Relapse Prevention Strategies Research Articles

Smoking relapse situations among a community-recruited sample of Spanish daily smokers

IntroductionRelapse is a common factor within the behavior change process. However, there is scarce and limited knowledge of smoking relapse situations in population-based samples. The aim of this study was to identify smoking relapse situations among a sample of Spanish relapsers from the general population. MethodsA sample of 775 relapsers was recruited among the general population using a snowball method. Participants completed a survey including sociodemographic, smoking-related and psychopathology variables. Smoking relapse situations were identified through specific questions assessing different aspects related to the last relapse episode. ResultsThe majority of smoking relapse situations were attributed to positive affect (36.6%) and negative affect (34.3%), followed by lack of control (10.1%), smoking habit (6.7%), craving or nicotine withdrawal (6.3%), and social pressure (5.9%). Being unemployed and having a mental disorder in the past increased the likelihood of relapse in situations of negative affect. Being single and having quit smoking to save money were associated with an increased likelihood of relapse in situations of positive affect. ConclusionsAffect plays a significant role in smoking relapse among a community sample of unassisted Spanish smokers. Relapse may be much more of an affective and situational process than a habit, physiological or social pressure. Findings from this study may help develop tailored community smoking relapse prevention strategies or programs.

Association of Physical Activity with Alcohol Abuse and Dependence in a Nationally-Representative U.S. Sample

ABSTRACTBackground: Alcohol use is a pervasive and costly public health problem in the United States. Relapse rates from alcohol use disorders are high. Although exercise has been proposed as a strategy to prevent relapse, lifestyle modification is the least studied aspect of relapse prevention programs, especially among racial/ethnic minority populations.Objective: The current study assessed whether being physically active was associated with remission from alcohol abuse or dependence among Black (African American and Afro Caribbean) adults in the U.S.Method: We utilized data on Black adult participants (n = 4,828) from the nationally representative National Survey of American Life (NSAL) conducted in 2001–2003. Logistic regression models were estimated to assess the odds of being in 12-month remission or currently meeting DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence based on level of physical activity, adjusting for socio-demographic and neighborhood characteristics.Results: People who endorsed being physically active had higher odds of being in 12-month remission from alcohol use problems (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.28, 2.17) than people who were physically inactive, adjusting for individual- and neighborhood-level characteristics. People who were physically active did not differ significantly from those who were inactive with respect to odds of currently meeting DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence.Conclusions/Importance: Physical activity was positively associated with being in 12-month remission from alcohol use problems. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish temporal ordering and to explore exercise as a potential relapse prevention strategy for alcohol use problems.

Imagine your mood: Study design and protocol of a randomized controlled micro-trial using app-based experience sampling methodology to explore processes of change during relapse prevention interventions for recurrent depression.

BackgroundRelapse prevention strategies include continuation of antidepressant medication and preventive psychological interventions. This study aims to gain understanding that may inform tailoring of relapse prevention to individual differences, to improve their effects. Such treatment personalization may be based on repeated assessments within one individual, using experience sampling methodology. As a first step towards informing decisions based on this methodology, insight is needed in individual differences in risk of relapse and response to treatment, and how relapse prevention strategies may differentially target vulnerability for relapse.MethodsThe smartphone application ‘Imagine your mood’ has been developed specifically for this study to assess emotions, imagery, cognitions, and behaviors in daily life. Parallel to the randomized controlled trial ‘Disrupting the rhythm of depression’, 45 remitted recurrently depressed individuals taking continuation antidepressant medication will be randomly assigned to either continuing antidepressant medication (n = 15), continuing antidepressant medication combined with an eight-session preventive cognitive therapy (n = 15), or tapering of antidepressant medication in combination with preventive cognitive therapy (n = 15). Relapse and return of depressive symptomatology over a 24-month follow-up will be assessed. Additionally, matched never depressed individuals (n = 15) will be recruited as controls.DiscussionThis innovative study combines the strengths of a randomized controlled trial and experience sampling methodology in a micro-trial to explore individual differences in risk of relapse and what works for whom to prevent relapse. Results may ultimately pave the way for therapists to tailor relapse prevention strategies to individual (affective) vulnerability.Trial registrationISRCTN15472145, retrospectively registered.

