Psychotropic Research Articles

Influence of pharmacotherapy on function of biotransformation of xenobiotics liver in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of drug interactions of psychotropic drugs are associated with the processes of drug biotransformation by enzymes of microsomal oxidation of cytochrome P-450 in the liver. Various drugs can increase or decrease the activity of enzymes of the cytochrome P450-dependent system. AIM: To evaluate the effect of pharmacotherapy with psychotropic drugs: alprazolam, bromazepam, lithium carbonate on the metabolic rate of the model substrate antipyrine in saliva in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders; the effect of the enzyme-inducing activity of the original anticonvulsant 1-[(3-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl]urea on the pharmacokinetic parameters of antipyrine in healthy volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 34 male patients were divided into three groups according to the nosological forms of diseases according to ICD-10: Group 1 — heading F43.23 and F43.25; 2 — F06.61; 3 — F41.2. Patients in the group 1 were prescribed alprazolam, in the 2 — bromazepam, in the 3 — lithium carbonate, for a course of 21 days. The comparison group consisted of 10 healthy volunteers. The original anticonvulsant was prescribed to the volunteers. Determination of the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine parameters as a test witness of the processes of elimination from the body was carried out in saliva before and after the end of therapy at a dose of 10 mg/kg once. RESULTS: Alprazolam administration by patients of group 1 at a dose of 0.5–1.5 mg/day for 21 days did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetic parameters of antipyrine: T1/2, Clt, AUC. Alprazolam did not change the elimination of antipyrine from the saliva of patients. In patients of the group2, who received bromazepam at a dose of 6–12 mg / day,a background decrease in T1/2, an increase in Clt, a decrease in AUC due to concomitant therapy were noted. Comparison of the pharmacokinetic parameters of antipyrine under the influence of bromazepam with background values not reveal significant differences. Therapy with lithium carbonate at a dose of 500–1000 mg/day in patients of the group 3 did not change the parameters of antipyrine elimination. The obtained data indicate that the drugs do not affect the activity of liver microsomal oxidation in patients. The study of the effect of 1-[(3-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl]urea on the pharmacokinetic parameters of antipyrine in volunteers revealed a diametrically opposite result: a significant decrease in T1/2 by 2 times, an increase in Clt and a decrease in AUC, which indicates accelerated elimination of antipyrine from the saliva of the subjects and indicates the induction of liver microsomal oxidation. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacotherapy using the studied psychotropic drugs in patients is not associated with the induction or inhibition of liver enzymes, which indicates the absence of drug pharmacokinetic interference. The original anticonvulsant 1-[(3-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl]urea stimulated the induction of liver microsomal oxidation in volunteers.

Possible Potentiating Effects of Combined Administration of Alcohol, Caffeine, and Nicotine on In Vivo Dopamine Release in Addiction-Related Circuits Within the CNS of Rats

Background: Studies that assess the effects of the interaction of psychoactive substances on dopamine release, the key neurotransmitter in the neurochemical and behavioral effects related to drug consumption, are crucial to understand both their roles and the dysfunctions they produce in the central nervous system. Objective: We evaluated the effects of individual and combined administration of the three most widely consumed psychoactive substances in the world, ethanol, caffeine, and nicotine, on dopaminergic neurotransmission in three brain regions of rats related to addiction: the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and the dorsal striatum. Methods: The dopamine levels were measured in vivo by cerebral microdialysis associated with HPLC-ED. Results: We observed that local administration of a single concentration of caffeine (5 mM) or nicotine (5 mM) significantly increased the dopamine levels in all three areas studied, while ethanol (300 mM) increased them in the NAcc and striatum. Perfusion of nicotine + caffeine produced a synergistic effect in both the NAcc and striatum, with increases in the in vivo dopamine release greater than the sum of the effects of both substances. When administering the combination of nicotine + caffeine + ethanol, we observed an additive effect in the NAcc, while in the PFC we observed a synergistic effect. Conclusions: Our results support the stimulating effects of caffeine, nicotine, and ethanol on the brain reward system. In addition, we also observed that the administration of different mixtures of these substances produces synergistic and additive effects on the release of dopamine in the mesocortical and nigrostriatal systems.

