Associations Among Sleep Disturbance, Pain Catastrophizing, and Pain Intensity for Methadone-maintained Patients With Opioid Use Disorder and Chronic Pain.

Objective: This study examined the cross-sectional associations among pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and sleep disturbance among patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) and reporting co-occurring chronic pain.

Materials And Methods: Participants were 89 individuals with OUD and chronic pain drawn from a larger cross-sectional study of 164 MMT patients who completed a battery of self-report measures. The authors conducted 6 mediation models to test all possible pathways (ie, each variable tested as an independent variable, mediator, or dependent variable).

Training addiction counselors to deliver a brief psychoeducational intervention for chronic pain among patients in opioid agonist treatment: A pilot investigation.

Background: Despite high rates of chronic pain among their patients, opioid agonist treatment (OAT) counselors report an absence of training to manage chronic pain.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team developed a tailored training for counselors to screen and address chronic pain via a brief psychosocial intervention, and implemented it with 52 addiction counselors. Data on knowledge (9 true-false items) as well as attitudes, interest, and perceived ability (scored on 5-point Likert-type scales) were collected from counselors before (pre-test), after (post-test) training, and after 6 months (follow-up).

Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorders: Physicians' Perceptions and Practices.

Background And Objectives: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommendations that medications be considered for patients with alcohol dependence, the mainstay of treatment has been counseling. We designed a survey to assess the treatment practices of psychiatrists and family medicine (FM) physicians in an effort to identify barriers to the use of pharmacotherapy and develop strategies to increase physician knowledge and utilization of these medications.

Sexual dysfunction associated with major depressive disorder and antidepressant treatment.

Introduction: There is a well-established relationship between sexual functioning and quality of life. Depression can cause sexual dysfunction (SD) and its treatment can often lead to restoration of sexual functioning. Use of antidepressants has also been associated with SD, with implications for treatment compliance and creation of further distress for the patient.