“Tougher than ever”: An exploration of relapse prevention strategies among patients recovering from poly-substance use disorders in Ghana

Objective: Drug dependency has been typified as a persistent relapsing disorder. Overall, 65% of people with substance use disorders relapse within one year after treatment. Recent interventions have focussed on contextually relevant relapse prevention strategies. This study explored relapse prevention strategies utilised by patients recovering from poly-substance use disorders one year after treatment at a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Unit in Ghana. Methods: The study adopted a descriptive phenomenology design and was conducted at the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Unit of the Regional Hospital, Sunyani, Ghana. A purposive sample of 15 patients recovering from poly-substance use disorders were recruited. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with a semistructured guide and analysed using the content analysis procedures. Results: Five key themes emerged from the analysis of the data that described participants’ relapse prevention strategies. These include clinical strategies, self-initiated tactics, spirituality and religious engagements, communalism and social support network. Conclusions: The evidence from this study supports a multilevel treatment strategy for patients with poly-substance disorders. We found that a combination of clinical, individual and contextual factors significantly contribute to relapse prevention efforts in the Ghanaian context. Clinicians and treatment services should explore, evaluate, strengthen and incorporate these emerging themes into their relapse prevention interventions protocols.

Prognostic value of Notch receptors in postsurgical patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies and a major cause of cancer involved death worldwide. Prognosis remains poor because of high recurrence rates and lack of effective relapse prevention strategies. Notch pathway plays an important role in tumor progression and metastasis, and it is associated with the prognosis of cancer. A total of 465 hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related HCC patients who underwent surgery were enrolled. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of Notch pathway receptors were genotyped using Sanger DNA sequencing. Kaplan–Meier curves and the Cox proportional hazards regression model were adopted to analyze the association of polymorphisms and mRNA expression with clinical and pathological features, respectively. Four SNPs (rs1043996 in Notch3 and rs422951, rs520692, rs3830041 in Notch4) were significantly associated with overall survival (OS) (P = 0.023, P = 0.042, P = 0.028, and P = 0.001 respectively). Patients carrying the AA genotype in rs1043996 and TT/TC genotypes in rs422951 and rs520692 significantly decreased risks of death, compared to those carrying the AG/GG genotype in rs1043996 and CC genotype in rs422951 and rs520692, respectively. Patients carrying the TT genotype in rs3830041 showed poorer OS, compared with those carrying the TC/CC genotype. A haplotype block (rs422951 was in strong LD with rs520692, r 2 = 0.843) was identified in Notch4. Notch3 mRNA expression significantly increased in tumor tissue, compared with nontumor normal tissue (P < 0.0001). Moreover, higher expression of Notch3 was associated with poorer OS (HR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.32–3.37, P = 0.002) and shorter recurrence time of HBV‐related HCC (HR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.31–2.93, P = 0.001). Our findings collectively indicate that Notch receptors variants (rs1043996 in Notch3 and rs422951, rs520692, rs3830041 in Notch4) are independent predictive targets for OS in HBV‐related HCC patients. Notch3 expression is a potential prognostic biomarker of OS and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) prediction in HBV‐related HCC patients following surgical treatment.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Older Patients: Prognosis Determined by Disease Risk Index

