Gray Matter and White Matter Abnormalities in Online Game Addiction.

Gray matter and white matter abnormalities in online game addiction.

Eur J Radiol. 2013 Mar 4;
Weng CB, Qian RB, Fu XM, Lin B, Han XP, Niu CS, Wang YH

Online game addiction (OGA) has attracted greater attention as a serious public mental health issue. However, there are only a few brain magnetic resonance imaging studies on brain structure about OGA. In the current study, we used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to investigate the microstructural changes in OGA and assessed the relationship between these morphology changes and the Young’s Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS) scores within the OGA group. Compared with healthy subjects, OGA individuals showed significant gray matter atrophy in the right orbitofrontal cortex, bilateral insula, and right supplementary motor area. According to TBSS analysis, OGA subjects had significantly reduced FA in the right genu of corpus callosum, bilateral frontal lobe white matter, and right external capsule. Gray matter volumes (GMV) of the right orbitofrontal cortex, bilateral insula and FA values of the right external capsule were significantly positively correlated with the YIAS scores in the OGA subjects. Our findings suggested that microstructure abnormalities of gray and white matter were present in OGA subjects. This finding may provide more insights into the understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms of OGA. HubMed – addiction

 

Predictors of study setting (primary care vs. hospital setting) among studies of the effectiveness of brief interventions among heavy alcohol users: A systematic review.

Drug Alcohol Rev. 2013 Mar 11;
Mdege ND, Watson J

ISSUES.: The aim of this study is to compare studies by their setting in order to identify design differences between studies on brief interventions (BI) for heavy alcohol use conducted in primary care and those in hospital settings. APPROACH.: Potential studies were extracted from 16 reviews and from systematically searching literature up to October 2011. We assessed whether the following factors were statistically significant predictors of study setting: exclusion of very heavy/dependent drinkers; mean age of study sample; gender composition of study samples; sample size; total intervention delivery time; number of sessions; interventionist (physician vs. non-physician); various study design and intervention fidelity aspects; accounting for screening/assessment reactivity; and control condition utilised. KEY FINDINGS.: Seventy-six studies (30 in primary care and 46 in hospital settings) met the inclusion criteria. The following factors were statistically significant predictors of study setting: number of sessions {odds ratio [OR]?=?0.281 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.081, 0.979; P?=?0.046]}, exclusion of very heavy/dependent drinkers [OR?=?0.052 (95% CI 0.004, 0.716, P?=?0.027)] and gender composition of study samples [OR?=?1.063 (95% CI 1.005, 1.125; P?=?0.033)]. IMPLICATIONS.: Researchers developing hospital setting BIs for excessive alcohol consumption should take into account methodological issues that could explain differences in the consistency of findings between hospital setting studies and primary care setting studies where BIs have been more consistently found effective in reducing alcohol use. CONCLUSION.: The observed study design differences between hospital and primary care settings might partly explain the disparity in the consistency of findings on effectiveness of BIs between these settings. HubMed – addiction

 

Substance Abuse Patterns and Psychiatric Symptomatology Among Three Healthcare Provider Groups Evaluated in an Out-Patient Program for Impaired Healthcare Professionals.

J Addict Dis. 2013 Jan; 32(1): 99-107
Rojas JI, Jeon-Slaughter H, Brand M, Koos E

Three impaired health care provider groups (N = 84) (nurses, pharmacists, and providers with prescriptive authority) referred for a substance abuse evaluation at an outpatient-based program were compared on demographic and family factors, substance abuse patterns, and psychiatric symptomology as assessed by the Personality Assessment Inventory. Nurses had the highest rates of family history of addiction, problems with benzodiazepines, and psychiatric comorbidity. Overall, health care professionals endorsed opioids twice as often as alcohol as a preferred substance. Family history of addiction, sex, and psychiatric comorbidity emerged as salient factors among these health care professionals. Clinical implications are examined in light of the current findings. HubMed – addiction

 


 

Malibu Beach Recovery Center Therapist – Dr. Nick T. – www.MalibuBeachRecovery.com – Malibu Beach Recovery Center Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center Staff member Nick Techentin, PhD, Program Director and therapist, discusses the The Malibu Beach Recovery Center. Dr. Nick runs many of the group and individual therapy sessions at the Center. The Malibu Beach Recovery Center uses a neuro-biological approach to restore and balance the chemistry of the brain, and rejuvenate the body’s natural reward system. This system utilizes very specific natural nutritional food supplements in combination with carefully selected yoga-type exercises and the low-glycemic Malibu Beach Recovery Diet to create a solid foundation for long-term recovery. Clients quickly and efficiently achieve a sense of comfort and well-being, allowing them to get the full benefit of daily educational groups, individual therapy and 12-Step work.