Multidimensional family therapy reduces problematic gaming in adolescents: A randomised controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Social variables including parental and family factors may serve as risk factors for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in adolescents. An IGD treatment programme should address these factors. We assessed two family therapies - multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) and family therapy as usual (FTAU) - on their impact on the prevalence of IGD and IGD symptoms.

A randomized, controlled trial of combined cognitive-behavioral therapy plus prize-based contingency management for cocaine dependence.

Background: Cocaine has become one of the drugs of most concern in Switzerland, being associated with a wide range of medical, psychiatric and social problems. Available treatment options for cocaine dependence are rare. The study sought to compare combined prize-based contingency management (prizeCM) plus cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to CBT alone in cocaine-dependent patients.

Substitution of (R,S)-methadone by (R)-methadone: Impact on QTc interval.

Background: Methadone is administered as a chiral mixture of (R,S)-methadone. The opioid effect is mainly mediated by (R)-methadone, whereas (S)-methadone blocks the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) voltage-gated potassium channel more potently, which can cause drug-induced long QT syndrome, leading to potentially lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Methods: To investigate whether substitution of (R,S)-methadone by (R)-methadone could reduce the corrected QT (QTc) interval, (R,S)-methadone was replaced by (R)-methadone (half-dose) in 39 opioid-dependent patients receiving maintenance treatment for 14 days.

Cannabis and benzodiazepines as determinants of methadone trough plasma concentration variability in maintenance treatment: a transnational study.

Purpose: To assess tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and benzodiazepine use in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) as potential sources of variability in methadone pharmacokinetics.

Methods: Trough plasma (R)- and (S)-methadone concentrations were measured on 77 Australian and 74 Swiss MMT patients with no additional medications other than benzodiazepines. Simple and multiple regression analyses were performed for the primary metric, plasma methadone concentration/dose.

Association of dopamine and opioid receptor genetic polymorphisms with response to methadone maintenance treatment.

Background: Genetic variations of the dopamine and opioid receptors could influence the response to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).

Methods: We included 238 MMT patients according to their response to treatment and methadone dosing, along with 217 subjects without substance dependence. All were genotyped for polymorphisms of the dopamine D1, D2, micro-opioid and delta-opioid receptor genes.

ABCB1 and cytochrome P450 genotypes and phenotypes: influence on methadone plasma levels and response to treatment.

Background And Objective: The in vivo implication of various cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms and of P-glycoprotein on methadone kinetics is unclear. We aimed to thoroughly examine the genetic factors influencing methadone kinetics and response to treatment.

Methods: Genotyping for CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, ABCB1, and UGT2B7 polymorphisms was performed in 245 patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment.

[New Drugs: Ectasy and Gamma-Hydroxy-Butyrate (GHB)].

For several years the "raves" and "tecno" parties are accompanied of a growing consumption of such substances as Ecstasy and Gamma-Hidroxi-Butirato (GHB). In this article, their authors describe the secondary and toxic effects of those drugs. These data should alert about the risk of considering this new way of substance abuse as a banal fact.