scholarly journals From Enchantment to Disillusion: A Narrative Exploration of Cannabis Use Disorder Among Young Israeli Combat Veterans

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miri Serebro ◽  
Shira Sobol-Goldberg ◽  
Daniel Feingold
Keyword(s):  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Combat Veterans ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cannabis Use Disorder ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Father Figures ◽  
Current State ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Moral Crisis

Introduction: Substance use is common among military personnel and war veterans, especially combat veterans. Despite substantially high prevalence of cannabis use and Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) consistently reported among veterans, little is known about psychological factors which may underlie CUD among this population.Methods: In this study, we used narrative analysis in order to interpret retrospective in-depth interviews of combat veterans (N = 12) who were released from mandatory military duty during the past 5 years and currently qualified for a diagnosis of CUD. Participants were recruited from a larger quantitative study were eligible for participation if they screened positive for a diagnosis of CUD according to the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test- Revised (CUDIT-R) questionnaire. CUD diagnosis was validated in-person using the cannabis section of the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-5 (AUDADIS-5) interview protocol. All interviews were transcribed and coded using the content analysis procedure.Findings: Five main themes were extracted: (a) Traumatic events (b) Attitudes toward cannabis use (c) Combatant identity (d) The role of authority/father figures, and (e) Moral crisis. A meta-theme has been identified, “from enchantment to disillusion,” representing a gradual psychological shift from a hopeful, highly motivated stance into the current state of mental rupture and moral injury, which are unsuccessfully compensated by excessive use of cannabis.Conclusions: This study shed light on the etiology of CUD among young combat veterans, highlighting the role of supposed self-medication for trauma and sense of betrayal.

scholarly journals The role of intestinal microbiota in the pathophysiology of depression

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 795-805
Author(s):  
Apolonia Stefaniak ◽  
Karolina Janion ◽  
Beata Stanuch
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
Pharmacological Therapy ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Inflammatory Conditions ◽  
Current State ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Health Organization

Depression is a mental disorder with a high prevalence. According to World Health Organization, it is a frequent cause of disability and the leading cause of suicide, with its risk increasing with age. The disorder is commonly diagnosed in patients with acute or chronic inflammatory conditions. Depression is typically accompanied by weakened T cell-mediated immunity, as well as abnormal secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the resulting imbalance between them. The current developments in the field include a link established between depression and changes in intestinal microflora, suggested by numerous trials involving animals and also a small number of studies conducted on people. This paper is a review of the publications regarding the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathophysiology of depression found in PubMed and Web of Science repositories. The results of studies published over the last decade confirm the significance of intestinal microbiota for the pathophysiology of depression. One of the ways in which intestinal microbiota may impact the development of depression is the response of the innate immunity system to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), resulting with the stimulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The modifications of gut microflora have also been linked to changes in the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis, in the metabolism of tryptophan, (which is a serotonin substrate) and in neurotransmitter levels in the brain. Even though the results cited in this review seem promising, our current state of knowledge in this respect remains far from satisfactory, warranting further investigation into the potential of bacteria for supplementing the pharmacological therapy of depression.

scholarly journals Heat shock proteins - participants in osteoarthrosis pathogenesis

2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 744-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Kabalyk ◽  
B I Gel’tser ◽  
A L Osipov ◽  
M F Fadeev
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Heat Shock Proteins ◽  
Extracellular Signaling ◽  
Current State ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
The World ◽  
Cell Death Mechanisms ◽  
Shock Proteins

