Demonstration of an app-delivered digital therapeutic program for methamphetamine use disorder.

This study assessed the feasibility and utility of a digital, all-virtual program designed for treatment of methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). Forty-nine adults with moderate- to severe-level MUD (per DSM-5 criteria) commenced the 8-week intervention. All aspects of the program were delivered via smartphone-based app.

Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes of a Mobile Intervention Combining Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Virtual Coaching, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Nicotine Vaping Cessation.

Background: Despite research demonstrating that those who use e-cigarettes, also known as vaping, express an interest in quitting, evidence-based vaping cessation interventions are lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of an mHealth vaping cessation intervention.

Methods: Adults ( = 51) who were vaping nicotine were recruited online and enrolled in a 6-week mHealth intervention combining nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), self-guided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and coaching support through telephone and asynchronous messaging.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of an Integrated Telemedicine Intervention Combining Naltrexone and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder.

Background: A small fraction of individuals in need of treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) seek care, owing largely to barriers to accessing treatment. In the present pilot study, we examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of an m-health intervention combining cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for individuals with AUD.

Methods: Adults with AUD ( = 26) recruited through online, social media-based advertising were enrolled in a 12-week, integrated telemedicine intervention combining psychosocial treatment with medical management: Quit Genius for AUD (QG-A).

Long-Term Effectiveness of a Clinician-Assisted Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Smoking Cessation: Secondary Outcomes From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: This study evaluated the secondary effectiveness outcomes for Quit Genius, a digital clinician-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention for smoking cessation.

Methods: Adult smokers (N = 556) were randomly assigned to Quit Genius (n = 277), a digital, clinician-assisted CBT intervention or very brief advice (VBA) to stop smoking, an evidence-based, 30-s intervention designed to facilitate quit attempts, coupled with referral to a cessation service (n = 279). Participants were offered combination nicotine replacement therapy (patches and gum) tailored to individual nicotine dependence.

Craving among individuals with stimulant use disorder in residential social model-based treatment - Can exercise help?

Background: In a randomized controlled 8-week trial, we examined the efficacy of aerobic and resistance exercise in reducing craving for methamphetamine (MA) among individuals with MA-use disorder during residential treatment.

Methods: Individuals with MA use disorder (138) who were newly enrolled in residential treatment volunteered for random assignment to either an 8-week exercise intervention (EX) or health education control (HE), with both conditions meeting 3 times weekly; 3 dropped out of the trial, bringing the analysis sample to 135. The majority of participants were male (80%), and 48% were Latino/Hispanic.

Promising outcomes from a cognitive behavioral therapy text-messaging intervention targeting drug use, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and HIV risk behaviors among adults living with HIV and substance use disorders.

Background: To date, no studies have reported the use of text messaging to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to people living with HIV and substance use disorders.

Objective: We developed and evaluated a 12-week, CBT-based text-messaging intervention (TXT-CBT) targeting drug use and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for adults with HIV and comorbid opioid and stimulant use disorders.

Materials And Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to receive either TXT-CBT (n = 25) or an informational pamphlet (INFO) discussing substance use and medication adherence (n = 25).

Preliminary Efficacy of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Text Messaging Intervention Targeting Alcohol Use and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02603471.

Preliminary Outcomes of a Computerized CBT/MET Intervention for Depressed Cannabis Users in Psychiatry Care.

Although depression is common among cannabis users, there is a paucity of targeted interventions addressing depression and cannabis use disorders concurrently. In the present pilot study, we examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a computer-assisted intervention combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET) techniques for adults with comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) presenting for care in a psychiatric setting. Adults with MDD and CUD (N=26) recruited from mental health care settings were enrolled in a 10-week, computer-assisted psychosocial intervention: Self-Help for Alcohol and other Drug Use and Depression (SHADE).

Physician variation in lung cancer treatment at the end of life.

Objectives: To determine whether a treating oncologist's characteristics are associated with variation in use of chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) at the end of life.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Methods: Using the 2009 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database, we studied chemotherapy receipt within 30 days of death among Medicare enrollees who were diagnosed with aNSCLC between 1999 and 2006, received chemotherapy, and died within 3 years of diagnosis.

Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention for Stimulant Dependent Adults: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

In light of the known associations between stress, negative affect, and relapse, mindfulness strategies hold promise as a means of reducing relapse susceptibility. In a pilot randomized clinical trial, we evaluated the effects of Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), relative to a health education control condition (HE) among stimulant dependent adults receiving contingency management. All participants received a 12-week contingency management (CM) intervention.

Dose, Plasma Level, and Treatment Outcome Among Methadone Patients in Shanghai, China.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the blood levels of methadone in participants receiving methadone for the treatment of opioid dependence. After stabilization on methadone for four weeks, blood samples from 95 participants were collected between treatment weeks 4 and 12, before and after receiving doses of methadone, and its blood levels were measured. A multiple linear regression model was used to examine the association between methadone blood levels and the outcomes of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).

Utilizing a Two-stage Design to Investigate the Safety and Potential Efficacy of Monthly Naltrexone Plus Once-daily Bupropion as a Treatment for Methamphetamine Use Disorder.

Objectives: This 2-stage open-label pilot study evaluated the safety and potential efficacy of naltrexone + bupropion as a pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine (MA) use disorder.

Methods: The study was conducted in 2 stages of recruitment across 3 sites; 20 participants were enrolled in stage 1 and 29 participants were enrolled in stage 2. Eight weeks of open-label pharmacotherapy with a combination of extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX; Vivitrol) plus extended-release oral bupropion (BRP; Wellbutrin XL) were provided with a smartphone-assisted medication adherence platform.

Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Differences in Colorectal and Breast Cancer Treatment Quality: The Role of Physician-level Variations in Care.

Background: Despite a large body of research showing racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in cancer treatment quality, the relative role of physician-level variations in care is unclear.

Objective: To examine the effect of physicians on disparities in breast and colorectal cancer care.

Subjects: Linked SEER Medicare data were used to identify Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with colorectal and breast cancer during 1995-2007 and their treating physicians.

Buprenorphine + naloxone plus naltrexone for the treatment of cocaine dependence: the Cocaine Use Reduction with Buprenorphine (CURB) study.

Aims: To examine the safety and effectiveness of buprenorphine + naloxone sublingual tablets (BUP, as Suboxone(®) ) provided after administration of extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX, as Vivitrol(®) ) to reduce cocaine use in participants who met DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence and past or current opioid dependence or abuse.

Methods: This multi-centered, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted under the auspices of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, randomly assigned 302 participants at sites in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, New York and Washington DC, USA to one of three conditions provided with XR-NTX: 4 mg/day BUP (BUP4, n = 100), 16 mg/day BUP (BUP16, n = 100, or no buprenorphine (placebo; PLB, n = 102). Participants received pharmacotherapy for 8 weeks, with three clinic visits per week.

Predictors of Continued Use of Extended-Released Naltrexone (XR-NTX) for Opioid-Dependence: An Analysis of Heroin and Non-Heroin Opioid Users in Los Angeles County.

Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) is associated with an increased number of opioid-free days, improved adherence rates in substance use disorder treatment programs, and reduced cravings and drug-seeking behaviors. There is little evidence on the predictive associations between baseline characteristics of opioid-dependent patients and XR-NTX utilization. Some studies have demonstrated better pharmacotherapy adherence and/or retention rates among non-heroin opioid users compared to heroin users.

Youth recovery outcomes at 6 and 9 months following participation in a mobile texting recovery support aftercare pilot study.

Background And Objectives: We examined youth recovery outcomes at 6- and 9-months post-participation in an aftercare pilot study called Educating and Supporting inQuisitive Youth in Recovery (ESQYIR) that aimed to investigate the utility of a 12-week mobile texting recovery support intervention.

Methods: A total of 80 youth [Mage 20.4 (SD = 3.

Treatment outcomes in opioid dependent patients with different buprenorphine/naloxone induction dosing patterns and trajectories.

Background And Objectives: Induction is a crucial period of opioid addiction treatment. This study aimed to identify buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP) induction patterns and examine their association with outcomes (opioid use, retention, and related adverse events [AEs]).