Violência de Gênero e a Vulnerabilidade das Mulheres em SITUAÇÃO DE Rua

Homeless women become more vulnerable because they live in a context permeated by prejudice, violence, gender inequality and social rights. These women face physical and sexual violence on a daily basis, mainly from their partners, and the lack of connection with health professionals makes it difficult for them to seek help. They also face prejudice in the reception and difficulty in establishing a connection with professionals in health units. The objective of this study was to understand and analyze the reasons that lead homeless women to not seek health services other than the Street Clinic. This was a qualitative, descriptive study, conducted through semi-structured interviews with women living on the streets, served by the Street Clinic. All participants signed a Free and Informed Consent Form. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was only possible to interview 3 women. These women are 36, 43 and 57 years old and have been homeless for varying lengths of time. After analyzing the interviews, it is clear that women who leave home to live on the streets have family problems, lack of emotional bonds and, therefore, most of them start using psychoactive substances. The violence they suffer on the streets, whether psychological, physical or sexual, appears in 100% of the statements. Regarding health issues, they do not usually seek medical care, except in cases of great need or urgency, since when they do seek this care they are discriminated against and poorly treated by health teams. It is clear that most of the time they prefer to seek care at the Street Clinic due to the differentiated care and the care with which the team treats them. Therefore, it is recommended that nurses learn more about the homeless population and leave their prejudices aside to provide better care for this population.

N-Cadherin — A Potential Target for Psychopharmacology

Glycoprotein N-cadherin (Neuronal cadherin) belongs to the family of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules, representing a key element that carries out intercellular contacts in brain neurons. However, it is involved not only in the mechanical connection of neurons, but also influences the specifics of the further development and functional state of the neuron. This is due to the active interaction of N-cadherin with many proteins at the pre- and post-synapse, initiating a cascade of reactions that provide such processes as long-term potentiation (underlying learning and memory), morphogenesis, neuronal recognition, activation of receptors (NMDA and AMPA types), regulation of cytoskeleton formation. This polyfunctionality is necessary for specific neurons to connect to each other in a certain way, and such adhesion leads to the coordination of cell behavior through intercellular signaling and spatio–temporal control of differential gene expression. Mutations in the genes responsible for the expression of N-cadherin lead to various disorders of the functional activity of the synapse and the processes of spatial orientation and memory. Thus, involvement in important neuroplastic processes regulating cognitive functions and behavior determines interest in studying the effect of drugs on N-cadherin. In particular, N-cadherin deserves closer consideration by pharmacologists as a potential target in the mechanism of action of various psychoactive substances.

CBMAFF-Net: An Intelligent NMR-Based Nontargeted Screening Method for New Psychoactive Substances

CBMAFF-Net: An Intelligent NMR-Based Nontargeted Screening Method for New Psychoactive Substances

Mental health literacy in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a cross-sectional registry-based study

IntroductionThis study aimed to explore mental health literacy (MHL) and its related factors in a cross-sectional, registry-based sample of patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).MethodsAll survivors of AMI between 2017 and 2019 from the Myocardial Infarction Registry Augsburg (n=1.712) received a postal questionnaire on MHL (Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS-GER)) and single questions on experiences with and information on mental disorders in 2023. The response rate was 49.9%. Logistic and linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between these variables and sociodemographic factors.ResultsIn the sample of 855 patients (77.5% male, mean age 71.4 ± 10.9 years), 30.0% had experienced mental problems about 5 years after AMI. Among these, 17.4% received psychotherapy and 26.1% psychotropic drugs. Information about possible mental problems after their AMI was obtained from a physician by 30.8% of the patients and in a rehabilitation setting by 46.4%, respectively. Of the patients, 26.2% wished to receive more information on mental problems after AMI. MHLS-GER subscale scores ranged between and 54 (“Social distance”) and 76 (“Information seeking”) (best score 100). Age was the most important factor that was significantly associated with the report of mental health problems, a perceived lack of information, help seeking behavior and treatment, and MHL.DiscussionElderly and poorly educated patients were at risk of poor MHL. Further studies are required to specify the role of MHL in post-AMI life and health care.

