Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · May 2014
Alcohol medications development: advantages and caveats of government/academia collaborating with the pharmaceutical industry.
The process of developing pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorder is notoriously complex and challenging. The path to market is long, costly, and inefficient. ⋯ At the same time, there are certain caveats that should be considered, particularly by academic researchers, before entering into such partnerships. This commentary examines the advantages and caveats of government and academia collaborations with pharmaceutical companies.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · May 2014
Clarifying the measurement and the role of the behavioral inhibition system in alcohol misuse.
In response to conflicting reward (Behavioral Approach System [BAS]) and/or punishment cues (Fight-Flight-Freeze System [FFFS]) the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) inhibits behavior, leading to increased attention to threat, high anxiety, and behavioral ambivalence. The role of BIS in alcohol misuse is complex, as anxiety promotes self-medication drinking, while attention to threat (e.g., negative outcomes of heavy drinking) may reduce risk. Theory suggests that a concurrent strong BAS may bias BIS-conflict in favor of alcohol approach, while a concurrent strong FFFS may increase the likelihood of alcohol avoidance. However, few studies measure BIS as a conflict system, and no studies incorporate such a measure into examinations of alcohol misuse. Our study goals were to (i) test the Motivational Flanker Task (MFT) as a new laboratory measure of the BIS, BAS, and FFFS; and (ii) use the MFT, in conjunction with self-report measures, to test BAS and FFFS as moderators of the BIS-alcohol misuse relation. We hypothesized that an elevated BIS would predict heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems, but only when BAS was high. Further, we expected an elevated BIS to be associated with reduced alcohol misuse, but only when FFFS was high. ⋯ Results support the MFT as a promising measure of the revised BIS. Considering the joint effects of BIS and BAS clarified risk for alcohol misuse.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Apr 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyThe place of additional individual psychotherapy in the treatment of alcoholism: a randomized controlled study in nonresponders to anticraving medication-results of the PREDICT study.
Goal of the presented study is to evaluate whether alcohol-dependent patients given additional individual psychotherapy after a heavy relapse during pharmacotherapy remain abstinent for longer than those who continue with pharmacotherapy alone. ⋯ Our data indicate that patients that are willing to attend psychotherapy benefit from receiving psychotherapy in addition to pharmacotherapy. We suggest that it may be beneficial to consider patients' preferences concerning psychotherapy at an earlier stage during treatment.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Apr 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyDifferences in risk of injury in the U.S. general population by injury treatment type: data from the 1995 to 2010 national alcohol surveys.
While emergency room (ER) studies have documented a strong association of alcohol with injury, these studies are not necessarily representative of the general population. To evaluate comparative risk of injury from drinking for those treated in the ER with non-ER-treated injuries (those treated elsewhere or those not treated), data on alcohol and injury are analyzed in the U.S. general population by type of injury treatment. ⋯ Data suggest alcohol plays a larger role in injuries for which ER treatment is sought than for other injuries, and estimates for injury from drinking derived from ER studies may be elevated. Future general population studies should take into account intensity of exposure to alcohol prior to injury, potential recall bias (by eliciting data on the proximity of injury to time of the respondent interview) and severity of injury, for improving estimates of the attributable burden of alcohol to injury in society.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Apr 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEconomic loss and alcohol consumption and problems during the 2008 to 2009 U.S. recession.
There is some evidence that individual-level job loss can lead to greater alcohol consumption and problems. While other forms of economic loss were common during the recent recession, these are rarely investigated in studies of macroeconomic decline. This study examined the relationship between types of economic loss in the 2008 to 2009 recession and alcohol outcomes, and whether this varied by gender and age. ⋯ This study highlights the adverse effects of recession-induced economic losses on alcohol use and problems in demographic subgroups. As men and middle-aged Americans were at risk for multiple, adverse alcohol outcomes, these groups may warrant special alcohol screening and intervention efforts in future macroeconomic crises.