Distinct groups of smokers in primary care based on mental health diagnosis

Journal of Public Health - To determine whether statistically distinct classes of smokers exist according to mental health (MH) diagnoses within primary care and to evaluate whether class...     

Association of the Chronotype Score with Circulating Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) Concentrations

Individual differences in the chronotype, an attitude that best expresses the individual circadian preference in behavioral and biological rhythms, have been associated with cardiometabolic risk and gut dysbiosis. Up to now, there are no studies evaluating the association between chronotypes and circulating TMAO concentrations, a predictor of cardiometabolic risk and a useful marker of gut dysbiosis. In this study population (147 females and 100 males), subjects with the morning chronotype had the lowest BMI and waist circumference (p < 0.001), and a better metabolic profile compared to the other chronotypes. In addition, the morning chronotype had the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001) and the lowest circulating TMAO concentrations (p < 0.001). After adjusting for BMI and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, the correlation between circulating TMAO concentrations and chronotype score was still kept (r = −0.627, p < 0.001). Using a linear regression analysis, higher chronotype scores were mostly associated with lower circulating TMAO concentrations (β = −0.479, t = −12.08, and p < 0.001). Using a restricted cubic spline analysis, we found that a chronotype score ≥59 (p < 0.001, R² = −0.824) demonstrated a more significant inverse linear relationship with circulating TMAO concentrations compared with knots <59 (neither chronotype) and <41 (evening chronotype). The current study reported the first evidence that higher circulating TMAO concentrations were associated with the evening chronotype that, in turn, is usually linked to an unhealthy lifestyle mostly characterized by low adherence to the MD.     

Change in Alcohol Use Based on Self-Report and a Quantitative Biomarker,Phosphatidylethanol, in People With HIV

AIDS and Behavior - The timeline followback (TLFB) takes more resources to collect than the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-C). We assessed agreement of TLFB and AUDIT-C with the...     

Polydrug Use in Adolescent Drinkers with and without DSM-IV Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

Alcohol and other substance use disorders are highly comorbid, but little is known about patterns of polydrug use in adolescents with different levels of alcohol involvement. This research examined patterns and correlates of polydrug use in 176 adolescent drinkers with DSM-IV alcohol dependence ( n = 61), alcohol abuse ( n = 57), and no alcohol diagnosis ( n = 58). Alcohol and other Substance Use Disorders were assessed using a modified version of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM. Lifetime histories of alcohol use and other drug use were assessed using a structured interview. Subjects also completed a questionnaire measure of the frequency of use of specific alcohol-drug combinations. The total number of illicit drugs ever used was greater in the alcohol dependence (mean = 3.8, SD = 2.1) and abuse groups (mean = 3.0, SD = 2.1), compared with the no-alcohol diagnosis group (mean = 1.9, SD = 1.3). Consistent with previous findings, there was a consistent pattern in the age of onset of psychoactive substance use: alcohol, followed by marijuana, followed by other drugs. The recent use of alcohol and other drugs in combination was reported by a greater percentage of subjects in the alcohol dependence (69%) and abuse groups (72%), compared with drinkers without an alcohol diagnosis (45%). The most common alcohol-drug combination was alcohol with marijuana (58% of the total sample), followed by alcohol-hallucinogens (16%). The frequency and extent of polydrug use was associated with being older and having higher levels of behavioral undercontrol and negative emotionality. Adolescent polydrug use, particularly the use of alcohol and other drugs in combination, is an important area for research, treatment, and prevention.     

Which heavy drinking college students benefit from a brief motivational intervention?

Heavy drinking among college students is common and is often harmful. A previously reported randomized trial revealed that a brief motivational intervention (BMI) reduced the alcohol consumption of heavy drinking college students (K. B. Carey, M. P. Carey, S. A. Maisto, & J. M. Henson, 2006). For this study, the researchers conducted supplemental analyses of hypothesized predictors of change using the same sample (N = 495). Greater readiness to change, higher levels of self-regulation, and less engagement in social comparison all independently predicted reductions in drinking outcomes. Furthermore, self-regulation, social comparison, and future time perspective interacted with BMI and predicted drinks per week. As expected, greater self-regulation skills enhanced response to the BMI; the remaining interaction effects were unexpected. Overall, these findings suggest that BMIs produce relatively robust effects.     

