Routine Drug Screening for Patients in the Emergency Department of a State Psychiatric Hospital: A Naturalistic Cohort Study.

Objective: This study investigates the proportion of drug users among patients with mental disorders who attended the emergency department of one major psychiatric hospital in Northern Israel, the most frequent psychiatric diagnoses associated with drug use, and the impact of confirmed drug use on hospital admission. We hypothesized that the proportion of individuals with positive urine drug test results presenting at the psychiatric emergency department during the study period would be 20% to 30%.

Methods: An unselected cohort of 2,019 adult patients who visited the emergency department of Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center, a university-affiliated government facility, was evaluated and underwent routine urine drug testing between April 2012 and February 2014.

Mortality and causes of death among users of methadone maintenance treatment in Israel, 1999-2008.

Objectives: To determine all-cause and specific-causes mortality, in the years 1999-2008, among opioid-dependent users treated at methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics in Israel and to compare the obtained results with data from relevant studies worldwide.

Method: The records of patients treated at MMT units were linked to the nationwide database of causes of death. Information about the Israeli general population from the Central Bureau of Statistics was used for comparison to match sex and age to the cohort under study.

Improved quality of life, clinical, and psychosocial outcomes among heroin-dependent patients on ambulatory buprenorphine maintenance.

Aim: A prospective longitudinal design was employed to examine the effects of buprenorphine maintenance on quality of life (QOL), clinical, and psychosocial characteristics of heroin-dependent patients.

Method: Between 2003 and 2005 data were collected on 259 patients attending the outpatient centers for treatment of drug addictions across Israel, of which 157 were reevaluated 16 weeks later and 105 reevaluated 32 weeks later using the Clinical Global Impression, Distress Scale for Adverse Symptoms, Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association between the parameters and the cross-sectional and longitudinal predictions of the QOL outcomes.

["Injecting clean or being clean?" The international and Israeli experiences of Syringe Exchange Programs among injecting drug users].

Injecting drug users (IDU) are a hard-to-reach population. The treatment objectives are to reduce their risk factors, to guide them to total abstinence or to antagonist treatment. When IDU are not ready for detoxification, they are referred to Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP).

Sildenafil citrate in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and its effect on quality of life in alcohol dependent men: preliminary findings.

Background: Alcohol-dependent men commonly suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) and men with ED are frequently chronic alcohol addicts. Sildenafil is used for treatment of ED caused by diverse factors. The aim of this study was to examine (i) the effect of sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) on ED in alcohol dependent men, and (ii) whether the effective treatment of ED with sildenafil improves the patient's QoL and related emotional distress.

Well-being, psychosocial factors, and side-effects among heroin-dependent inpatients after detoxification using buprenorphine versus clonidine.

Previous studies comparing buprenorphine and clonidine provided little information about subjective factors associated with the effective management of opioid withdrawal. This study sought to compare detoxification programs using these medications with regard to side-effects and related distress, general well-being, perceived self-efficacy and social support. A total of 200 treatment-seeking heroin-dependent patients, aged 18-50, were randomly assigned to buprenorphine or clonidine inpatient withdrawal treatments over 10days followed by 11days of relapse prevention measures.