Prevalence of Unorthodox Psychoactive Substance Use Amongst Secondary School Students in Calabar South Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

Prevalence of Unorthodox Psychoactive Substance Use Amongst Secondary School Students in Calabar South Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

Participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program by people with severe mental illness, Australia, 2006–2019: a national data linkage study

AbstractObjectiveTo compare rates of participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) and follow‐up for people with severe mental illness with those for people without severe mental illness or not prescribed antidepressants.Study designRetrospective cohort study; analysis of de‐identified linked NBCSP, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) data.SettingAustralia, 2006–2019.ParticipantsPeople aged 50–74 years (NBCSP‐eligible) with severe mental illness, defined as those dispensed two or more prescriptions for second generation antipsychotics or for lithium (PBS data), and a random sample of people aged 50–74 years eligible for Medicare‐subsidised services but never prescribed psychotropic medications (antipsychotics, lithium, antidepressants).Main outcome measuresNBCSP participation (returned faecal occult blood test sample), valid test result, positive test result, and follow‐up colonoscopy rates.ResultsA total of 119 475 people with severe mental illness and 1 090 574 control group people were included in our analyses. The proportion of women was larger in the severe mental illness group (51.3%) than the control group (48.7%), as were the proportions who lived in inner regional areas (23.5% v 19.1%) or in areas in the lowest socio‐economic quintile (21.8% v 14.7%). The NBCSP participation rate was lower among people with severe mental illness (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69–0.84). The proportion of valid test results was smaller for people with severe mental illness (95.9% v 98.7%; adjusted IRR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96–0.99), and the positive test result proportion larger (12.3% v 6.6%; adjusted IRR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.94–2.09). The proportion of positive test results followed by colonoscopy was smaller for people with severe mental illness (71.7% v 82.6%; adjusted IRR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.85–0.92).ConclusionsPeople with severe mental illness were less likely to participate in the NBCSP or to undergo colonoscopy after a positive test result than other Australians. These differences may contribute to higher colorectal cancer mortality among people with severe mental illness. The contributions of differences in cancer stage at diagnosis and subsequent treatment to higher colorectal cancer mortality require further study.

Multianalytical investigation reveals psychotropic substances in a ptolemaic Egyptian vase

Multianalytical investigation reveals psychotropic substances in a ptolemaic Egyptian vase

Abstract 4136754: Psychoactive medication use in pediatric heart transplant recipients: An assessment of prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes

Background: There is increasing recognition of the mental health burden experienced by pediatric heart transplant (HTx) recipients. Mental health concerns can impact physical health and increase risk of poor health outcomes. Using the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS) database, we assessed the use of psychoactive medications as a proxy for mental health issues. We assessed the prevalence of psychoactive medication usage, pre- and post HTx factors, and post HTx outcomes associated with psychoactive medication usage. Methods: We queried the PHTS database for patients >5 years of age at time of follow-up who underwent HTx between January 2015 and June 2023. Patients with use of any psychoactive medication were identified. Sub-analyses were performed for use of antianxiety/antidepressant and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications. Multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to assess risk factors and impact on outcomes, including graft survival, coronary artery vasculopathy (CAV), and rejection at 1, 3, and 5 years post-HTx. Results: Among 1792 patients older than 5 at 1 year post HTx, 301 (16.8%) were prescribed at least one psychoactive medication; 246 (13.7%) were prescribed medication for antianxiety/antidepressant medications and 59 (3.3%) for ADHD. Utilization of psychoactive medication decreased at 3 years (14.8%, N= 240 of 1629) and 5 years post HTx (11.3%, N=230 of 2029). Patients on psychoactive medications at 1 year post HTx tended to be older (OR=2.1, p<0.001), had higher priority listing status (OR=2.3, p<0.05), and longer bypass time (OR=1.6, p<0.05). Black patients were less likely to be prescribed psychoactive medication at 3-years post HTx than white patients (OR=0.57, p<0.05) or other races (OR=0.43, P <0.001). There was no association of psychoactive medication usage on graft survival, CAV, or rejection at 1 year post HTx. At 3 years post HTx psychoactive medication usage was associated with significantly higher prevalence of CAV (p<0.05). At 5 years post HTx graft loss (p<0.005) and CAV (p<0.05) were significantly increased in patients on psychoactive medications. Conclusions: A significant proportion of pediatric HTx patients take psychoactive medications. This population may be at risk for worse long-term outcomes. There is a need to assess the mental health burden of pediatric HTx and to identify modifiable factors to improve assessment and treatment of mental health issues and its impact on outcomes.

