The Effects of Malnutrition in a Human Population on Addictive Behavior and Sex Ratio at Birth

The objective and aim of this case-control study was to replicate an earlier finding of a significant relationship between prenatal exposure to famine and substance use disorders later in life and to examine the sex ratio at birth in the study populations. We compared the number of addicted individuals in a population prenatally exposed to a severe hunger period with matched individuals in a non-exposed population. The gender distribution of patients with substance use disorders and healthy controls were calculated and all data were quantified as odds ratios. The findings confirm that prenatal exposure to famine is a risk factor to develop substance use disorder later in life. Men are at risk in particular by exposure to famine during the first trimester, women by exposure during the third trimester. The sex ratio men to women at birth was 3 : 1 in the patient groups compared to 1:1 in the healthy controls. The results were discussed in the light of the possible disastrious future consequences for the hunger regions in our world.

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Perceived family cohesion, social support, and quality of life in patients undergoing treatment for substance use disorders compared with patients with mental and physical disorders

Addiction Science & Clinical Practice ◽

10.1186/s13722-021-00252-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bente Birkeland ◽

Bente Weimand ◽

Torleif Ruud ◽

Darryl Maybery ◽

John-Kåre Vederhus

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Substance Use ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Family Cohesion ◽

Service Providers ◽

Cancer Data ◽

Physical Disorders ◽

Patient Groups

Abstract Purpose Support from family and other social network elements can be important in helping patients to cope with practical and emotional consequences of diseases. The aim of the study was to examine perception of family and social support and quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). We compared them with patients in treatment for mental disorders (MDs) and physical disorders (PDs). Methods We used data from a national multicenter study that recruited patients (N = 518) from three treatment domains; SUD treatment units, MD treatment units, and PD treatment units (severe neurological conditions or cancer). Data on family cohesion, social support, and QoL were compared across patient groups. In addition, data on health variables was collected. We used a multiple linear regression procedure to examine how health and support variables were associated with QoL. Results Family cohesion and social support in the SUD and MD groups were rated at similarly low levels, substantially lower than in the PD group. The SUD group exhibited a somewhat lower QoL than did the PD group, but their QoL was still in the near-to-normal range. In contrast, the MD group had markedly low QoL. When examining factors associated with QoL, we found that greater family cohesion and social support were positively associated with QoL. Mental distress was the strongest factor, and was negatively associated with QoL (beta − 0.15, 95% CI = − 0.17/− 0.14, p < 0.001). Conclusion Service providers need to be aware of the weaker networks and less regulatory family and/or social support available to patients with SUDs. Providers should focus consistently on the social networks of patients and include patients’ families in treatment processes.

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Sex Ratio at Birth Is Associated with First-Trimester Maternal Thyrotropin in Women Receiving Levothyroxine

Thyroid ◽

10.1089/thy.2012.0530 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 23 (12) ◽

pp. 1514-1517 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Inka Miñambres Donaire ◽

Diana Ovejero Crespo ◽

Apolonia García-Paterson ◽

Juan María Adelantado ◽

Rosa Corcoy Pla

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

First Trimester ◽

Sex Ratio At Birth

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Elevated neutrophil lymphocyte ratio in patients with substance use disorders

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1754 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S872-S873 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

N. Ozkan ◽

M.B. Sonmez ◽

P. Tas Durmus ◽

Y. Gorgulu ◽

R. Kose Cınar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Synthetic Cannabinoid ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Addiction Severity ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

The Difference ◽

Competing Interest

IntroductionDisturbances in inflammatory processes may play a role in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. The neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are indicators of the systemic inflammatory response.ObjectivesThe current study was prepared based on the assumption that dysregulated immune function and elevated inflammation markers may be seen in substance use disorders.AimsOur aim was to investigate whether NLR and CRP are higher in patients diagnosed with substance use disorders than in healthy subjects.MethodsThe participants in the study included 115 male inpatients diagnosed with alcohol (n = 41), heroin (n = 46), or synthetic cannabinoid (n = 28) dependence according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR), and 32 healthy male volunteers. We used NLR and CRP as measures of systemic inflammation. Blood samples were taken on the next morning of admission for detoxification. Addiction severity was assessed using the Addiction Profile Index (API).ResultsThe difference between the groups with respect to NLR was statistically significant (P = 0.014). Patients diagnosed with alcohol, heroin or synthetic cannabinoid dependence had similar NLR. Patients with alcohol or synthetic cannabinoid dependence had significantly higher NLR than healthy controls (P = 0.001 and P = 0.029, respectively). Patients with heroin dependence trended towards statistically significantly higher NLR compared to healthy controls (P = 0.067). CRP levels did not differ significantly between the patient and control groups. NLR and CRP were not significantly correlated with API scores.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that NLR is elevated in patients with substance use disorders in comparison to healthy controls.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Low prevalence of substance use in people with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.2018.258 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 215 (5) ◽

pp. 661-667 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Claudia Vingerhoets ◽