The treatment of elderly patients with advanced hematological malignancies has expanded to include reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) as a potentially curative option. We studied the association between Disease Risk Index (DRI) and clinical outcomes of 196 elderly patients (median age, 64.8; range, 60 to 75 years) with hematological malignancies receiving RIC alloHCT (2000 to 2014). Donors were related and unrelated adults (n = 100, 51.1%) or umbilical cord blood (n = 96, 48.9%). DRI classified 12 patients (6.1%) as low risk (LR), 146 patients (74.5%) as intermediate risk (IR), and 38 patients (19.4%) as high risk (HR). Two-year overall survival (OS) was 47% (52% for LR/IR versus 29% for HR, P < .01) and 2-year disease-free survival was 39% (44% for LR/IR versus 21% for HR, P < .01). Relapse incidence was 30% (26% for LR/IR versus 44% for HR, P < .01). Treatment-related mortality was 29% at 2 years; this was similar for all DRI groups. In multiple regression analysis, HR DRI was associated with increased risk of relapse (hazard ratio, 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34 to 3.33; P = .02) and treatment failure (hazard ratio, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.35 to 3.18; P < .01) and decreased OS (hazard ratio, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.34 to 3.33; P < .01). In elderly patients, DRI is a significant prognostic factor for post-transplantation relapse, treatment failure, and mortality. Because of increased risk of relapse leading to poor survival in HR DRI, participation in clinical trials offering relapse prevention strategies after RIC alloHCT should be encouraged when available.

Long-term follow-up after cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome

ObjectiveCognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Main aim was to determine whether treatment effects were maintained up to 10years after treatment. MethodsParticipants (n=583) of previously published studies on the effects of CBT for CFS were contacted for a long-term follow-up assessment. They completed questionnaires on main outcomes fatigue severity (CIS) and physical functioning (SF-36). The course of these outcomes since post-treatment assessment was examined using mixed model analyses. ResultsBetween 21 and 125months after finishing CBT, 511 persons (response rate 88%) completed a follow-up assessment. At follow-up, mean fatigue severity was significantly increased to 37.60 (SD=12.76) and mean physical functioning significantly decreased to 73.16 (SD=23.56) compared to post-treatment assessment. At follow-up still 37% of the participants had fatigue scores in the normal range and 70% were not impaired in physical functioning. ConclusionPositive effects of CBT for CFS on fatigue and physical functioning were partly sustained at long-term follow-up. However, a subgroup of patients once again reported severe fatigue, and compromised physical functioning. Further research should elucidate the reasons for this deterioration to facilitate the development of treatment strategies for relapse prevention.

Exercising alcohol patients don\u2019t lack motivation but struggle with structures, emotions and social context - a qualitative dropout study

BackgroundExercise is an important component of a healthy lifestyle, the development of which is a relapse prevention strategy for those with alcohol use disorder. However, it is a challenge to create exercise interventions with a persistent behavioural change. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate perceived barriers to participation in an exercise intervention among alcohol use disorder patients, who dropped out of the intervention program. Furthermore, this study aims to propose possibilities for a better practice of future intervention studies based on the participants’ experiences and suggestions.MethodsQualitative interviews with 17 patients who dropped out from an exercise intervention in an outpatient treatment centre about their experiences and reasons for dropping out. Social cognitive theory informed the development of the interview guides and systematic text condensation was used for analysis.ResultsAnalysis revealed three central themes: 1) Structural barriers described as the type of exercise and the timing of the intervention, 2) Social barriers described as need for accountability and unsupportive relations, and 3) Emotional barriers described as fear, guilt and shame, and negative affect of the intervention on long term.ConclusionsFuture exercise interventions should include socio-psychological support during the first weeks, begin shortly after treatment initiation instead of concurrently, and focus on garnering social support for participants in both the intervention context and among their existing network in order to best reduce barriers to participation.Trial registrationThis study was retrospectively registered at Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN74889852 on 11 July 2013.