Evaluation of routine health monitoring for metabolic disorders in patients with serious mental illness on psychotropic medications: a study from Ethiopia

Abstract Background Compared to the overall population, patients with mental health problems are more likely to experience concurrent physical illnesses, poorer health outcomes, and mortality. Psychotropic medications, which are the pillars in the management of mental health conditions, are associated with adverse effects such as weight gain, an increased level of glucose, and elevated circulating lipid levels, all of which contribute to metabolic disorders. Inadequate health monitoring may led to suboptimal interventions and worsening of these conditions. However, there is a lack of studies assessing routine health monitoring practices for metabolic disorders and their determinants among patients with serious mental illnesses taking psychotropic medications in Ethiopia. This study aimed to evaluate routine health monitoring for metabolic disorders and its determinants in patients with serious mental illnesses on psychotropic medications in Ethiopia. Method A hospital based prospective follow-up study was conducted among patients with serious mental illness taking psychotropic medications who attended the outpatient psychiatry department at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Eligible participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Routine health monitoring was evaluated using guidelines and previous literature. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify the determinants of routine health monitoring, with statistical significance determined by a p-value of less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The overall routine health monitoring practice for metabolic disorders was found to be sub-optimal. Vital signs were the most commonly assessed parameters. Key determinants of routine health monitoring included participants aged 45 and above (AOR (95% CI): 2.82 (1.34–5.92), having social insurance (AOR (95% CI): 2.94 (1.86–4.64), availability of laboratory tests at the hospital (AOR (95% CI): 3.46 (2.16–5.55), and reporting of medication-related side effects (AOR (95% CI): 1.96 (1.21–3.17)). Conclusion Routine health monitoring for metabolic disorders in patients with serious mental illnesses attending the outpatient psychiatry department was inadequate. Health care providers should give more attention to younger patients, those without health insurance, and who are not reported side effects. These findings provide crucial insights for improving routine health monitoring and promoting better health outcomes.

The Correlation of Bile Duct Dilatation in Postmortem Computed Tomography of Lethal Intoxication Cases for Different Drug Types—A Retrospective Study

Purpose: To assess (I) whether, in autopsy-proven lethal intoxications with opiates/opioids, a dilatation of the common bile duct (CBD) is still visible in postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and (II) if a dilatation of the CBD might also be measurable for other substance groups (e.g., stimulants, hypnotics, antipsychotics, etc.). Methods: We retrospectively measured the CBD using PMCT in cases with lethal intoxication (n = 125) and as a control group in cases with a negative toxicological analysis (n = 88). Intoxicating substances were classified into the subgroups (opiates, opioids, stimulants, hypnotics, antipsychotics, gasses, and others). Significance between the study and control groups was tested with the Mann–Whitney U test, and correlations were examined by using crosstables. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the CBD diameters in the intoxication group overall, when compared to the CBD diameter in the control group (p < 0.001). For both subgroups of “opiates” and “opioids”, there was a strong statistically significant difference between the CBD diameter (being wider) in those groups compared to the control group (both p = 0.001). For the three subgroups “hypnotics”, “stimulants”, and “psychotropic drugs”, there was no statistically significant difference between the CBD diameters in the intoxication subgroups when compared with the control group. The other subgroups were too small for statistical analysis. Conclusion: A dilated common bile duct in postmortem computed tomography might be used as an indication for a lethal opioid or opiate intoxication only in regard to the specific case circumstances or together with other indicative findings in a postmortem investigation.

