scholarly journals Views of Practitioners and Researchers on the Use of Virtual Reality in Treatments for Substance Use Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rigina Skeva ◽  
Lynsey Gregg ◽  
Caroline Jay ◽  
Steve Pettifer
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Additional Treatment ◽  
Reality Therapy ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Care Practitioners ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Success Of Treatment ◽  
Subsequent Relapse

Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety disorders and phobias, but has not yet been widely tested for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and it is not known whether health care practitioners working with SUDs would use VRT if it were available. We report the results of an interview study exploring practitioners’ and researchers’ views on the utility of VRT for SUD treatment. Practitioners and researchers with at least two years’ experience delivering or researching and designing SUD treatments were recruited (n = 14). Interviews were thematically analyzed, resulting in themes relating to the safety and realism of VRT, and the opportunity for the additional insight it could offer to during SUD treatment. Participants were positive about employing VRT as an additional treatment for SUD. VRT was thought suitable for treating adults and people with mental health issues or trauma, provided that risks were appropriately managed. Subsequent relapse, trauma and over-confidence in the success of treatment were identified as risks. The opportunity VRT offered to include other actors in therapy (via avatar use), and observe reactions, were benefits that could not currently be achieved with other forms of therapy. Overall, VRT was thought to offer the potential for safe, realistic, personalized and insightful exposure to diverse triggering scenarios, and to be acceptable for integration into a wide range of SUD treatments.

scholarly journals Effects of lowered serotonin transmission on cocaine-induced striatal dopamine response: PET [11C]raclopride study in humans

2011 ◽  
Vol 199 (5) ◽  
pp. 391-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia M. L. Cox ◽  
Chawki Benkelfat ◽  
Alain Dagher ◽  
J. Scott Delaney ◽  
France Durand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Striatal Dopamine ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
Acute Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Comorbid Conditions ◽  
Drug Craving ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Wide Range

BackgroundLow serotonin transmission is thought to increase susceptibility to a wide range of substance use disorders and impulsive traits.AimsTo investigate the effects of lowered serotonin on cocaine-induced (1.0 mg/kg cocaine, self-administered intranasally) dopamine responses and drug craving.MethodIn non-dependent cocaine users, serotonin transmission was reduced using the acute tryptophan depletion method. Striatal dopamine responses were measured using positron emission tomography with [11C]raclopride.ResultsAcute tryptophan depletion increased drug craving and striatal dopamine responses to cocaine. These acute tryptophan depletion-induced increases did not occur in the absence of cocaine.ConclusionsThe results suggest that low serotonin transmission can increase dopaminergic and appetitive responses to cocaine. These findings might identify a mechanism by which individuals with low serotonin are at elevated risk for both substance use disorders and comorbid conditions.

scholarly journals Closing the gap between training needs and training provision in addiction medicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-39
Author(s):  
Sidharth Arya ◽  
Mirjana Delic ◽  
Blanca Iciar Indave Ruiz ◽  
Jan Klimas ◽  
Duccio Papanti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Addiction Medicine ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Sufficient Detail ◽  
Core Set ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Closing The Gap ◽  
And Training

Substance use disorders pose a significant global social and economic burden. Although effective interventions exist, treatment coverage remains limited. The lack of an adequately trained workforce is one of the prominent reasons. Recent initiatives have been taken worldwide to improve training, but further efforts are required to build curricula that are internationally applicable. We believe that the training needs of professionals in the area have not yet been explored in sufficient detail. We propose that a peer-led survey to assess those needs, using a standardised structured tool, would help to overcome this deficiency. The findings from such a survey could be used to develop a core set of competencies which is sufficiently flexible in its implementation to address the specific needs of the wide range of professionals working in addiction medicine worldwide.

