A pilot observational study of recreational trail riding for Veterans with addictive disorders

ObjectivesThe aim of study was to assess the safety, feasibility, and preliminary outcomes of recreational trail riding for Veterans with addictive disorders.DesignThis was an observational pilot study.SettingUnited States Veterans Health Care Administration Medical Center. Participants were 18 Veterans, 13 males and 5 females All had at least one addictive disorder, with most common being alcohol use disorder.InterventionA recreational trail ride of approximately two hours duration.Main outcome measuresAssessment of safety and pre- and post-intervention instruments, The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Craving Experience Questionnaire, Positive and Negative Affect Scale and Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale were utilized to assess changes in anxiety, craving, affect, and resilience, respectively.ResultsThe intervention was feasible to utilize for the population studied. In addition, it was possible to conduct the rides in such a way as to minimize risk to participants and there were no serious adverse outcomes to patients, staff, or equines. However, there was one incident that had potential to cause injury. There were significant pre- to post-intervention decreases in anxiety, negative affect and craving as well as increased positive affect. There was not a statistically significant increase in resilience.ConclusionsThese results indicate that recreational trail riding is, at least in some settings, feasible to utilize for this population. The safety assessment indicated that this intervention can be conducted in a manner such that risk can be mitigated. However, trail riding is a dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death to participants. Thus, such activities should only be considered by programs that have the ability to implement stringent safety protocols. Preliminary outcomes suggest that this intervention has the potential to be beneficial to for Veterans with addictive disorders. Additional, more rigorous randomized, controlled studies are warranted.     

增材制造骨科植入型医疗器械的发展现状及应用

目的介绍国内外增材制造骨科医疗器械的发展及应用情况,并对基于增材制造技术的定制式骨科植入型医疗器械发展方向进行讨论,以期能为相关研究人员提供参考。方法结合增材制造技术在医疗器械领域的发展现状,简要说明其普遍存在的问题,并对增材制造技术的个性化骨科植入型医疗器械的发展方向进行讨论。结果增材制造是一种通过材料的逐层累加以实现零部件自由成型的加工生产工艺。近年来,增材制造技术因其可实现复杂结构等优势在医疗器械领域,尤其是骨科植入物方面得到了广泛应用,不仅为产品生产提供了一种新的加工工艺,也为医疗产业带来了便利。结论迄今为止,国内外已有多种基于增材制造技术的骨科医疗器械在临床上得到广泛应用,利用增材制造技术完成复杂的医疗器械结构的设计与制造,用于满足特殊需求的治疗案例也越来越多,基于增材制造技术的定制式骨科植入型医疗器械也逐步成为医学研究的热点之一。     

多磺酸粘多糖治疗面部激素依赖性皮炎临床观察

目的：评价多磺酸粘多糖与丁酸氢化可的松治疗面部激素依赖性皮炎的疗效和安全性。方法：选择轻中度面部激素依赖性皮炎患者98例,随机分为外用多磺酸粘多糖（治疗组）和外用丁酸氢化可的松（对照组）,外用药物为每天外涂2次,连用4周停用外用药物,评价疗效和不良反应。在停药后的第4周观察复发情况,记录复发率。结果：共83例患者完成治疗随访,其中治疗组45例,对照组38例;有效率治疗组为71.11%,对照组为76.32%,两组差异无显著性（P>0.05）;不良反应发生率治疗组为28.89%,对照组为18.42%,两组差异有显著性（P<0.05）;在随后第4周的随访中,复发率分别是治疗组为11.11%,对照组为42.11%,两组差异有显著性（P<0.05）。结论：与丁酸氢化可的松比较,多磺酸粘多糖对轻中度面部激素依赖性皮炎的疗效无明显差异,但是其可减少面部激素依赖性皮炎的复发率。     

RESOLVING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUG MISUSE: UNDERSTANDING RELATIONS BETWEEN ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR CHANGE AND THE USE OF SERVICES

“Natural resolutions” highlight how influences on addictive behavior change may differ from and interact with influences on the use of substance-related services. These distinct literatures are summarized and implicate extra-therapeutic environmental variables in both processes. Whether assisted by interventions or not, stable resolutions are surrounded by environmental contexts characterized by improved circumstances across several years that bracket cessation of substance misuse. Psychosocial problems associated with substance use increase help-seeking, and interventions enhance improvements that typically follow initial resolution. Implications for promoting help-seeking and behavior change and necessary revisions in conventional views about relations between the processes are discussed. [Translations are provided in the International Abstracts section of this issue.]     

Between Knowledge and Desire: Perceptions of Decision-Making in the Addictive Behaviors

Behavioral change in the addictions is often conceptualized in terms of decision-making. It is argued that there are various problems and ambiguities inherent in the experimental research approach. An exploratory study across a range of dependencies (smoking, excessive gambling, drinking, and eating) is reported. The main aim is to examine personal accounts and views of the decision-making process instead of looking at this indirectly. Qualitative and quantitative evidence from a clinical and general population sample supports the perceived importance of decision-making across the dependencies studied. Such a process is thought to facilitate action and commitment. Firmness of decision in the clinical sample is significantly related to confidence in maintaining change. However, choices or decisions often involve relatively unsystematic processing. Blocks to implementation include unpleasant affect. The importance of understanding the link between affect and decision is emphasized as this is thought to be one of the critical determinants of successful change, yet is rarely explicitly studied. The discussion elaborates on possible ways of integrating decision making with current clinical practice.     