Environmentally conscious psychopharmacotherapy: Practice recommendations for psychiatrists

Despite the multifaceted negative influences of psychotropic medications on the environment, an overview of such effects and of actions to curtail them is currently lacking. We therefore summarized the most relevant literature on what we refer to as Environmentally Conscious Psychopharmacotherapy (ECP), i.e., prescribing the most appropriate psychotropic medications for patients while at the same time considering the wellbeing of the planet. In our literature appraisal we identified viable actions at the levels of industry, physicians, pharmacists, patients, and policymakers that can reduce the environmental hazards associated with psychotropics. We divided these actions into the following categories: careful treatment selection, curtailing overprescribing, adequate disposal of medication by users, and transparent reporting of environmental risk. For each of these categories, we give examples of practices are in line with ECP, which in turn has the potential to reduce the impact of psychotropic medication prescribing practices on the environment. We note that many such practices result in co-benefits for patients, prescribers and the environment. On the other hand, evidence on environmental impact is lacking for several factors related to these medications, e.g., geographical region of manufacturing, duration of use, pharmacological vs. non-pharmaceutical treatment options, and ecotoxicological data. We conclude that general as well as disorder-specific considerations for clinicians prescribing psychotropics already carry the potential to limit the environmental burden associated with these agents. Future research aimed at filling the knowledge gaps we identified is likely to substantially advance ECP in the near future.

Drug prescriptions in elderly hospitalized patients with cognitive impairment in the Italian Dementia Friendly Hospital project

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to characterize drug prescription patterns in elderly patients hospitalized in acute wards as a function of cognitive status and staff training.MethodsWe recorded clinical parameters reflecting health status and drug prescriptions at admission, during hospital stay, and at discharge before and after a short staff training on the needs of aged cognitively impaired patients. Participants aged 65 and older had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥16. The number of prescriptions, sedative and anticholinergic load, and drug–drug interactions were evaluated. Of the 116 older patients analyzed, 59 patients were cognitively impaired, and 57 were cognitively normal with an MMSE value > 24. Fifty-nine patients (28 CN, 31 CI) were assisted by the hospital health staff after training.ResultsParticipants presented a widespread polypharmacy. Cognitively impaired patients received more prescriptions, more inappropriate prescriptions, had a greater sedative load, and were exposed to more interactions. Staff training had no effect on the prescription pattern.ConclusionThe results suggest that hospitalized cognitively impaired patients are overprescribed psychotropic drugs and have an excessive sedative and anticholinergic load. Interventions designed to improve dementia care practices in health staff that are not also designed to manage drug polypharmacy do not modify prescription patterns.

Prevalence of Potential Drug-drug Interactions among Psychiatric Patients at Psychiatry Hospital in Sulaimani City

Background: Clinically significant drug-drug interactions can be defined as events in which the pharmacodynamics or pharmacokinetic characteristics of a drug are modified by coadministration of a second drug to the patient’s medication protocol, which can often lead to in an increase of serious adverse reactions. The probability of interactions increases with higher number of drugs administered. Objective: The objective of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of potential psychotropic drug-drug interactions among hospitalized patients at Psychiatry hospital in Sulaimani city, and to identify the clinical consequence of such combinations. Method: The current study was involved recruiting the data regarding prescribed psychotropic drugs of 60 newly hospitalized psychiatric patients. Data collection on each individual patient was performed on the specific patient dossier of to report any potential psychotropic drug-drug interactions utilizing Medscape drug interaction checker for identification of the different types of drug-drug interactions. Result: The prevalence of potential drug-drug interaction at Psychiatry Unit in Sulaimani city in 60 patients was 98%, of which 16.6% were major drug-drug interactions. The most frequently prescribed medications were antidepressant drugs, most of patients received more than four drugs. Conclusion: From the current study one can conclude that there was a high prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions among psychiatric patients, which was more frequent in patients taking more than one psychotropic medication.

