Mind-Body Interventions in Late-Life Mental Illnesses and Cognitive Disorders: A Narrative Review.

Background: Current pharmacological treatments and psychotherapeutic approaches often have adverse effects or are ineffective in late-life cognitive and mental illnesses. Mind-body interventions offer a holistic approach and are of interest because of potential patient acceptability and scalability.

Objective: To synthesize current evidence on mind-body interventions in treating or preventing mental illnesses and cognitive disorders in older adults.

Effects of family history of alcohol dependence on the subjective response to alcohol using the intravenous alcohol clamp.

Background: Alcohol use disorders are well recognized to be common, debilitating, and the risk of developing them is influenced by family history (FH). The subjective response to alcohol may be determined familialy and related to the risk of developing alcoholism. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences between family history positive (FHP) and family history negative (FHN) individuals in their response to alcohol within the domains of subjective, coordination, and cognitive effects using an intravenous (IV) clamping method of alcohol administration.

Subjective Effects of Thiopental in Young Adults with and without a Family History of Alcoholism.

Background: The development of alcohol use disorders is genetically influenced, and may be mediated through differences in the subjective response to alcohol. There is some evidence to suggest that response differences to alcohol could be conveyed by heritable differences in GABA receptors. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether individuals with a family history positive (FHP) for alcohol dependence would experience alterations in response to the GABA receptor agonist thiopental, in comparison to family history negative (FHN) subjects.

Substance use and schizophrenia: adverse correlates in the CATIE study sample.

Objective: This study examined the relationship between severity of illicit substance use at the time of study entry in a sample of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 18-month longitudinal outcomes, including psychopathology, depression, neurocognition, and quality of life.

Methods: Subjects in the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (N=1432) were divided into three groups according to baseline data: (1) those with moderate/severe drug use, (2) those with mild drug use, and (3) non-users of illicit substances. The groups were compared on other baseline characteristics.

Dual Diagnosis in an Aging Population: Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders, Comorbid Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Service Utilization in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Objective: In the context of an aging baby boom cohort with higher rates of substance use disorders than previous cohorts, the abuse of substances and dual diagnosis represent growing areas of concern among older adults. The aims of this study were to determine the current treated prevalence of major psychiatric illnesses, substance use disorders, and dual diagnosis across multiple age groups in a national sample of mental health patients and to examine associated service utilization.

Methods: Using administrative data from specialty mental health clinics in the Department of Veterans Affairs (N = 911,725), treated prevalence of major psychiatric illnesses, substance use disorders, and dual diagnosis across multiple age groups were determined over a 1-year interval (FY 2009).

The impact of opening a smoking room on psychiatric inpatient behavior following implementation of a hospital-wide smoking ban.

Background: Psychiatric patients are significantly more likely to smoke than mentally healthy persons, presenting a challenge for inpatient psychiatric care when smoking bans are instituted.

Objective: To assess the impact of opening a smoking room within a psychiatric unit following a hospital smoking ban.

Study Design: A staff survey and a chart review of 180 inpatient admissions before and after the opening of a smoking room.