs, but these associations were no longer significant on multivariable analysis. These associations likely reflect the complex relationships between socioeconomic factors, health disparities, mental illness, and having a bed bug infestation.

Positive effect of polyprenol-containing drug on anxiety, depression and cognitive disorders in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Polyprenols (natural isoprenoid lipids) are precursors of dolichols which is present in every cell and involved in a dolicholphosphate pathway. It seems the polyprenols from plants can be used for a substitution therapy in dolicholphosphate pathway disorders. There is one polyprenol-containing drug in Russia – Ropren® which contains polyprenols isolated by the original method from needles of European spruce. In clinical trials hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic effects of Ropren® in patients with liver pathology and positive effect in alcoholic psychosis and Alzheimer"s disease were founded. Considering that the myocardial infarction is often accompanied by the phenomena of anxiety, depression and decreased cognitive functions that impair prognosis of the disease the search for a drug aimed at reducing the expression of these conditions is relevant. Purpose To study the effects of Ropren® on anxiety-depressive condition and cognitive functions in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods Our registered single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial "POLYNCOR" were included patients (n = 68) with acute coronary syndrome hospitalized on the first day from the beginning of the symptoms. All patients received standard therapy (including atorvastatin 40 mg) and were randomized on 2 groups: the 1st group (n = 34) received Ropren® 8 drops during а meal 3 times a day (144 mg/day) for 3 weeks then 3 drops 3 times a day (90 mg/day) for 5 weeks; the 2nd group 2 (n = 34) received placebo with the same dosage regimen. On the 3rd, 10th days of hospitalization and after 2 months of therapy the following parameters were analyzed: the level of depression on the CES-D scale, anxiety on the Taylor and Sheehan scales, cognitive functions were assessed on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA). Statistical data processing was performed using the Statistica v.10.0 package using nonparametric analysis methods. The results are presented as Me (Q1; Q3). Results At discharge there were no differences between groups and the majority of the patients had signs of anxiety, depression and decreased cognitive functions. After 2 months of therapy comparing with the 3rd day of hospitalization the decrease of anxiety score: 2.5 (1.5; 7.5) vs. 15.5 (9,5; 20,5) respectively (p&amp;lt; 0.05) according to Taylor scale and 5.5 (5; 14) vs. 30 (17,5; 39) respectively (p&amp;lt; 0.05) according to Sheehan scale, and depression score: 8 (6.5; 9.5) vs. 18 (15,5; 20,5) respectively (p&amp;lt; 0.05) according to CES-D scale were founded in the study group. Also in the study group cognitive functions score were improved from 23 (21; 25) to 26.5 (25; 28) (p&amp;lt; 0.05) according to MoCA scale. Conclusion Polyprenol-containing drug Ropren® contributes to significant reduction of anxiety, depression and improving of cognitive functions in patients with acute coronary syndrome after 2 months of therapy.

Alcohol-Related Problems in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus: A Trend Analysis

Aim: The comparative analysis of the level and dynamic of the indicator of alcohol-related problems in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Methods: A comparative analysis of the trends in alcohol sales (independent variable) and mortality from acute alcohol poisonings, incidence of alcohol psychoses (dependent variables) in Russia Ukraine and Belarus in the period from 1980 to 2010 was carried out. Statistical analysis (Spearman’s correlation, linear regression) was carried out using the STATISTICA 10 package. Results: The data analysis showed that in the soviet period the level of alcohol sales correlated closely with the indirect indicators of alcohol-related problems in all countries. In the post-soviet period the level of alcohol sales statistically significant correlated with the incidence of alcoholic psychoses in Russia and mortality from acute alcohol poisonings in Belarus. Conclusions: The findings from present study suggest that the alcohol-related problems fluctuations in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine in the soviet period were attributable to alcohol sales. Alternatively, alcohol sales cannot fully explain the fluctuations in the alcohol-related morbidity and mortality observed in these countries in the soviet period.

Alcohol-Related Problems in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus: A Trend Analysis

Aim: The comparative analysis of the level and dynamic of the indicator of alcohol-related problems in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Methods: A comparative analysis of the trends in alcohol sales (independent variable) and mortality from acute alcohol poisonings, incidence of alcohol psychoses (dependent variables) in Russia Ukraine and Belarus in the period from 1980 to 2010 was carried out. Statistical analysis (Spearman’s correlation, linear regression) was carried out using the STATISTICA 10 package. Results: The data analysis showed that in the soviet period the level of alcohol sales correlated closely with the indirect indicators of alcohol-related problems in all countries. In the post-soviet period the level of alcohol sales statistically significant correlated with the incidence of alcoholic psychoses in Russia and mortality from acute alcohol poisonings in Belarus. Conclusions: The findings from present study suggest that the alcohol-related problems fluctuations in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine in the soviet period were attributable to alcohol sales. Alternatively, alcohol sales cannot fully explain the fluctuations in the alcohol-related morbidity and mortality observed in these countries in the soviet period.

Reward Processing in Novelty Seekers: A Transdiagnostic Psychiatric Imaging Biomarker

BackgroundDysfunctional reward processing is implicated in multiple mental disorders. Novelty seeking (NS) assesses preference for seeking novel experiences, which is linked to sensitivity to reward environmental cues. MethodsA subset of 14-year-old adolescents (IMAGEN) with the top 20% ranked high-NS scores was used to identify high-NS–associated multimodal components by supervised fusion. These features were then used to longitudinally predict five different risk scales for the same and unseen subjects (an independent dataset of subjects at 19 years of age that was not used in predictive modeling training at 14 years of age) (within IMAGEN, n ≈1100) and even for the corresponding symptom scores of five types of patient cohorts (non-IMAGEN), including drinking (n = 313), smoking (n = 104), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (n = 320), major depressive disorder (n = 81), and schizophrenia (n = 147), as well as to classify different patient groups with diagnostic labels. ResultsMultimodal biomarkers, including the prefrontal cortex, striatum, amygdala, and hippocampus, associated with high NS in 14-year-old adolescents were identified. The prediction models built on these features are able to longitudinally predict five different risk scales, including alcohol drinking, smoking, hyperactivity, depression, and psychosis for the same and unseen 19-year-old adolescents and even predict the corresponding symptom scores of five types of patient cohorts. Furthermore, the identified reward-related multimodal features can classify among attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia with an accuracy of 87.2%. ConclusionsAdolescents with higher NS scores can be used to reveal brain alterations in the reward-related system, implicating potential higher risk for subsequent development of multiple disorders. The identified high-NS–associated multimodal reward-related signatures may serve as a transdiagnostic neuroimaging biomarker to predict disease risks or severity.

Пандемия COVID-19 и алкоголь: проблема, выходящая за пределы наркологии и психиатрии

The increase in alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the major global health problems. Alcohol abuse is caused by many causes, including the stress associated with the pandemic. The problem of alcohol abuse is getting worse by the difficult access of patients to medical care, and lockdown, including a restrained sale of alcohol, can lead to numerous cases of severe alcohol withdrawal, alcohol psychosis and suicide. Excessive alcohol consumption reduces the immune system, increases susceptibility to infection, including SARS-CoV-2, and contributes to the severe course of COVID-19, increasing the likelihood of complications and death. It is assumed that alcohol abuse during the pandemic will have long-term adverse consequences in the form of significant deterioration of public health, an increase in the number of patients with alcohol dependence and alcoholic liver disease, and an excessive burden on global health. Experts justify the need to apply special programs to help people with alcohol use disorders during the pandemic and develop a set of preventive measures to prevent the adverse long-term consequences of excessive alcohol use.