Cariprazine in Hospital Treatment of Acute Psychotic Conditions Due to Comorbid Schizophrenia and Chemical Addictions

Background: endogenous psychoses complicated with different addictions have special psychopathological structure including delirious episodes, true hallucinations combined with typical positive symptoms of schizophrenia. These cases are difficult for treatment due to non-compliance of patients and their bad tolerance to drugs. The aim was to study the most effective psychopharmacological treatment using cariprazine for acute psychotic states in paranoid schizophrenia combined with chemical addictions. Patients and Methods: the study was conducted at psychiatric hospitals of Tomsk region, St. Petersburg, Nizhnevartovsk and Noyabrsk from 2018 to 2024. 208 men aged 18 to 45 years suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and dependent on psychoactive substances were examined. The main group made up 104 in-patients, who took cariprazine alone or in combination with haloperidol or chlorpromazine. The control group included 104 in-patients treated with other antipsychotics (aripiprazole, risperidone, olanzapine). Research methods: clinical and psychopathological, psychometric (PANSS, SANS, CGI, GAF), statistical (Python 3.11.0; R version 3.2.4; SPSS Statistics Base 22.0). Results: It was revealed that when comparing the control group with the main group, similar indicators were observed on the CGI and GAF scales on the 2nd week of the study, and on the 4th week of the study, compared with the control group, an improvement in indicators on the PANSS, SANS, CGI, GAF scales was observed. Conclusions: Cariprazine, compared with other atypical antipsychotics (risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole), showed a distinct antipsychotic effect in the treatment of acute psychotic states in patients with schizophrenia dependent on psychoactive substances. By the end of the 2nd week after hospitalization, when treating with cariprazine at an average dose of 3 to 6 mg/day in combination with typical neuroleptics (haloperidol, chlorpromazine) or a tranquilizer, the most pronounced antipsychotic effect is achieved. Subsequent isolated use of cariprazine at a therapeutic dose of 3–4.5 mg/day has an effect similar to that of leading atypical antipsychotics by the end of the 4th week of treatment. Unlike other atypical antipsychotics, cariprazine was more effective in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia, which made it possible to achieve an improvement in overall functioning, increase the duration of remission, and reduce the risk of rehospitalization and the development of hospitalism.

A Fully Validated LC-MS Quantitation Method for Psychoactive Compounds Found in Native South American Plant Species

Psychoactive drugs are compounds that alter the function of the central nervous system, resulting in changes in perception, mood, cognition, and behavior. A subclass of psychoactive drugs, psychedelics, are hallucinogenic drugs that can trigger psychedelic experiences and possible changes in mental perception. The potential use of psychedelics as a therapeutic has led to an increase in clinical research focusing on the treatment of mental disorders including anxiety and depression. There are numerous species belonging to Psychotria and Banisteriopsis which have been reported to contain psychedelic and psychoactive compounds; however, there is a lack of validated analytical methods for raw plant material, which is crucial if these plants are to be commercially cultivated for medicines. This study provides a fully validated method using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) for the following six compounds: tryptamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), tetrahydroharmine (THH), harmaline, and harmine. The validated method was used to determine the psychoactive concentrations in Psychotria viridis, Psychotria carthagenensis, Banisteriopsis caapi, and Alicia anisopetala. Validation parameters were established; linearity (R2 = 0.988–0.999), limit of detection (LOD) (0.06–0.11 ng/mL), limit of quantitation (LOQ) (0.18–0.34 ng/mL), accuracy, precision, extraction efficiency (>98%), recovery (74.1–111.6%), and matrix effect (70.6–109%) were all evaluated. All six compounds eluted within nine minutes, with a total analysis time of 20 min including column equilibration. This method establishes a high-throughput method for the robust analysis of psychedelics which may see future use in agricultural research and industry.