Rituximab versus azathioprine as therapy for maintenance of remission for anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitis (RITAZAREM): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundRituximab is effective as therapy for induction of remission in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). However, the effect of rituximab is not sustained, and subsequent relapse rates are high, especially in patients with a history of relapse. There is a need to identify whether maintenance therapy with rituximab is superior to the current standard of azathioprine or methotrexate for prevention of relapse following induction with rituximab.Methods/designRITAZAREM is an international, multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial designed to demonstrate the superiority of repeated doses of intravenous rituximab compared to daily orally administered azathioprine as a relapse prevention strategy in patients with AAV with relapsing disease who undergo induction of remission with rituximab. Patients with AAV will be recruited at the time of relapse and will receive rituximab and glucocorticoid induction therapy. If the disease is controlled by 4 months, patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive rituximab (1000 mg every 4 months for five doses) or azathioprine (2 mg/kg/day) as maintenance therapy. Patients will be followed for a minimum of 36 months. The primary outcome is the time to disease relapse. It is estimated that 190 patients will need to be recruited to ensure that at least 160 are randomized.DiscussionThe RITAZAREM trial will provide the largest trial dataset for the use of rituximab as remission-induction therapy for patients with AAV comparing two remission-maintenance strategies following induction with rituximab, and explore whether prolonged B-cell depletion leads to sustained treatment-free remissions after discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01697267. Registered on 31 August 2012.

Problematic internet pornography use: The role of craving, desire thinking, and metacognition

Defined as sexually explicit material that elicits erotic thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, internet pornography is a prevalent form of media that may facilitate problematic use and craving for engagement. Research suggests that superordinate cognitions and information processing, such as desire thinking and metacognition, are central to the activation and escalation of craving in addictive behaviours. The current study aimed to contribute to the literature by testing the proposed metacognitive model of desire thinking and craving in a sample of problematic pornography users, while revising the model by incorporating negative affect. From a theoretical perspective, environmental cues trigger positive metacognitions about desire thinking that directly influence desire thinking, resulting in the escalation of craving, negative metacognitions, and negative affect. Participants were recruited via an online survey and screened for problematic internet pornography use. Path analyses were used to investigate relationships among the aforementioned constructs in a final sample of 191 participants. Consistent with previous research, results of this study validated the existence of metacognitive processes in the activation of desire thinking and escalation of craving, while indicating that desire thinking has the potential to influence negative affect. Additionally, results supported the role of significant indirect relationships between constructs within the revised model of metacognition, desire thinking, and psychopathology. Collectively, the findings demonstrate the clinical value of a metacognitive conceptualisation of problematic pornography use. Exploring the metacognitive mechanisms that underpin problematic internet pornography use may give rise to the development of new treatment and relapse prevention strategies.

PPARγ agonism attenuates cocaine cue reactivity.

Cocaine use disorder is a chronic relapsing condition characterized by compulsive drug seeking and taking even after prolonged abstinence periods. Subsequent exposure to drug-associated cues can promote intense craving and lead to relapse in abstinent humans and rodent models. The responsiveness to these cocaine-related cues, or 'cue reactivity', can trigger relapse and cocaine-seeking behaviors; cue reactivity is measurable in cocaine-dependent humans as well as rodent models. Cue reactivity is thought to be predictive of cocaine craving and relapse. Here we report that PPARγ agonism during abstinence from cocaine self-administration reduced previously active lever pressing in Sprague Dawley rats during cue-reactivity tests, while administration of the PPARγ antagonist, GW9662, reversed this effect. PPARγ agonism also normalized nuclear ERK activity in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus which was reversed with GW9662. Our results support the utility of PPARγ agonism as a relapse prevention strategy to maintain abstinence in the presence of cocaine-associated cues.

Efficacy of an adenovirus-based anti-cocaine vaccine to reduce cocaine self-administration and reacqusition using a choice procedure in rhesus macaques

