Psychotropic Drug Abuse Research Articles

Adding Sodium Bicarbonate to Lidocaine Enhances the Depth of Epidural Blockade

Adding Sodium Bicarbonate to Lidocaine Enhances the Depth of Epidural Blockade

Family Environment and Adolescent Psychological Well-Being, School Adjustment, and Problem Behavior: A Pioneer Study in a Chinese Context

Chinese secondary school students (N = 365) responded to instruments measuring their family environment, psychological well-being, school adjustment, and problem behavior. Measures of the family environment include perceived paternal and maternal parenting styles, family functioning, and conflict with father and mother. Results from bivariate and canonical correlation analyses showed that in general, adolescents' perceptions of parenting styles, family functioning, and parent-adolescent conflict were significantly related to scores on measures of psychological well-being (general psychiatric morbidity, life satisfaction, purpose in life, hopelessness, and self-esteem), school adjustment (perceived academic performance and school conduct), and problem behavior (smoking and psychotropic drug abuse). The findings suggest that family factors play an important role in influencing the psychosocial adjustment, particularly the positive mental health, of Chinese adolescents.

THE RELATION OF PARENT-ADOLESCENT CONFLICT TO ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING, SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT, AND PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

The association between parent-adolescent conflict and adolescent adjustment was examined in 429 Chinese adolescents using children's and parents' reports of parent-adolescent conflict. Results generally showed that parent-adolescent conflict based on ratings obtained from different sources were significantly related to measures of psychological well-being (general psychiatric morbidity, life satisfaction, purpose in life, hopelessness, and self-esteem), school adjustment (perceived academic performance and school conduct) and problem behavior (smoking and psychotropic drug abuse). The findings suggest that there is an intimate link between parent-adolescent conflict and the psychosocial adjustment, particularly the positive mental health, of Chinese adolescents.

Anxiety in alcohol-dependent patients

Alcoholism and anxiety disorders are concomitant far more frequently than might be expected. The great prevalence of anxiety disorders in alcoholics constitutes an important clinical issue because alcoholic subjects with a coexisting anxiety disorder suffer more frequent and more severe relapses than nonalcoholic control subjects. The former also how greater liability to psychotropic drug abuse and overdose behaviour, and are at greater risk of suicide. The type of relationship between alcohol dependence and anxiety disorders has considerable theoretical meaning. Four possible non-mutually exclusive ways of association are discussed: 1. the ingestion of alcohol may be an attempt at self-medication of anxiety symptoms; 2. anxiety and alcohol abuse may, independent of each other, be based on a third underlying, possibly genetic, factor; 3. anxiety may be a toxic effect of alcohol abuse or of withdrawal; 4. anxiety may result from cognitive processes in connection with alcohol abuse or withdrawal. Clinical guidelines for the pharmacotherapy of anxiety in patients suffering from alcoholism are outlined.

Alcoholism and Depression

Alcoholism and depressive disorders co-occur far more commonly than would be expected. The great prevalence of depression in alcoholics constitutes an important clinical issue, because alcoholic subjects with a coexisting depression exhibit heavier alcohol abuse, severer physical damage and greater liability to both psychotropic drug abuse and overdose behaviour than non-depressive alcoholics. The former also experience more frequent and severer relapses and are at greater risk of suicide. The nature of the relationship between alcohol dependence and depressive disorders is of considerable theoretical significance. Three possible non-mutually exclusive types of association are discussed: (1) the ingestion of alcohol may be an attempt at self-medication of depressive symptoms; (2) depression and alcohol abuse may, independently of each other, be attributable to an underlying, possibly genetic, factor; (3) depression may be a result of alcoholism: either induced by heavy alcohol consumption, as a consequence of alcohol withdrawal or as a psychoreactive phenomenon. Clinical guidelines for pharmaco- and psychotherapy of depression in patients suffering from alcoholism are outlined.

