The relationship of quality and price of the psychostimulants cocaine and amphetamine with health care outcomes.

A major component of the illicit drug market can be subcategorized as the psychostimulant drug market, with cocaine and amphetamine as popular constituents. In The Netherlands, an increase in both health care outcomes addiction treatment and hospital admissions was noted for both amphetamine and cocaine throughout a period of 17 years (1992-2008). Both cocaine price and quality showed a decrease in The Netherlands during the studied period.

Psychiatric disorders in detained male adolescents: a systematic literature review.

Objective: To provide a best estimate of the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among detained male adolescents, with particular emphasis on impairment, multi-informant assessment, and race or ethnicity.

Method: Computer-assisted searches were executed to identify relevant studies.

Results: Fifteen studies using adolescents as informants met inclusion criteria (n = 3401), of which only 2 reported within a subsample on parent-derived diagnoses.

Heroin-assisted treatment in the Netherlands: History, findings, and international context.

This monograph describes the history, findings and international context of heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) in the Netherlands. The monograph consists of (1) a short introduction and seven paragraphs describing the following aspects of HAT in the Netherlands: (2) history of HAT studies and implementation of routine HAT in the Netherlands; (3) main findings on efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness from the two randomized controlled HAT trials in the Netherlands; (4) new findings from a large cohort study on the effectiveness of HAT in routine clinical practice in the Netherlands; (5) unique data on the patient's perspective of HAT; (6) data on the pharmacological and pharmaceutical basis for HAT in the Netherlands; (7) description of the registration process; and (8) account of the international context of HAT. Together, these data show that HAT can now be considered a safe and proven-effective intervention for the treatment of chronic, treatment-resistant heroin dependent patients.

Serotonin and dopamine transporters in relation to neuropsychological functioning, personality traits and mood in young adult healthy subjects.

Background: Serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems are implicated in the regulation of mood, cognition and personality traits and their dysfunction is thought to be implicated in diverse psychopathologies. However, in healthy subjects the relationship between the serotonin and dopamine systems and neuropsychological functioning and personality traits is not clearly established. In the present study we investigated whether neuropsychological functioning, personality traits and mood states of a group of healthy subjects are associated with in vivo measures of serotonin transporters (SERTs) and dopamine transporters (DATs).

First contact incidence of psychotic disorders among native Dutch and Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands: influence of diagnostic bias.

Background: Several studies have reported increased incidence rates of psychotic disorders among immigrant groups. Surprisingly, the cross-cultural validity of the diagnostic instruments that were used was never tested.

Aims: To examine whether the incidence rates of psychotic disorders including schizophrenia among Moroccan immigrants to the Netherlands remain increased when a cultural sensitive diagnostic interview is used.

Measurements in the Addictions for Triage and Evaluation (MATE): an instrument based on the World Health Organization family of international classifications.

Aims: To present and evaluate a measurement tool for assessing characteristics of people with drug and/or alcohol problems for triage and evaluation in treatment. Measurements in the Addictions for Triage and Evaluation (MATE) is composed of 10 modules, selected on the basis of a detailed set of specifications. Conceptually, the MATE was constructed according to the ICD and International Classification of Functioning (ICF) in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system.

The effect of moderate and excessive alcohol use on the course and outcome of patients with bipolar disorders: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Comorbid alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are frequently associated with negative effects on course and outcome of bipolar disorder. This prospective cohort study assessed the effect of actual alcohol use (no, moderate, and excessive) on the course and outcome of patients with bipolar disorders.

Method: Between June 2003 and November 2005, 137 outpatients (aged 23-68 years) with DSM-IV-diagnosed bipolar I (66%) or II (34%) disorder rated their mood and the number of alcohol units consumed daily for a period up to 52 weeks with the National Institute of Mental Health Self-Rating Prospective Life-Chart Method (LCM).

Smoking cessation and weight loss after chronic deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens: therapeutic and research implications: case report.

Objective: Smoking and overeating are compulsory habits that are difficult to stop. Several studies have shown involvement of the nucleus accumbens in these and other addictive behaviors. In this case report, we describe a patient who quit smoking and lost weight without any effort, and we review the underlying mechanisms of action.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist varenicline and the treatment of drug dependence: a review.

Drug dependence is a chronic brain disease characterized by recurrent episodes of relapse, even when the person is motivated to quit. Relapse is a major problem and new pharmacotherapies are needed to prevent relapse episodes. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) plays an important role in nicotine dependence, alcohol consumption and cue-induced cocaine craving.

Outcome of long-term heroin-assisted treatment offered to chronic, treatment-resistant heroin addicts in the Netherlands.

Aims: To describe 4-year treatment retention and treatment response among chronic, treatment-resistant heroin-dependent patients offered long-term heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) in the Netherlands.

Design: Observational cohort study.

Setting And Intervention: Out-patient treatment in specialized heroin treatment centres in six cities in the Netherlands, with methadone plus injectable or inhalable heroin offered 7 days per week, three times per day.

Intrauterine cannabis exposure affects fetal growth trajectories: the Generation R Study.

