A group-based motivational interviewing brief intervention to reduce substance use and sexual risk behavior among homeless young adults.

Homeless young adults ages 18-25 exhibit high rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, and sexual risk behaviors such as unprotected sex. Yet few programs exist for this population that are both effective and can be easily incorporated into settings serving this population. This pilot cluster cross-over randomized controlled trial evaluates AWARE, a voluntary four session group-based motivational interviewing (MI) intervention to reduce AOD use and sexual risk behavior.

A systematic review of the effects of modifiable risk factor interventions on the progression of multiple sclerosis.

Background: Several risk factors are associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) progression and may be amenable to intervention.

Objective: To systematically review the evidence for interventions targeting risk factors for MS progression.

Methods: We searched six databases and existing reviews till March 2015 and consulted with experts to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions targeting MS risk factors (PROSPERO 2015:CRD42015016461).

A systematic review of modifiable risk factors in the progression of multiple sclerosis.

Background: The presenting symptoms and rate of progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) are very heterogeneous. The diverse clinical manifestations and the clinical course of the disease may vary with modifiable risk factors.

Objective: To systematically review modifiable risk factors and exposures associated with MS progression.

St. John's Wort for Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review.

RAND researchers conducted a systematic review that synthesized evidence from randomized controlled trials of St. John's wort (SJW)-used adjunctively or as monotherapy-to provide estimates of its efficacy and safety in treating adults with major depressive disorder. Outcomes of interest included changes in depressive symptomatology, quality of life, and adverse effects.

The role of perceived injunctive alcohol norms in adolescent drinking behavior.

Peers have a major influence on youth during adolescence, and perceptions about peer alcohol use (perceived norms) are often associated with personal drinking behavior among youth. Most of the research on perceived norms among adolescents focuses on perceived descriptive norms only, or perceptions about peers' behavior, and correcting these perceptions are a major focus of many prevention programs with adolescents. In contrast, perceived injunctive norms, which are personal perceptions about peers' attitudes regarding the acceptability of behaviors, have been minimally examined in the adolescent drinking literature.

Frequency of E-cigarette Use, Health Status, and Risk and Protective Health Behaviors in Adolescents.

Objectives: E-cigarettes (ECs) are increasingly popular among adolescents, who perceive them as "safer" than cigarettes. Although research has examined risk factors for adolescent EC use, little is known about how EC use correlates with health status and protective health behaviors.

Methods: In all, 2488 adolescents (mean age = 17.

A systematic review of St. John's wort for major depressive disorder.

Background: This systematic review evaluated St. John's wort (SJW) for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The objectives of this review are to (1) evaluate the efficacy and safety of SJW in adults with MDD compared to placebo and active comparator and (2) evaluate whether the effects vary by severity of MDD.

Neighborhood, Family and Peer-Level Predictors of Obesity-Related Health Behaviors Among Young Adolescents.

Objective: This longitudinal study examines peer social functioning (PSF), familism, and neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) on adolescents' obesity risk.

Methods: Participants ( N  = 2,144) were originally sampled from 16 middle schools in Southern California (45% male; 45% Hispanic) as part of an alcohol and other drug use prevention program (CHOICE). Multilevel regression modeling tested main effects and interaction terms of PSF, familism, and NSES assessed at Wave 5 ( M age = 14.

Alcohol and marijuana use trajectories in a diverse longitudinal sample of adolescents: examining use patterns from age 11 to 17 years.

Aims: We tested race/ethnic differences in alcohol and marijuana (AM) trajectories (comprising an intercept term, reflecting overall probability of use, and a slope term, reflecting change in probability of use) during adolescence, whether AM use trajectories predicted high school outcomes, and whether outcomes differed by race/ethnicity after controlling for trajectory of AM use.

Design: This longitudinal study involved 6509 youth from 16 middle schools in Southern California surveyed from age 11.5 (2008) to age 17 (2015) years; all surveys assessed AM use, and the final survey also examined high school outcomes.

Illness Beliefs Predict Mortality in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Background: Patients' illness beliefs have been associated with glycaemic control in diabetes and survival in other conditions.

Objective: We examined whether illness beliefs independently predicted survival in patients with diabetes and foot ulceration.

Methods: Patients (n=169) were recruited between 2002 and 2007.

Measurement invariance across administration mode: Examining the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist.

The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist (PCL) is commonly used to screen for PTSD in clinical and research contexts. While the PCL is utilized within numerous settings and populations, research has not yet established the extent to which individuals respond similarly across different modes of administration. The use of both telephone and web survey administration modes has numerous potential benefits, including data quality improvement, but may introduce an additional source of measurement error.

Study design to evaluate cognitive behavioral therapy among a diverse sample of adults with a first-time DUI offense.

Background: Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol is a major public health concern, and many individuals continue to drink and drive even after being convicted of a DUI offense. Latinos, in particular, are disproportionately likely to be arrested for a DUI, have higher rates of recidivism, and are more likely to die in alcohol-related accidents than non-Latino Whites. Latinos also experience significant disparities in accessing alcohol-related treatment.

Longitudinal Associations Among Pain, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, and Stress Appraisals.

Comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pain is well documented, but the mechanisms underlying their comorbidity are not well understood. Cross-lagged regression models were estimated with 3 waves of longitudinal data to examine the reciprocal associations between PTSD symptom severity, as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and pain, as measured by a brief self-report measure of pain called the PEG (pain intensity [P], interference with enjoyment of life [E], and interference with general activity [G]). We evaluated stress appraisals as a mediator of these associations in a sample of low-income, underserved patients with PTSD (N = 355) at federally qualified health centers in a northeastern metropolitan area.