Immunopharmacotherapy offers an approach for treating cocaine abuse by specifically targeting the cocaine molecule and preventing its access to the CNS. dAd5GNE is a novel cocaine vaccine that attenuates the stimulant and the reinforcing effects of cocaine in rats. The goal of this study was to extend and validate dAd5GNE vaccine efficacy in non-human primates. Six experimentally naïve adult female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were trained to self-administer 0.1mg/kg/injection intravenous (i.v.) cocaine or receive candy; then 4 monkeys were administered the vaccine and 2 monkeys were administered vehicle intramuscularly, with additional vaccine boosts throughout the study. The reinforcing effects of cocaine were measured during self-administration, extinction, and reacquisition (relapse) phases. Serum antibody titers in the vaccinated monkeys remained high throughout the study. There was no change in the preference for cocaine over candy over a 20-week period in 5 of the 6 monkeys; only one of the 4 (25%) vaccinated monkeys showed a decrease in cocaine choice. All 6 monkeys extinguished responding for cocaine during saline extinction testing; vaccinated monkeys tended to take longer to extinguish responding than control monkeys (17.5 vs. 7.0 sessions). Vaccination substantially retarded reacquisition of cocaine self-administration; control monkeys resumed cocaine self-administration within 6–41 sessions and 1 vaccinated monkey resumed cocaine self-administration in 19 sessions. The other 3 vaccinated monkeys required between 57 and 94 sessions to resume cocaine self-administration even in the context of employing several manipulations to encourage cocaine reacquisition. These data suggest that the dAdGNE vaccine may have therapeutic potential for humans who achieve cocaine abstinence as part of a relapse prevention strategy.

Rate, timing and predictors of relapse in patients with anorexia nervosa following a relapse prevention program: a cohort study

BackgroundRelapse is common among recovered anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. Studies on relapse prevention with an average follow-up period of 18 months found relapse rates between 35 and 41 %. In leading guidelines there is general consensus that relapse prevention in patients treated for AN is a matter of essence. However, lack of methodological support hinders the practical implementation of relapse prevention strategies in clinical practice. For this reason we developed the Guideline Relapse Prevention Anorexia Nervosa. In this study we examine the rate, timing and predictors of relapse when using this guideline.MethodCohort study with 83 AN patients who were enrolled in a relapse prevention program for anorexia nervosa with 18 months follow-up. Data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meijer survival analyses and Cox regression.ResultsEleven percent of the participants experienced a full relapse, 19 % a partial relapse, 70 % did not relapse. Survival analyses indicated that in the first four months of the program no full relapses occurred. The highest risk of full relapse was between months 4 and 16. None of the variables remained a significant predictor of relapse in the multivariate Cox regression analysis.ConclusionThe guideline offers structured procedures for relapse prevention. In this study the relapse rates were relatively low compared to relapse rates in previous studies. We recommend that all patients with AN set up a personalized relapse prevention plan at the end of their treatment and be monitored at least 18 months after discharge. It may significantly contribute to the reduction of relapse rates.

Pharmacotherapy of Tobacco Use Disorder

Pharmacotherapy of Tobacco Use Disorder

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) offers the only potential cure for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, with current approaches to HCT, many older patients with comorbidities are poor HCT candidates, and treatment-related morbidity and mortality may offset benefit for patients with lower-risk disease. Consequently, selection of patients with MDS for HCT should take into consideration disease risk category including mutational status, HCT comorbidity index, functional status, donor options, and available institutional resources. Formal geriatric assessment may further guide use of HCT and, if HCT is chosen, selection of conditioning intensity. Patients with higher-risk MDS should be considered for HCT at the time of diagnosis, whereas expectant nontransplant management is more appropriate for those with lower-risk disease. A high blast burden at the time of HCT increases the risk of subsequent relapse; however, the role of pretransplant cytoreductive therapy and the regimen of choice remain controversial. Patients with MDS younger than 65 years and with an HCT comorbidity index ≤ 4 may benefit from more intense conditioning regimens. The presence of complex or monosomal karyotype or mutations in TP53, DNMT3A, or other genes identify patients with poorer outcomes following HCT. Patients with TP53 mutations have particularly poor survival, and should be enrolled in clinical trials whenever possible. Several important HCT studies are ongoing and will better define the role of HCT in MDS as well as the value of pretransplant cytoreductive therapy or post-transplant relapse-prevention strategies. Given the apparent underuse of HCT in eligible patients and low enrollment in MDS HCT clinical trials to date, timely referral of patients with MDS to such trials and HCT programs is critical.

Progesterone and Postpartum Smoking Relapse: A Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial.