Mathilde J.F. van Oudenaren ◽

Oswald J.N. Bloemen ◽

Erik Boot ◽

Esther D.A. van Duin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

22Q11.2 Deletion Syndrome ◽

Deletion Syndrome ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

22Q11.2 Deletion ◽

Comt Genotype ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk

Background22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), one of the most common recurrent copy number variant disorders, is associated with dopaminergic abnormalities and increased risk for psychotic disorders.AimsGiven the elevated prevalence of substance use and dopaminergic abnormalities in non-deleted patients with psychosis, we investigated the prevalence of substance use in 22q11DS, compared with that in non-deleted patients with psychosis and matched healthy controls.MethodThis cross-sectional study involved 434 patients with 22q11DS, 265 non-deleted patients with psychosis and 134 healthy controls. Psychiatric diagnosis, full-scale IQ and COMT Val158Met genotype were determined in the 22q11DS group. Substance use data were collected according to the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.ResultsThe prevalence of total substance use (36.9%) and substance use disorders (1.2%), and weekly amounts of alcohol and nicotine use, in patients with 22q11DS was significantly lower than in non-deleted patients with psychosis or controls. Compared with patients with 22q11DS, healthy controls were 20 times more likely to use substances in general (P < 0.001); results were also significant for alcohol and nicotine use separately. Within the 22q11DS group, there was no relationship between the prevalence of substance use and psychosis or COMT genotype. Male patients with 22q11DS were more likely to use substances than female patients with 22q11DS.ConclusionsThe results suggest that patients with 22q11DS are at decreased risk for substance use and substance use disorders despite the increased risk of psychotic disorders. Further research into neurobiological and environmental factors involved in substance use in 22q11DS is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms involved.Declaration of interestNone.

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Greater decision uncertainty characterizes a transdiagnostic patient sample during approach-avoidance conflict: a computational modelling approach

Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience ◽

10.1503/jpn.200032 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. E74-E87

Author(s):

Ryan Smith ◽

Namik Kirlic ◽

Jennifer L. Stewart ◽

James Touthang ◽

Rayus Kuplicki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Computational Modelling ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Full Sample ◽

Decision Uncertainty ◽

Emotional Conflict ◽

Approach Avoidance

Background: Imbalances in approach-avoidance conflict (AAC) decision-making (e.g., sacrificing rewards to avoid negative outcomes) are considered central to multiple psychiatric disorders. We used computational modelling to examine 2 factors that are often not distinguished in descriptive analyses of AAC: decision uncertainty and sensitivity to negative outcomes versus rewards (emotional conflict). Methods: A previously validated AAC task was completed by 478 participants, including healthy controls (n = 59), people with substance use disorders (n = 159) and people with depression and/or anxiety disorders who did not have substance use disorders (n = 260). Using an active inference model, we estimated individual-level values for a model parameter that reflected decision uncertainty and another that reflected emotional conflict. We also repeated analyses in a subsample (59 healthy controls, 161 people with depression and/or anxiety disorders, 56 people with substance use disorders) that was propensity-matched for age and general intelligence. Results: The model showed high accuracy (72%). As further validation, parameters correlated with reaction times and self-reported task motivations in expected directions. The emotional conflict parameter further correlated with self-reported anxiety during the task (r = 0.32, p < 0.001), and the decision uncertainty parameter correlated with self-reported difficulty making decisions (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). Compared to healthy controls, people with depression and/or anxiety disorders and people with substance use disorders showed higher decision uncertainty in the propensity-matched sample (t = 2.16, p = 0.03, and t = 2.88, p = 0.005, respectively), with analogous results in the full sample; people with substance use disorders also showed lower emotional conflict in the full sample (t = 3.17, p = 0.002). Limitations: This study was limited by heterogeneity of the clinical sample and an inability to examine learning. Conclusion: These results suggest that reduced confidence in how to act, rather than increased emotional conflict, may explain maladaptive approach-avoidance behaviours in people with psychiatric disorders.

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