Osteoarthrosis is a disease that affects all tissues of synovial joints, resulting in chronic pain and often a need for replacement. The high prevalence and the lack of reliable conservative approaches impose significant economic sanctions on most economies in the world. Currently the mechanisms of osteoarthrosis progression have been well studied. At the same time, the known pathogenetic concepts do not allow to define reliable targets of conservative treatment. There is a clear need for searching alternative concepts, which will help to expand the understanding of the pathogenesis and identify ways to address therapeutic issues. Heat shock proteins (chaperones) are involved in intra- and extracellular signaling in the pathogenesis of many diseases. The aim of this review is to analyze the current state of the problem of studying the role of heat shock proteins in the pathogenesis of osteoarthrosis. The review considers the fundamental aspects of the activation and functioning of chaperones, experience of studying chondrocyte heat shock proteins is described, issues of programmed cell death mechanisms are mentioned, scheme of shaperone activity in osteoarthrosis is illustrated. The role of heat shock proteins from the perspectives of reparation and alteration carried out in the articular cartilage is described, the prospects for further clarification of their role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthrosis are identified. The role of two key molecules - protein with molecular weight of 70 kD and a small molecule with molecular weight of 27 kD, is emphasized. Heat shock proteins are of fundamental and applicative interest from the perspective of their participation in the key ways of osteoarthrosis pathogenesis and phenomena (oxidative, microcrystalline, hydrodynamical, stress, aging, etc.). Further study of heat shock proteins will allow to significantly expand the knowledge of osteoarthrosis and to identify ways of targeted therapy.

Pharmacology of Apathy

2021 ◽  
pp. 224-241
Author(s):  
Lisa Nobis ◽  
Masud Husain
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Dopamine System ◽  
Neurotransmitter Systems ◽  
Current State ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Mesocorticolimbic Dopamine System ◽  
Neurological Conditions ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Dose Dependent

While a high prevalence of apathy across neurological disorders is well established, there remains a paucity of evidence on effective therapies. As a result, there are currently no guidelines for the treatment of apathy. This chapter reviews the current state of research on different neurotransmitter systems implicated in motivation and apathy, as well as emerging pharmacological treatments across neurological conditions. Much research in animals has focused on the role of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system in behavioural deficits of motivation. In turn, this has inspired several dopaminergic treatments for apathy in Parkinson’s disease, while drugs targeting catecholamines (dopamine and noradrenaline) or acetylcholine in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease show some promise. However, poorly characterized dose-dependent effects, as well as interactions between different neurotransmitter systems complicate interpretation. Future research might profitably explore these factors to provide a better understanding of effective treatment approaches.

scholarly journals The Role of Motives in Understanding the Link Between Personality and Cannabis Misuse

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Tang ◽  
Elijah Otis ◽  
Alexandra Loverock ◽  
Cameron Wild ◽  
Igor Yakovenko
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cannabis Use Disorder ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Problem Severity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Significant Mediator

Background and aim: A robust association exists between substance use and personality, with personality risk factors representing phenotypes of vulnerability to substance misuse. As such, personality risk factors may be valuable constructs for understanding specific motivations for substance misuse. Given the loosening of restrictions on cannabis worldwide, research focusing on understanding cannabis use in young adults, a particularly at-risk population, remains a vital area of research. The existing data provides extensive support for the mediating role of coping motives on personality risk factors and problematic cannabis use; however, the role of other types of motives has remained largely unexplored. Our study examined the mediating role of cannabis use motives between personality and cannabis misuse among university students. We also explored the predictive value of personality phenotypes for cannabis use problems. Research question and hypothesis: Do motivations for cannabis use mediate or explain the relationship between personality type and cannabis use problem severity? Hypothesis 1: sensation-seeking (SS) and impulsivity (IMP), but not anxiety sensitivity and hopelessness, will be associated with greater cannabis use problem severity. Hypothesis 2: motives for use (i.e., coping, conformity, social, enhancement, expansion) will mediate the association between personality risk and cannabis use problem severity. Method: A survey was administered to 1073 undergraduate students. We examined whether motivations for use (mediator variable) explained the relationship between personality (predictor variable) and cannabis use disorder severity (outcome variable) using an ordinary least-squares (OLS) based mediation analysis. Results: As hypothesized, SS and IMP predicted greater cannabis use problems. A noteworthy finding was that conformity motives were a significant mediator between SS and IMP and cannabis use, whereby higher levels of SS/IMP led to greater endorsement of conformity motives, which in turn led to lower cannabis misuse. Enhancement motives were also a significant mediator between IMP and cannabis use. Expansion motives were a significant mediator between SS and cannabis use. Conclusion: Understanding reasons for use (i.e., motives) allows us to identify those at greatest risk for cannabis misuse. Findings from this study may help explain the underlying mechanisms by which personality risk factors lead to cannabis use disorder in young adults. A greater understanding of these personality phenotypes may have implications for the development of personality-specific interventions for cannabis use.

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