Estimating Alcohol Content of Traditional Brew in Western Kenya Using Culturally Relevant Methods: The Case for Cost Over Volume

Traditional homemade brew is believed to represent the highest proportion of alcohol use in sub-Saharan Africa. In Eldoret, Kenya, two types of brew are common: chang’aa, spirits, and busaa, maize beer. Local residents refer to the amount of brew consumed by the amount of money spent, suggesting a culturally relevant estimation method. The purposes of this study were to analyze ethanol content of chang’aa and busaa; and to compare two methods of alcohol estimation: use by cost, and use by volume, the latter the current international standard. Laboratory results showed mean ethanol content was 34% (SD = 14%) for chang’aa and 4% (SD = 1%) for busaa. Standard drink unit equivalents for chang’aa and busaa, respectively, were 2 and 1.3 (US) and 3.5 and 2.3 (Great Britain). Using a computational approach, both methods demonstrated comparable results. We conclude that cost estimation of alcohol content is more culturally relevant and does not differ in accuracy from the international standard.     

The effect of self-discrepancy and discrepancy salience on alcohol consumption

The effect of self-discrepancy magnitude and salience on alcohol consumption was examined in an ad lib drinking study in order to evaluate the utility of the self-inflation component of the myopia model for better understanding drinking practices. Participants were 33 males and 27 females recruited on a university campus. It was predicted that participants with relatively large real self/ideal self discrepancies on dimensions important to their self-concept would consume the greatest amount of alcohol in a wine tasting test. Moreover, this effect was expected to be enhanced when self-discrepancies were made salient. The results of hierarchical regression analyses showed a main effect of gender and a significant interaction between self-discrepancy magnitude and salience condition. However, the interaction was such that wine consumption tended to decrease as discrepancy magnitude increased in the condition in which self-discrepancies were made salient, with the opposite relationship in the control condition. Three possible reasons for the unexpected findings are discussed: (a) The salience manipulation did not perform as expected: (b) the sample had little to gain from self-inflation: and (c) typically, self-inflation does not significantly motivate alcohol consumption.     

Effects of outpatient treatment for problem drinkers

This study was designed to investigate the effects of treatment length restriction and follow-up interview style on the outcomes of male alcohol abusers in out-patient treatment. Subjects (N = 48) were randomly assigned to one of four independent groups based on the factorial combination of the two independent variables. Extensive pretreatment data were collected about subjects' drinking and related behaviors, and subjects were then scheduled for monthly interviews. Subjects were interviewed for 18 months postadmission concerning these same factors. Subjects' self-reports were compared with collateral reports, official records, and breath tests. Outcome results showed no effects of follow-up interview style or treatment length restriction on drinking behavior and employment outcomes. However, subjects' drinking behavior postadmission was considerably improved compared to their pretreatment ethanol consumption. Temporal analyses of the drinking behavior data showed that it was possible to predict drinking behavior, especially of the same type, within pretreatment and postadmission intervals. However, it was not possible to predict postadmission drinking from pretreatment drinking. Treatment implications of the findings are discussed.     

The Veterans Aging Cohort Study: observational studies of alcohol use, abuse, and outcomes among human immunodeficiency virus-infected veterans

This article represents the proceedings of a symposium at the 2003 annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The organizers/chairs were Joseph Conigliaro and Amy Justice. The presentations were (1) Introduction, by Joseph Conigliaro and Tamra Madenwald; (2) Alcohol and HIV/AIDS: the importance of integrative and translational research, by Kendall Bryant; (3) Alcohol use and abuse among patients with HIV infection, by Joseph Conigliaro and Stephan Maisto; (4) Severity of comorbid alcohol use/abuse in HIV infection, by Amy Justice and Jeffrey Samet; (5) Estimating the impact of alcohol use on long-term HIV outcomes, by Scott Braithwaite and Amy Justice; (6) Homelessness, drug & alcohol use among HIV+ veterans, by Adam Gordon and Robert Cook; and (7) Hepatitis C & alcohol in the VACS 3 study, by Shawn Fultz and Kevin Kraemer. The symposium concluded with a discussion led and facilitated by Diedra Roach.