Young Adult Outcome of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Uchida ◽  
Joseph Biederman
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Massachusetts General Hospital ◽  
Emotional Dysregulation ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Wide Range

The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Longitudinal Studies of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) evaluated and followed a large sample of both boys and girls with ADHD and controls without ADHD, along with their families, ascertained from psychiatric and pediatric sources. These studies documented that ADHD in both sexes is associated with high levels of persistence onto adulthood; high levels of familiality with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders; a wide range of comorbid psychiatric and cognitive disorders including mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders; learning disabilities with reading and math; executive function deficits; emotional dysregulation and autistic traits; as well as educational, social, and occupational dysfunctions. The MGH studies also suggested that stimulant treatment significantly decreased the risk of developing comorbid psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and impaired functional outcomes. The studies also documented the neural basis of the persistence of ADHD using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

A systematic review of studies examining effectiveness of therapeutic communities

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 168-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne Magor-Blatch ◽  
Navjot Bhullar ◽  
Bronwyn Thomson ◽  
Einar Thorsteinsson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Issues

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to systematically review quantitative research since 2000 on the effectiveness of residential therapeutic communities (TCs) for the treatment of substance-use disorders with reference to substance-use, crime, mental health and social engagement outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic search with broad inclusion criteria resulted in the review of 11 studies. The studies investigated community-based TCs, as well as TCs modified for prisoners, prisoners transitioning to community living and TCs for individuals with co-occurring substance-use and mental health issues. Findings – Results were analysed by comparing the findings of the studies under investigation, of which three studies investigated within-subjects outcomes, four compared TC treatment with a no-treatment control condition and four compared TC treatment with another treatment condition. Conclusion: consistent with previous systematic reviews of TCs, outcomes varied across studies but indicated TCs are generally effective as a treatment intervention, with reductions in substance-use and criminal activity, and increased improvement in mental health and social engagement evident in a number of studies reviewed. Research limitations/implications – Variability in outcomes suggests further TC research and research syntheses focusing on a second key research question in the evaluation of complex interventions – how the intervention works – could play an important role in understanding TC effectiveness, and for whom it is effective and in what contexts. Practical implications – Although there is some variability in treatment populations included in this review, evidence reported in other studies suggests individuals with severe substance-use disorders, mental health issues, forensic involvement and trauma histories, will benefit from TC treatment. This is supported by the literature which has found a general relationship between severity of substance use and treatment intensity (Darke et al., 2012; De Leon et al., 2008) with outcomes further enhanced by self-selection into treatment and appropriate client-treatment matching (see De Leon, 2010; De Leon et al., 2000, 2008). The weight of evidence gleaned from multiple sources of research, including randomised control trials and field outcome studies (De Leon, 2010) suggests TCs are an important and effective treatment for clients in improving at least some aspects of their quality of life, specifically mental health and social engagement, and in reducing harmful behaviours, including substance-use and crime. Variability in treatment setting and populations reflect the real-world setting in which TC treatment is delivered, providing a multifaceted treatment modality to a complex population in variable circumstances. Originality/value – The strength of the current study is that it provided a broad evaluation of TC effectiveness across a range of outcomes (substance-use, criminal activity, mental health and social engagement), and is therefore valuable in updating the current literature and providing context for future research in this area. It aimed to address a key question in evaluating complex interventions: whether they are effective as they are delivered. Findings suggest that TC treatment is generally effective for the populations of concern in reducing substance use and criminal activity and contributing to some improvement in mental health and social engagement outcomes.

scholarly journals A Study to Assess the Suicidal Behaviour among the Psychiatric Patients in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital, Guntur

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr Vaddadi. Venkata kiran ◽  
Dr. Neeli Uma Jyothi ◽  
Mounica. Bollu
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Commit Suicide

Suicide attempt is a deliberate act of self harm with at least some intent of die that does not result in death. Such act has a wide range of medical seriousness. Individuals with psychiatric disorders are far more likely to commit suicide than the others. People who are psychologically disabled are often commit suicide from years of pain, frustration and depression. Spiritually they may perceive themselves as hopelessly damaged and lose all sense of purpose and meaning of life. Suicide is not a diagnosis or a disorder. it is a behaviour. Suicide is a worldwide, national, local and familial problem. 90% of people who kill themselves suffer from a diagnosable and preventable problem such as depression co-occurring mental and substance use disorders are common and potent combination among those who die by suicide.