Methods: The secondary analysis of a study of opioid-dependent adults seeking treatment in eight treatment settings included 740 participants inducted on BUP with flexible dosing.

Impact of an exercise intervention on methamphetamine use outcomes post-residential treatment care.

Background: We examined the efficacy of an 8-week exercise intervention on posttreatment methamphetamine (MA) use among MA-dependent individuals following residential treatment.

Methods: 135 individuals newly enrolled in treatment were randomly assigned to a structured 8-week exercise intervention or health education control group. Approximately 1 week after completion of the intervention, participants were discharged to the community.

The Effect of a Patient-Provider Educational Intervention to Reduce At-Risk Drinking on Changes in Health and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults: The Project SHARE Study.

Background: At-risk drinking, defined as alcohol use that is excessive or potentially harmful in combination with select comorbidities or medications, affects about 10% of older adults in the United States and is associated with higher mortality. The Project SHARE intervention, which uses patient and provider educational materials, physician counseling, and health educator support, was designed to reduce at-risk drinking among this vulnerable population. Although an earlier study showed that this intervention was successful in reducing rates of at-risk drinking, it is unknown whether these reductions translate into improved health and health-related quality of life (HRQL).

Examining the Impact of Separate Components of a Multicomponent Intervention Designed to Reduce At-Risk Drinking Among Older Adults: The Project SHARE Study.

Background: Health promotion interventions often include multiple components and several patient contacts. The objective of this study was to examine how participation within a multicomponent intervention (Project SHARE) is associated with changes in at-risk drinking among older adults.

Methods: We analyzed observational data from a cluster-randomized trial of 31 primary care physicians and their patients aged ≥60 years, at a community-based practice with 7 clinics.

The Impact of Exercise On Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among Abstinent Methamphetamine-Dependent Individuals in A Residential Treatment Setting.

Background: This paper reports data from a study designed to determine the impact of an 8-week exercise program on depression and anxiety symptoms among newly abstinent methamphetamine (MA)-dependent individuals in residential treatment.

Methods: One hundred thirty-five MA-dependent individuals, newly enrolled in residential treatment, were randomly assigned to receive either a 3-times-per-week, 60-minute structured exercise program for 8 weeks (24 sessions) or an equivalent number of health education sessions. Using mixed-modeling repeated-measures regression, we examined changes in weekly total depression and anxiety scores as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory over the 8-week study period.

Predictors of depression outcomes among abstinent methamphetamine-dependent individuals exposed to an exercise intervention.

Background And Objectives: This paper expands on a study investigating depression outcomes in response to an 8-week exercise intervention among methamphetamine (MA) dependent individuals in early recovery.

Methods: A total of 135 MA-dependent individuals enrolled in residential treatment were randomly assigned to either a structured exercise intervention or a structured health education control group. Both groups were similar in format: 60-minute sessions, offered three times a week over an 8-week study period.

Buprenorphine pharmacotherapy and behavioral treatment: comparison of outcomes among prescription opioid users, heroin users and combination users.

Most research examining buprenorphine has been conducted with heroin users. Few studies have examined buprenorphine pharmacotherapy for prescription opioid users. Data were from a randomized controlled trial of behavioral treatment provided for 16weeks on a platform of buprenorphine pharmacotherapy and medication management.

Sustained-release methylphenidate in a randomized trial of treatment of methamphetamine use disorder.

Background And Aims: No effective pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine (MA) use disorder has yet been found. This study evaluated sustained-release methylphenidate (MPH-SR) compared with placebo (PLA) for treatment of MA use disorder in people also undergoing behavioral support and motivational incentives.

Design: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design with MPH-SR or PLA provided for 10 weeks (active phase) followed by 4 weeks of single-blind PLA.

The effect of an educational intervention on alcohol consumption, at-risk drinking, and health care utilization in older adults: the Project SHARE study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a patient-provider educational intervention in reducing at-risk drinking among older adults.

Method: This was a cluster-randomized controlled trial of 31 primary care providers and their patients ages 60 years and older at a community-based practice with seven clinics. Recruitment occurred from July 2005 to August 2007.