ABUSE OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS AND ITS PREVENTION IN A HOST COMMUNITY: MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS

In this paper, psychoactive drug abuse and prevention in a host community is illustrated by a mathematical model, studying the human population into four groups: those who are at risk of being initiated into psychoactive drug abuse, those who are currently abusing psychoactive drugs, those who are undergoing treatment for psychoactive drug abuse, and those who give up drug abuse through willingness or therapy. The positivity and invariant region of the model are investigated. The basic reproduction number $R_drg$ was also obtained. The numerical simulations were performed using the computer software MATLAB. The dynamics of variables and the sensitivity of parameters are displayed graphically to demonstrate that treatment and willingness to stop drug abuse are effective ways to reduce the threat of psychoactive drug abuse in a host community.

Systematic Review of Obstetric and Child Outcomes of Prenatal Exposure to Inhalants in the Context of a Use Disorder.

Inhalants are often used for their psychoactive effects, producing feelings of euphoria. Inhalant and solvent use is a serious public health concern, yet little is known about their effects on perinatal, fetal, and child outcomes. The aim of our review is to evaluate the impact of inhalant use by pregnant people on maternal, fetal, neonatal, and early childhood outcomes. A systematic review was conducted on March 1, 2023, in 6 databases using relevant keywords. Bias assessment was performed using JBI Critical Appraisal Tools. Studies were included if they described a prenatal exposure to an inhalant; focused on maternal, fetal, neonatal, or early childhood outcomes; and were published as peer-reviewed reports in English. The search yielded 1101 unique references with 22 studies meeting eligibility criteria and representing 205 pregnancies and 171 infants.The most common symptom of inhalant use reported in pregnant people was altered mentation, followed by renal tubular acidosis (RTA) reported with toluene use. Most common fetal outcomes included fetal growth restriction and preterm delivery (<37 weeks), while neonatal outcomes were withdrawal symptoms, such as jitteriness, trouble feeding, and dystonia. Child outcomes included developmental delays, including cognitive and speech impairments, and postnatal growth restriction, including microcephaly. Perinatal, fetal, and child outcomes associated with inhalant use among pregnant individuals are largely based on case reports and series. Prospective studies are needed to better characterize these outcomes, reduce stigma, increase equitable access to treatment, and identify potential interventions to reduce use and potential harm.

The association between benzodiazepine prescriptions and the risk of laxative use in schizophrenia treatment.

Constipation is one of the most common adverse effects in schizophrenia treatment, and it can sometimes cause severe gastrointestinal disease. However, the results of association studies between constipation and psychotropic medications in patients with schizophrenia are inconsistent. Therefore, we investigated the characteristics of psychotropic and laxative prescriptions at discharge in patients with schizophrenia to clarify the association between psychotropics and constipation. We analyzed the data of 139 patients with schizophrenia with or without laxative prescriptions at discharge from eight institutions in 2020. Sixty-two patients were prescribed laxatives at discharge. The prescription of benzodiazepines in the laxative use group (66.1%) was significantly higher than that in the non-laxative use group (39.0%) (p = 1.4 × 10-3), and the mean number of benzodiazepines in the laxative use group (1.2 ± 1.1/day) was significantly higher than that in the non-laxative use group (0.7 ± 0.9/day) (p = 2.6 × 10-3). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that benzodiazepine prescriptions were significantly associated with laxative usage (odds ratio, 3.059; 95% confidence interval, 1.523-6.144; p = 2.0 × 10-3). Benzodiazepines may be associated with constipation in patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, clinicians should be cautious when prescribing benzodiazepines for the treatment of schizophrenia.