Pregnancy is a strong motivator to quit smoking, yet postpartum relapse rates are high. Growing evidence suggests a role of sex hormones in drug abuse behavior and given the precipitous drop in sex hormones at delivery, they may play a role in postpartum relapse. This pilot study evaluates the feasibility and potential role of exogenous progesterone in postpartum smoking relapse. This 12-week double-blind placebo-controlled randomized pilot trial randomized 46 abstinent postpartum women to active progesterone (PRO; 200mg twice a day) versus placebo (PBO) for 4 weeks. Participants were followed for relapse for 12 weeks. Main study outcomes include abstinence (point prevalence), feasibility (compliance per number of clinic visits attended, pill counts and Electronic Data Capture [EDC] completed) and self-reported acceptability. Safety was also measured by depressive symptom scores, adverse events, and breastfeeding. Overall retention rate was 87% at week 12. At week 4, abstinence rates were 75% in the PRO group and 68.2% in the PBO group (p = .75). Medication adherence was 68% and clinic visit attendance was 80%, with no differences by randomization. Depressive symptom scores, adverse events, and breastfeeding did not vary by randomization. Although the study was not powered to evaluate abstinence rates, we did observe a higher prevalence of abstinence at week 4 in the PRO group. Further, exogenous progesterone was well tolerated and did not adversely affect depressive symptoms or breastfeeding. Thus, the results of this pilot study indicate further investigation into progesterone as a postpartum relapse prevention strategy is warranted. This innovative pilot trial determined the feasibility of delivering exogenous progesterone as a potential prevention of postpartum smoking relapse. We observed high retention and moderate adherence rates, as well as high acceptability among participants. Further, though not statistically significant, more women in the treatment group remained abstinent from smoking during follow-up. This project adds to the growing body of literature on the role of sex hormones in smoking relapse and also provides support for a fully powered clinical trial.

Ketamine for depression relapse prevention following electroconvulsive therapy: protocol for a randomised pilot trial (the KEEP-WELL trial).

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder is a common debilitating illness that is the second leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Unfortunately, about 30 % of patients do not respond to adequate trials of antidepressants and/or psychotherapies. About 45–60 % of such treatment-resistant patients will remit with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, relapse rates are high following ECT—38 % after 6 months. There is a need for better relapse prevention strategies. One possibility is to use ketamine, a competitive glutamate receptor antagonist used for anaesthesia. A recent paradigm shift in treating depression and understanding its biology has been the finding that ketamine has a robust, rapid-onset, though short-lived, antidepressant effect that is possibly mediated through neuroplastic effects. However, ketamine has not previously been reported on for relapse prevention.Methods/designThe main objective of this study is to conduct a randomised controlled pilot trial (n = 40) of a 4-week course of once-weekly ketamine infusions for relapse prevention following ECT for depression to assess trial procedures that will inform a future definitive trial. Participants with unipolar depression will be recruited prior to commencing ECT and be assessed weekly during the ECT course using the primary clinical outcome, the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-24). Those who meet standard response criteria will be invited, on completing ECT, to be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to a course of four once-weekly infusions of ketamine or an active comparator midazolam, which mimics some of the effects of ketamine and may improve blinding over inactive placebo. Participants will be followed up over 6 months using the HRSD-24 to assess for relapse.DiscussionThis is the first registered trial (NCT02414932, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02414932) of ketamine for depression relapse prevention, an important possible use of this agent. The primary focus of the pilot trial is on feasibility. However, a 95 % confidence interval will be determined for the difference between ketamine and midazolam groups in 6-month relapse rates to help inform a future definitive trial.Trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ NCT02414932Secondary Identifying numbers:EudraCT number: 2014-000339-18Sponsors’ Reference, Sponsor: St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services: 05/14Research Ethics Committee Reference, Joint REC of St James’ and Tallaght Hospitals, Dublin: 2014-08-19Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40814-016-0080-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pharmacotherapies for nicotine addiction in adults and adolescents

The prevalence of tobacco use has declined substantially in the past few decades, yet it remains the leading cause of preventable death globally. Smoking frequency in adolescents is also alarming and is often associated with greater susceptibility to health problems in their adult lives. Unlike the extensive body of literature that exists for adults, research on smoking cessation approaches for adolescents is scarce. This review discusses current pharmacological and psychosocial interventions available for both adults and adolescents. Anti-smoking medications approved for adult smokers are either nicotine based (i.e., nicotine patch, gum, inhaler, nasal spray and lozenges) or non-nicotine based (i.e., sustained-release bupropion and varenicline), all of which improve abstinence by acting on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain. Non-pharmacological interventions targeting the psychosocial aspects of smoking addiction include brief counselling, cognitive-behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, contingency management, relapse-prevention strategies, social influence and mobile phone-based programs.

