A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial of Divalproex Sodium for Posttraumatic Irritability Greater Than 1 Year After Mild to Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective: Posttraumatic irritability after traumatic brain injury (TBI) may become a chronic problem and contribute to impaired everyday function, either alone or in combination with alcohol use disorder. The authors hypothesized that divalproex sodium (VPA) would improve posttraumatic irritability and result in lessened alcohol use.

Methods: This randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial recruited participants with an index TBI occurring 1 or more years prior to enrollment, a history of alcohol use disorder, and posttraumatic irritability corroborated by a knowledgeable informant.

Late Reduction of Cocaine Cravings in a Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of Aripiprazole vs Perphenazine in Schizophrenia and Comorbid Cocaine Dependence.

Purpose: Co-occurring schizophrenia spectrum disorder and International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision cocaine dependence present a particularly destructive constellation that is often difficult to treat. Both conditions raise dopamine transmission effects in the brain. Traditional neuroleptics block dopamine receptors, whereas aripiprazole modulates dopamine activity as an agonist/antagonist.

Substance use and mild traumatic brain injury risk reduction and prevention: a novel model for treatment.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and substance use disorders (SUDs) frequently co-occur. Individuals with histories of alcohol or other drug use are at greater risk for sustaining TBI, and individuals with TBI frequently misuse substances before and after injury. Further, a growing body of literature supports the relationship between comorbid histories of mild TBI (mTBI) and SUDs and negative outcomes.

Traumatic brain injury and psychiatric diagnoses in veterans seeking outpatient substance abuse treatment.

Objectives: Explore the incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in veterans seeking outpatient substance abuse treatment and the association between TBI and psychiatric diagnoses.

Main Measure: The Ohio State University TBI identification method (OSU TBI-ID) was administered to veterans with positive TBI-4 screens; substance-related and psychiatric diagnoses were extracted from the medical record.

Participants: : Over an 18-month period, 247 veterans completed the TBI-4.