The theory of Rational Addiction

The Theory of Rational Addictions, by Gary Becker & Kevin Murphy (1988), was a rational choice model that became a standard tool for economists modeling addictive behavior. The approach differs from other theories of addiction by modeling addictive behavior as the gradual implementation of a rational, forward‐looking plan, where consumption at any point in time is partly motivated by the immediate payoff of consumption and partly by the effects this consumption has on the individual in the future. This makes addictive behavior a subset of rational behavior, requiring no more specific government policies or attention than any other consumption choice. Later work by economists extended the theory in different ways, allowing it to match an increasing number of consumption patterns, and searched for ways to test the forward‐looking assumption in different types of market data. While the work was successful as a contribution to rational choice theory, with possible statistical applications, there are several reasons to dismiss its usefulness as an explanation of real‐world addictive behavior and its ability to assess the welfare effects of addictions.     

国内外定制式增材制造医疗器械监管法规概述及对行业发展的思考

目的 概述国内外定制式增材制造医疗器械监管法规,分析医疗器械监管科学研究对增材制造医疗器械行业发展的意义,以期能够为生产企业及监管机构未来的工作提供参考。方法 该文通过对国内外关于定制式增材制造医疗器械监管法规及注册体系进行分析,剖析定制式增材制造医疗器械监管法规及注册体系的创新发展对于我国医疗器械行业发展的拉动效应。结果 美国、欧盟、澳大利亚、加拿大、中国均已建立定制式增材制造医疗器械监管法规及注册体系,给出了定制式医疗器械的定义,明确了定制式医疗器械临床使用和上市后监管的要求,但各国间还存在一定的差异,使得各国对于定制式医疗器械的监管模式也稍有差异,建立医疗器械科学监管模式将推动增材制造医疗器械行业发展。结论 构建基于精准风险控制的评价监管体系,加强监管人员、审评人员与科研、医疗人员间的相互协同作用将有助于定制式增材制造医疗器械科学监管模式的构建。     

中学生情感、躯体虐待与网络成瘾的相关性研究

目的 探讨中学生情感、躯体虐待与网络成瘾的关系,为网络成瘾的防治提供依据.方法 在合肥市选取5所中学,以班级为单位整群抽取初一、初二、高一和高二共76个班级的学生进行匿名问卷调查,内容包括中学生的社会人口统计学特征、Young网络成瘾量表和亲子冲突策略量表等.在单因素分析的基础上,以网络成瘾作为因变量,儿童虐待作为自变量,以性别、年龄、家庭类型等因素为协变量,进行多因素非条件logistic回归分析.结果 在所有调查的3798名学生中,有81.1%的学生报告发生情感虐待,55.1%的学生报告发生躯体虐待;在所有使用网络的3507名学生中,有182名(5.2%)学生被诊断为网络成瘾.多因素非条件logistic回归分析结果显示,中度躯体虐待和重度躯体虐待OR值及95%CI分别为3.02(1.63～5.58)和4.00(2.01～7.93).结论 中度躯体虐待、重度躯体虐待可能是中学生网络成瘾发生的危险因素.     

An overview of problematic Internet use

Problematic Internet use (PIU), which has become a global social issue, can be broadly conceptualized as an inability to control one's use of the Internet which leads to negative consequences in daily life. The aim of this paper is to give a brief overview of the gradually evolving body of literature on PIU. This shows that the definitions and diagnostic criteria that have been proposed, and the assessment tools that have been developed, stress similarities between PIU, addictive behaviours and impulse-control disorders. Disagreements regarding diagnostic criteria and the lack of large epidemiological studies have resulted in difficulties in establishing the prevalence of PIU in the general population. Studies suggest high comorbidity rates between PIU and numerous psychiatric disorders highlighting the importance of focusing on comorbidity in treatment. There is growing evidence that genetic, personality and individual differences in automatic and controlled aspects of self-regulation may promote the development of PIU. Pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments specific to PIU have received limited testing in large, rigorous studies however preliminary evidence suggests that both psychotropic medications (Escitalopram, Naltrexone and Methylphenidate) and cognitive behaviour therapy may have some utility in the treatment of PIU. More research is needed on areas which remain unclear and contribute to the prognosis of PIU, in particular the temporal relationships between psychiatric disorder and PIU, mechanisms of comorbidity and the more subtle psychological changes that occur through Internet use.     

Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Based Music Therapy in Korean Adolescents with Smartphone and Internet Addiction

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding music therapy (MT) to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on symptoms of smartphone/internet addiction and psychiatric comorbidities. Methods Overall, 155 patients diagnosed with addiction were assigned to either the CBT-MT group or CBT group. Both groups received CBT for 8 weeks, while the CBT-MT group received additional MT. The intervention was completed by 67 and 71 participants in the CBT-MT and CBT groups, respectively. Results The total scores of Young Internet Addiction Scale (YIAT) and Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale (SAPS) decreased significantly (p<0.001 for both) in both groups, while the total scores of State Anxiety Inventory for Children (SAIC) (p<0.001), Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (TAIC) (p<0.001), Conners-Wells’ Adolescent Self-Report Scale-Short form (CASS(S)) (p=0.048), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) (p<0.001) decreased only in the CBT-MT group. The decrements in YIAT (p=0.025), SAIC (p=0.043), TAIC (p=0.011), and BIS-11 (p=0.012) in the CBT-MT group were significantly greater than those in the CBT group. Conclusion Combined MT and CBT improved the symptoms of smartphone/internet addiction, anxiety, and impulsivity in adolescents. This combination could therefore be an effective treatment of smartphone or internet addiction along with behavioral disorders such as anxiety and impulsivity.