Adult Outcome of ADHD: An Overview of Results From the MGH Longitudinal Family Studies of Pediatrically and Psychiatrically Referred Youth With and Without ADHD of Both Sexes

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Uchida ◽  
Thomas J. Spencer ◽  
Stephen V. Faraone ◽  
Joseph Biederman
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Massachusetts General Hospital ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Emotional Dysregulation ◽  
Functional Impairments ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Stimulant Treatment ◽  
Wide Range

Objective: We aimed to provide an overview of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Longitudinal Studies of ADHD. Methods: We evaluated and followed samples of boys and girls with and without ADHD ascertained from psychiatric and pediatric sources and their families. Results: These studies documented that ADHD in both sexes is associated with high levels of persistence into adulthood, high levels of familiality with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders, a wide range of comorbid psychiatric and cognitive disorders including mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, learning disabilities, executive function deficits, emotional dysregulation, and autistic traits as well as functional impairments. The MGH studies suggested that stimulant treatment decreased risks of developing comorbid psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and functional outcomes. The MGH studies documented the neural basis of persistence of ADHD using neuroimaging. Conclusion: The MGH studies provided various insights on symptoms, course, functions, comorbidities, and neuroscience of ADHD.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality-Based Treatment Approaches in the Field of Substance Use Disorders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Tsamitros ◽  
M. Sebold ◽  
S. Gutwinski ◽  
A. Beck
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Large Samples

Abstract Purpose Substance use disorders (SUD) are burdening chronic conditions characterized by high relapse rates despite severe negative consequences. Substance-related cues that elicit craving by means of automatic physiological and behavioural responses have long been suggested to predict relapse. One major mechanism contributing to relapse behaviour are cue-induced behavioural approach tendencies towards the addictive agent. Recently, there has been an emerging interest in virtual reality (VR)-based approaches to assess and modify craving and its related responses. This review aims at elucidating (1) VR techniques applied in the field of SUD, (2) VR as an induction/assessment tool for biopsychological correlates of craving and (3) VR-based therapeutic approaches. Findings There is an emerging number of studies focusing on different substances of abuse incorporating VR in craving induction/assessment as well as therapy. Despite some limitations as missing of randomized controlled clinical trials with large samples and missing data on the long-term effects of VR treatment, the VR approach showed consistent results in eliciting and reducing craving across different substances. Summary This review suggests virtual reality as a promising tool for the assessment and treatment of craving among individuals with substance use disorders. Because of its ecological validity, VR unifies the benefits of a laboratory setting with the advantages of a realistic environment. Further studies with large samples and randomized controlled clinical trials using more homogenous VR techniques as well as assessment of objective biophysiological craving markers are required.

Tobacco Smoking and the Association With First Incidence of Mood, Anxiety, and Substance Use Disorders: A 3-Year Prospective Population-Based Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262095928
Author(s):  
Karin Monshouwer ◽  
Margreet ten Have ◽  
Ron de Graaf ◽  
Matthijs Blankers ◽  
Margriet van Laar
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Population Based ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dose Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Prospective Association

There is consistent evidence from cross-sectional studies that smoking is positively associated with mental disorders. The research on the prospective association, however, is inconsistent. In the present study, we aimed to further increase the knowledge of this association by addressing several issues in the body of research. Data used were from a nationally representative, population-based cohort study among 18- to 64-year-olds at baseline. Compared with nonsmokers, smokers at baseline were significantly more likely to experience first incidence of any mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder at 3-year follow-up while controlling for a wide range of confounding factors. The association with incident mood and anxiety disorders was particularly high among heavy smokers. The dose-effect analyses on later substance use disorders showed unclear results, warranting further research. Additional analyses showed that results at 6-year follow-up were very similar, except for a weaker relationship between smoking and substance use disorders.

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