Objective: Cannabis is the most commonly consumed illicit drug among pregnant women. Intrauterine exposure to cannabis may result in risks for the developing fetus. The importance of intrauterine growth on subsequent psychological and behavioral child development has been demonstrated.

Long-term neuropsychological effects of ecstasy in middle-aged ecstasy/polydrug users.

Rationale: Studies reporting ecstasy-induced serotonin-toxicity and (neuro)psychological dysfunctions have been conducted in young adults. Little is known about ecstasy effects later in life, when serotonin levels and cognition decrease as a consequence of normal ageing.

Objective: This study aimed to assess whether harmful effects of ecstasy only add to or also interact with age-related neuropsychological decline.

[Vaccinations in psychiatry].

Background: Vaccination is a well-known strategy for preventing and treating infections. The purpose of vaccinations is to render antigens harmless by the production of antibodies. In psychiatry there are also situations where antigens that have been introduced from outside or that have developed during an illness constitute a threat to the patient's health.

Interrater reliability for Kernberg's structural interview for assessing personality organization.

Interrater reliability is considered a precondition for the validity of theoretical models and their corresponding diagnostic instruments. Studies have documented good interrater reliability for structured interviews measuring personality characteristics on a descriptive-phenomenological level but there is little research on reliability of assessment procedures on a structural level. The current study investigated the interrater reliability of the structural interview (SI) designed to assess neurotic, borderline, and psychotic personality organization according to Kernberg.

Treatment seeking adults with autism or ADHD and co-morbid substance use disorder: prevalence, risk factors and functional disability.

Background: Little is known about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in adults, especially not about ASD with co-morbid Substance Use Disorder (SUD). We wanted to examine how adults with ASD compare to adults with ADHD on prevalence and risk factors for co-morbid SUD, and on disability levels associated with SUD.

Methods: We stratified 123 treatment seeking adults with ASD (n=70) or ADHD (n=53), into current, former and no history of SUD (SUD+, SUD(wedge), and SUD-), and conducted interviews to explore associated risk factors and current levels of disability.

Blinding in clozapine trials: a problem and a potential solution.

Background: A methodological problem arises when efficacy of clozapine is compared with other antipsychotic medication in double blind randomized studies. Due to the risk of leucopenia and agranulocytosis, patients in the clozapine condition need to have regular blood testing. The problem is that in order to maintain blinding, patients in the comparison conditions need to undergo blood testing as well and this can lead to underestimation of treatment acceptability and efficacy of the comparators.

Varenicline increases striatal dopamine D(2/3) receptor binding in rats.

Increasing dopamine D(2/3) receptor availability is postulated to be a treatment for drug addiction. Varenicline, an alpha4beta2-nicotinic partial agonist, is effective for nicotine dependence. We hypothesize that varenicline increases dopamine D(2/3) receptor availability.

Why gamblers fail to win: a review of cognitive and neuroimaging findings in pathological gambling.

The purpose of this review is to gain more insight in the neuropathology of pathological gambling (PG) and problem gambling, and to discuss challenges in this research area. Results from the reviewed PG studies show that PG is more than just an impulse control disorder. PG seems to fit very well with recent theoretical models of addiction, which stress the involvement of the ventral tegmental-orbito frontal cortex.

Feasibility and validity of low-budget telephonic follow-up interviews in routine outcome monitoring of substance abuse treatment.

Aims: Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) is receiving growing attention. However, follow-up interviews are time-consuming and costly. This study examines the feasibility and validity of low-budget telephonic follow-up interviews for ROM in a substance abuse treatment centre (SATC).

Personality characteristics of adults with autism spectrum disorders or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with and without substance use disorders.

We examined temperament and character profiles of 128 adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants completed the abbreviated Temperament and Character Inventory. The ASD and ADHD groups showed distinct temperament profiles (ADHD: high novelty seeking, ASD: low reward dependence, high harm avoidance) and low character scores in both groups.

Predicting the effect of naltrexone and acamprosate in alcohol-dependent patients using genetic indicators.

Acamprosate and naltrexone are effective medications in the treatment of alcoholism. However, effect sizes are modest. Pharmacogenomics may improve patient-treatment-matching and effect sizes.

Screening for substance abuse among adolescents validity of the CAGE-AID in youth mental health care.

Objective: To examine the diagnostic accuracy of the four-item self-report and parent-report versions of the CAGE-AID as a screen for substance-use disorders (SUD) among adolescents in mental health care.

Method: Patients were 190 Dutch treatment-seeking adolescents (12-18 years old, mean age 15.5 years, 53% boys) and their parents who completed the CAGE-AID questionnaire during intake.

Using the Autism-spectrum quotient to discriminate Autism Spectrum Disorder from ADHD in adult patients with and without comorbid Substance Use Disorder.

It is unknown whether the Autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) can discriminate between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with or without comorbid Substance Use Disorder (SUD). ANOVA's were used to analyse the mean AQ (sub)scores of 129 adults with ASD or ADHD. We applied receiver operating characteristic (ROC) computations to assess discriminant power.