Evaluation of a Physical Activity Intervention for Adults With Brain Impairment

Background. Individuals with brain impairment (BI) are less active than the general population and have increased risk of chronic disease. Objective. This controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a physical activity (PA) intervention for community-dwelling adults with BI. Methods. A total of 43 adults with BI (27 male, 16 female; age 38.1 ± 11.9 years; stage of change 1-3) who walked as their primary means of locomotion were allocated to an intervention (n = 23) or control (n = 20) condition. The intervention comprised 10 face-to-face home visits over 12 weeks, including a tailored combination of stage-matched behavior change activities, exercise prescription, community access facilitation, and relapse prevention strategies. The control group received 10 face-to-face visits over 12 weeks to promote sun safety, healthy sleep, and oral health. Primary outcomes were daily activity counts and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) measured with the ActiGraph GT1M at baseline (0 weeks), postintervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (24 weeks). Between-group differences were evaluated for statistical significance using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results. MVPA for the intervention group increased significantly from baseline to 12 weeks (20.8 ± 3.1 to 31.2 ± 3.1 min/d; P = .01), but differences between baseline and 24 weeks were nonsignificant (20.8 ± 3.1 to 25.3 ± 3.2 min/d; P = .28). MVPA changes for the control group were negligible and nonsignificant. Between-group differences for change in MVPA were significant at 12 weeks (P = .03) but not at 24 weeks (P = .49). Conclusion. The 12-week intervention effectively increased adoption of PA in a sample of community-dwelling adults with BI immediately after the intervention but not at follow-up. Future studies should explore strategies to foster maintenance of PA participation.

회복중인 남성 알코올중독자의 성과 성 경험

Objective: One of the important factors that leads to relapse amongst alcoholics is a negative emotional state, and the factors affecting negative emotions include sexual desire or sex life. Although relapse into alcoholism is closely related to sexual experience, few studies have been done on sexuality and sexual experiences among alcoholics in Korea. The purpose of this study was to explore the sexual experiences of recovering male alcoholics and enhance our understanding of this issue in order to develop relapse-prevention strategies. Methods: The participants included 19 male recovering alcoholics who were diagnosed as alcoholics and maintained sobriety for more than 6 months after treatment. This work includes a secondary analysis of focus group interviews conducted on 17 participants published in “A Study on Sex Education Requirements of Recovering Alcoholics.” This study added two in‐depth interviews of key informants to the qualitative data. Thematic content analysis methods were used. Results: Our results revealed that sexuality and the sexual experiences of recovering alcoholics could be divided into 4 categories: “distorted sexuality,” “wounded sexuality,” “addiction-aggravating sexuality,” and “recovering sexuality.” We found that distorted ideas of sexuality and psychological wounds related to sexual experiences affected alcohol dependency in the patients. Sexual dysfunction that males experience during the recovery process interacts with the desire for intimacy, triggers the impulse to drink, and aggravates addiction. On the other hand, participants in longer-term recovery experienced a perceptual change regarding sexuality. They came to perceive sexual behaviors and sexual life as emotional sharing and an expression of friendliness, whereas sexuality had previously been viewed as a symbolic expression of power and a method of pursuing pleasure. Conclusion: In this study, we examined sexuality and intimacy issues that recovering male alcoholics face, and explored the positive and negative effects of various sex-related behaviors on recovery. Our results can be used as basic material for the education of professionals in the addiction field and in developing intervention programs to encourage recovering male alcoholics to develop healthy sex lives.