Constructing a Time-Invariant Measure of the Socio-economic Status of U.S. Census Tracts.

Contextual research on time and place requires a consistent measurement instrument for neighborhood conditions in order to make unbiased inferences about neighborhood change. We develop such a time-invariant measure of neighborhood socio-economic status (NSES) using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses fit to census data at the tract level from the 1990 and 2000 U.S.

Evaluating Linearly Interpolated Intercensal Estimates of Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics of U.S. Counties and Census Tracts 2001-2009.

The American Community Survey (ACS) multiyear estimation program has greatly advanced opportunities for studying change in the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of U.S. communities.

Moderated mediation analysis: An illustration using the association of gender with delinquency and mental health.

Purpose: When researchers find an association between two variables, it is useful to evaluate the role of other constructs in this association. While assessing these mediation effects, it is important to determine if results are equal for different groups. It is possible that the strength of a mediation effect may differ for males and females, for example - such an effect is known as moderated mediation.

The longitudinal relationship between employment and substance use among at-risk adolescents.

This paper explores the longitudinal association between employment and alcohol/other drug (AOD) use and consequences among an at-risk youth sample with a first-time AOD offense. This study extends previous research by examining the effects of more stable employment over time. Participants were adolescents referred to a diversion program (N=193) for a first-time AOD offense.

Early Substance Use and Subsequent DUI in Adolescents.

Objective: Little is known about risk factors in early adolescence that lead to driving under the influence (DUI) and riding with a drinking driver (RWDD). In a diverse group of adolescents, we longitudinally explored the influence of alcohol and marijuana (AM) use, AM beliefs, and peer and family factors (including familism) on DUI/RWDD in high school.

Methods: We conducted 3 surveys 2 years apart of 1189 students recruited from 16 middle schools in Southern California.

Associations between neighborhood alcohol availability and young adolescent alcohol use.

We investigated the association between alcohol outlet density and adolescent alcohol use, including whether this association differed by sociodemographic characteristics. We geocoded and mapped active license data from the year 2011 to calculate the number of outlets within multiple circular buffers of varying sizes (density), centered at households of adolescents ages 10-16 (n = 2,724). We examined 2 indicators of alcohol use: any lifetime use, but not in past month, and any past month heavy use.

Differences in Substance Use and Substance Use Risk Factors by Asian Subgroups.

The present study examined differences in lifetime use and initiation of substance use and associated risk factors for alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana among seven subgroups of Asian American (AA) adolescents: Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Mixed heritage Asian. Sixth and 7th grade AA adolescents in Southern California were surveyed five times over three academic years. We examined subgroup differences in (1) lifetime alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use assessed at baseline, (2) initiation of each substance over three years, and (3) baseline individual (positive and negative expectancies about substances, resistance self-efficacy, and intentions to use), family (closest adult and older sibling substance use), and school factors (perceived peer use).

Wrong-Site Surgery, Retained Surgical Items, and Surgical Fires : A Systematic Review of Surgical Never Events.

Importance: Serious, preventable surgical events, termed never events, continue to occur despite considerable patient safety efforts.

Objective: To examine the incidence and root causes of and interventions to prevent wrong-site surgery, retained surgical items, and surgical fires in the era after the implementation of the Universal Protocol in 2004.

Data Sources: We searched 9 electronic databases for entries from 2004 through June 30, 2014, screened references, and consulted experts.

Gateway to curiosity: Medical marijuana ads and intention and use during middle school.

Over the past several years, medical marijuana has received increased attention in the media, and marijuana use has increased across the United States. Studies suggest that as marijuana has become more accessible and adults have become more tolerant regarding marijuana use, adolescents perceive marijuana as more beneficial and are more likely to use if they are living in an environment that is more tolerant of marijuana use. One factor that may influence adolescents' perceptions about marijuana and marijuana use is their exposure to advertising of this product.

The effects of mental health symptoms and marijuana expectancies on marijuana use and consequences among at-risk adolescents.

Based on expectancy theory, adolescents at risk for mental health symptoms, such as those involved in the juvenile court system, may use marijuana due to the belief that use will attenuate anxiety and depressive symptoms. In a diverse sample of youth involved in the Santa Barbara Teen Court system (N = 193), we examined the association between mental health symptoms and marijuana expectancies on marijuana use and consequences. In general, stronger positive expectancies and weaker negative expectancies were both associated with increased marijuana use.

How group factors affect adolescent change talk and substance use outcomes: implications for motivational interviewing training.

Clients who verbalize statements arguing for change (change talk [CT]) in psychotherapy are more likely to decrease alcohol and other drug use (AOD) compared with clients who voice statements in opposition of change (sustain talk [ST]). Little is known about how CT and ST are expressed in groups in which adolescents may vary in their AOD use severity and readiness to change. First, we examined how session content was associated with CT/ST, and then we looked at whether different subtypes of CT/ST were associated with subsequent AOD outcomes 3 months later.

Longitudinal family effects on substance use among an at-risk adolescent sample.

Objective: Adult and peer factors may influence whether adolescents use alcohol and other drugs (AOD). This longitudinal study examined the direct effects of adult monitoring, perceived adult AOD use, and cultural values on adolescent AOD use.

Methods: Participants were 193 at-risk adolescents referred to a California diversion program called Teen Court for a first-time AOD offense.