Needed Relapse-Prevention Research on Novel Framework (ASPIRE Model) for Substance Use Disorders Treatment

The role of employment status, change, and satisfaction for people who have completed substance use disorder treatment

BACKGROUND

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex disabling condition that is not often well understood. Despite decades of SUD research and intervention, prevalence rates remain stable and many traditional treatment options are largely ineffective in helping individuals with SUDs attain long-term abstinence and recovery. One avenue that shows promise in facilitating higher recovery and quality of life (QoL) outcomes in people with SUD is employment that occurs alongside traditional treatment.

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to understand the role that meaningful and satisfying employment has in SUD outcomes for treatment completers.

METHODS

Employing a quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, nonequivalent group design, this study examined 197 individuals with SUDs who completed treatment to explore how their employment status during treatment, employment status change from their treatment to the time of the survey, and job satisfaction influenced their recovery and QOL.

RESULTS

Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) revealed that those who made the transition from unemployed at treatment to employed at time of survey and those who were employed in "very satisfying" jobs had higher rates of recovery and QOL than those who were in "very dissatisfying" jobs or made the transition from employed during treatment to unemployed at time of survey.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study are promising in that employment and job satisfaction seem to be facilitative of recovery and QOL outcomes for this population of SUD treatment completers.

Psychoeducation Program for Substance Use Disorder: Effect on Relapse Rate, Social Functioning, Perceived Wellness, and Coping

The current study was designed to assess the effect of a psychoeducation program on relapse rate, social functioning, perceived wellness, and ways of coping in individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). The study sample comprised 92 individuals (n = 46 intervention group, n = 46 control group) who received SUD treatment, had undergone detoxification, and agreed to participate in the study. A 10-session psychoeducation program was applied to individuals in the intervention group. Data collection included a urine sample and completion of the Personal Information Form, Social Functioning Scale, Perceived Wellness Scale, and Ways of Coping Scale. The relapse rate in the control group was found to be higher than in the intervention group; thus, it was determined that the relapse prevention psychoeducation program led to positive changes in relapse rate, social functioning, perceived wellness, and stress in individuals with SUD. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(8), 39-47.].

Role of orexin-1 receptors in the dorsal hippocampus (CA1 region) in expression and extinction of the morphine-induced conditioned place preference in the rats

Orexinergic system is involved in reward processing and drug addiction. Objectives here, we investigated the effect of intra-hippocampal CA1 administration of orexin-1 receptor (OX1r) antagonist on the expression, and extinction of morphine-induced place preference in rats. Conditioned place preference (CPP) was induced by subcutaneous injection of morphine (5 mg/kg) during a 3-day conditioning phase. Two experimental plots were designed; SB334867 as a selective OX1r antagonist was dissolved in 12% DMSO, prepared in solutions with different concentrations (3, 30, and 300 nM), and microinjected into the CA1 and some neighboring regions (0.5 μl/side), bilaterally. CPP score and locomotor activity were recorded during the CPP test. Results demonstrated that intra-CA1 administration of the OX1r antagonist attenuates the expression of morphine-induced CPP. Furthermore, higher concentrations of SB334867 facilitated the extinction period of morphine-induced CPP and reduced its latency. Nevertheless, solely administration of DMSO did not have any influence on the CPP scores and locomotion in both phases. Our findings suggest that OX1rs in the CA1 region of the hippocampus are involved in the expression of morphine CPP. Moreover, blockade of OX1rs could facilitate extinction and may extinguish the ability of drug-related cues. It seems that the antagonist might be considered as a propitious therapeutic agent in suppressing drug-seeking behaviors.

Machine learning approaches to personalize early prediction of asthma exacerbations

Patient telemonitoring results in an aggregation of significant amounts of information about patient disease trajectory. However, the potential use of this information for early prediction of exacerbations in adult asthma patients has not been systematically evaluated. The aim of this study was to explore the utility of telemonitoring data for building machine learning algorithms that predict asthma exacerbations before they occur. The study dataset comprised daily self-monitoring reports consisting of 7001 records submitted by adult asthma patients during home telemonitoring. Predictive modeling included preparation of stratified training datasets, predictive feature selection, and evaluation of resulting classifiers. Using a 7-day window, a naive Bayesian classifier, adaptive Bayesian network, and support vector machines were able to predict asthma exacerbation occurring on day 8, with sensitivity of 0.80, 1.00, and 0.84; specificity of 0.77, 1.00, and 0.80; and accuracy of 0.77, 1.00, and 0.80, respectively. Our study demonstrated that machine learning techniques have significant potential in developing personalized decision support for chronic disease telemonitoring systems. Future studies may benefit from a comprehensive predictive framework that combines telemonitoring data with other factors affecting the likelihood of developing acute exacerbation. Approaches implemented for advanced asthma exacerbation prediction may be extended to prediction of exacerbations in patients with other chronic health conditions.

Trace amine-associated receptor 1: A promising target for the treatment of psychostimulant addiction

Abuse of and addiction to psychostimulants remains a challenging clinical issue; yet no effective pharmacotherapy is available. Trace amine associated receptor 1 (TAAR 1) is increasingly recognized as a novel drug target that participates in the modulation of drug abuse. This review analyzed existing preclinical evidence from electrophysiological, biochemical to behavioral aspects regarding the functional interactions between TAAR 1 and dopaminergic system. TAAR 1 knockout mice demonstrate increased sensitivity to dopaminergic activation while TAAR 1 agonists reduce the neurochemical effects of cocaine and amphetamines, attenuate abuse- and addiction-related behavioral effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. It is concluded that TAAR 1 activation functionally modulates the dopaminergic activity and TAAR 1 agonists appear to be promising pharmacotherapies against psychostimulant addiction.