A social media analysis of kratom use to discontinue stimulants.

Background: While FDA-approved treatments exist for opioid use disorder, none are available for stimulant use disorder. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), an unregulated plant-derived substance with known opioid- and stimulant-like effects, has been used to self-treat opioid use disorder; however, its use in relation to stimulant use disorder has not been described.

Objective: To understand whether and how individuals use kratom to self-treat stimulant use disorder.

Prospective Memory in Service Members with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Introduction: Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember the intention to perform an action in the future. Following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), the brain structures supporting such PM may be compromised. PM is essential for remembering activities specific to TBI survivors that promote recovery, such as following doctors' orders, taking necessary medications, completing physical rehabilitation exercises, and maintaining supportive social relationships.

Initial planning benefits complex prospective memory at a cost.

The effect of initial planning on complex prospective memory was investigated using a virtual environment and a sample of healthy young adults (N = 34). Participants were assigned to either an initial planning or a control condition and were asked to complete a series of time- and event-based prospective memory tasks. The planning group completed the tasks more quickly and accurately than the control group.

Biomechanical analysis of spasticity treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: New metrics for clinical spasticity are needed to assess motor performance, since scales such as the Ashworth and Tardieu are unreliable. Here, we assessed outcomes of baclofen treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using biomechanical analysis of voluntary movements.

Methods: Patients with MS and symptomatic limb spasticity were recruited for a pre-post baclofen titration study, along with age-matched healthy controls.

Monitoring medication adherence in multiple sclerosis using a novel web-based tool: A pilot study.

Monitoring medication adherence in multiple sclerosis (MS) can be time consuming and expensive; however, non-adherence is common and is very costly in terms of lost therapeutic benefit and unused medications. To address this problem, we employed a web-based system to monitor and potentially modify medication adherence. Participants (n = 30) were randomized either to routine care or to the MS Home Automated Telehealth (MS HAT) system.

Remote cognitive assessments for patients with multiple sclerosis: a feasibility study.

Background: measuring cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be challenging given the obstacles faced when traveling to testing centers.

Objective: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of remote cognitive assessment in patients with MS using the automated neuropsychological assessment metrics (ANAM-MS) and the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT).

Methods: patients meeting the McDonald criteria for MS (n = 24) were randomized to complete the live-in-office condition or a remote-in-office condition first, with all patients completing both sessions.