Regulation and abuse liability testing of medicines in Europe beyond 1992

The procedures for approving medicines have been progressively harmonized within the European Community. The authorization of medicinal products beyond 1992 will be based on a more centralized procedure, with important safeguards to ensure that there is no dilution of strict standards of quality, safety, and efficacy. Although some efforts have been attempted to coordinate the procedures for approving medicines with Japan and the United States, some important problems still remain. An example of this lack of coordination is the lack of agreement about applying abuse liability testing to psychotropic drugs. In the United States, abuse liability data are routinely used for scheduling and labeling new drugs under the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This agency has codified the requirements for clinical studies of potential abuse of psychotropic drugs and requires pharmaceutical sponsors to submit specific data. However, requirements within the European Community in this matter are minimal. Clinical trials on subjective effects, drug discrimination or drug preference are not requested. This situation demands more scientific interchange between officials and scientists from the FDA and their counterparts from Europe. The Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) must play a major role in this coordination and interchange.

Abuse of psychotropic drugs and help seeking behaviour

Abuse of psychotropic drugs and help seeking behaviour

Use and abuse of psychotropic drugs in the juvenile population and correlation with the social-family environment in the turin area

Use and abuse of psychotropic drugs in the juvenile population and correlation with the social-family environment in the turin area

Usage de psychotropes et toxicomanie: voies de recherche epidemiologique

Although the phenomenon of drug abuse in France is well delimited, it constitutes a public health problem. The way it spreads is sometimes 'epidemic' in sub-groups especially exposed. The somtic or relational consequences are short-term and it concerns more and more adolescents or young adults. Two main research axes have been developed: studies in the general population, adolescents or adults, in order to know the general context of licit and illicit psychotropic use in France, and specific studies in detoxification centers in order to describe the characteristics of drug addicts and to evaluate their requirements. Results of some recent surveys can illustrate these axes. Total abstinence is exceptional. Psychotropic drug abuse is deeply established in traditional French social customs. Most subjects had a narrow relation with psychoactive drugs. The variety as well as quantity of products allow everyone to adopt a style of consumption. Globally, alcohol consumption has decreased. Moderate consumers seem to be those who especially confine their drinking to daily wine consumption. On the other hand, the consumption of aperitifs and other drinks in on the increase. The dissociation of alcohol consumption from meals enhances drunkness. Nicotine-poisoning in men had a parallel evolution and has increased in women. Psychotropic drugs (tranquillizers and hypnotics) are specially used by aged women on medical prescription. For the study of drug abuse, data is collected in specialised centers and prisons regarding socio-demographic variables, intoxication profile and medical and social consequences. For both the general and addict population, epidemiological research, especially typological analysis, allows to identify some sub-groups at risk of drug addiction.

Psychiatric symptoms in alcohol dependence: Diagnostic and treatment implications

Fifty consecutive alcohol dependent inpatient admissions are reported on. They were found to have grief, agoraphobic, paranoid and depressive symptoms secondary to the withdrawal state. These symptoms remitted with detoxification. Absence of anxiety signalled other disorders. Longituding observations aided diagnostic assessment and patient management. The history of the course of symptoms aids diagnoses when obtainable, but detoxification remains essential to discriminate primary from symptomatic or secondary psychiatric symptoms in the alcohol dependent person. Transient psychiatric symptoms may merely be less common forms of withdrawal symptoms and must not be confused with syndromes which attract ongoing drug treatment. This is a highly undesirable situation for those who are at risk of psychotropic drug abuse and overdose behaviour.

Suicide Attempts 1973–1977—Urban Hobart. A Further Five Year Follow up Reporting a Decline

In urban Hobart 1968--1972 there was a steep climb in the self-poisoning rates, reaching a peak in 1972. This rise was largely attributed to an increase in self-poisonings by young males and an overall increase by females. During this period psychotropic overdoses commenced. In 1973--1977 self-poisoning and self-injury rates were calculated. Contrary to the previous five year experience rates either declined during 1973 to 1977 or fell from a previous high rate to level off at a lower rate. These changes have particularly affected both sexes under 35 years. The abuse of psychotropic substances continued to soar. A possible explanation of these changes may lie in local factors. The results are contrasted with the most recent literature.

Topical aspects of psychotropic drug abuse in juveniles

Drug Prescribing for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in General Practice: a Cross-Sectional Study