Understanding pregabalin misuse and dependence: Insights from a North Indian addiction treatment center.

Background: Pregabalin, approved for various medical conditions, has shown increasing misuse potential globally. However, limited research exists on pregabalin dependence in India. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of pregabalin dependence among individuals seeking substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in North India.

Trends of Buprenorphine Prescribing for Opioid Dependence Before, and During the Early and Later Part of the COVID-19: A Study from a Large Publicly-Funded Opioid Agonist Treatment Services in India.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the availability and access to medications for opioid dependence (OD). We examined the monthly trends in new buprenorphine/naloxone (BNX) treatment episodes, number of clinical visits for BNX, BNX dispensed per person, and BNX prescription over 56-month, which included pre-pandemic, during early, and later part of pandemic (Jan 2017 - Aug 2022).

Methods: Research data were collected from the pharmacy database of a large publicly funded treatment center in India.

Service users' perception and attitude toward telemedicine-based treatment for substance use disorders: A qualitative study from India.

Aim: We aimed to assess the service user's acceptability, feasibility, and attitude toward telemedicine practice and compare it with in-person consultation in substance use disorder (SUD).

Materials And Methods: We recruited 15 adult patients with SUD who accessed both telemedicine and in-person care. We conducted in-depth interviews on awareness and access, facilitators and barriers, treatment satisfaction, and therapeutic relationship in the telemedicine context.

Prevalence of mixed features in patients with first-episode depression: An exploratory multicentric study.

Background And Aim: There is limited literature on the prevalence of mixed features in patients with depression, especially from countries in Asia. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of "mixed features" in patients with first-episode depression.

Materials And Methods: Patients with first-episode depression were evaluated for the presence of mixed features as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 criteria.

Effectiveness of buprenorphine (naloxone) for opioid dependence does not differ across opioid categories: a retrospective cohort study from India.

We aimed to examine whether treatment retention, abstinence, and adherence to buprenorphine-naloxone (BNX) differ among individuals with opioid dependence (OD) across three common categories of opioids- heroin, opium, and low-potency pharmaceutical. In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed outpatient treatment records from March 2020 through February 2022. Opioid category was determined by lifetime and current opioid use.

Assist-linked brief intervention to reduce risky pattern of substance use in male workers employed at a tertiary care hospital in India: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Substance use in workplace leads to adverse effects both on the employees and on the workplace. Existing research focuses on alcohol-related harm, while workplace use of other substances has been neglected. There are no randomized controlled studies of brief interventions in Indian hospital settings.

Course and outcome of bipolar I disorder among Indian patients: A retrospective life-chart study.

Background: Indian studies on the course and outcome of bipolar disorder (BD) are scarce and their methodologies vary. Nevertheless, differences from Western ones have been noted.

Methods: A systematic random sample of 200 patients with BD attending a general hospital psychiatric unit was chosen.

The therapeutic relationships, empathy, and satisfaction in teleconsultation for substance use disorders: Better or worse than in-person consultation?

Context: Telemedicine has become one of the essential modes of healthcare delivery. Different aspects of the physician-patient relationship during tele and in-person consultation need to be studied.

Aims: This study aimed to compare perceived empathy and therapeutic relationship between tele and in-person consultation and assess the patient's satisfaction during teleconsultation for substance use disorder (SUD).

Course and Correlates of Stigma in Patients on Opioid Agonist Treatment: A Prospective Study from an Outpatient Treatment Program in India.

Background: Individuals with opioid dependence experience stigma and discrimination. Stigma can potentially reduce treatment-seeking and negatively affect treatment outcomes. We aimed to study the course of stigma and its correlates among patients receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT).

Adverse childhood experiences and substance misuse in young people in India: results from the multisite cVEDA cohort.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increases vulnerability to externalising disorders such as substance misuse. The study aims to determine the prevalence of ACEs and its association with substance misuse.

Methods: Data from the Consortium on Vulnerability to Externalising Disorders and Addictions (cVEDA) in India was used (n = 9010).

Predictors of Five-Year Readmission to an Inpatient Service among Patients with Alcohol Use Disorders: Report from a Low-Middle Income Country.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a relapsing-remitting disease that accounted for a sizable proportion of all-cause adult inpatient stays.

Objectives: To determine the predictors of any and multiple readmissions to inpatient care for AUD within 5 years of the index admission.

Methods: This retrospective, register-based cohort study assessed consecutive patients with AUD admitted to a publicly-funded inpatient service between January 2007 and December 2014.

Social cognition in siblings of patients with bipolar disorders.

Background: Identifying people at risk of developing bipolar disorder (BD) using endophenotypes is of recent interest. Few studies on social cognition in first-degree relatives of patients with BD have shown inconsistent findings. This study aimed to evaluate the social cognitive deficits (SCD) and its correlates among siblings of patients with BD.

Tapentadol, the new kid on the block in India: Is it time to worry?

Background And Objectives: Large-scale prospective case series of tapentadol abuse or dependence in India is not available. Hence, we aimed to study the prevalence and profile of tapentadol users in a treatment-seeking population.

Materials And Methods: The study had prospective and retrospective arms.

Disulfiram Ethanol Reaction with Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer: An Exploratory Study.

Aims: We conducted a cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence and clinical manifestation of disulfiram ethanol reaction (DER) and isopropanol toxicity (IT) in patients with alcohol use disorders, on disulfiram. Alcohol-based hand rub contains either ethanol or isopropanol or both. COVID-19 pandemic has led to wide scale usage of sanitizers.

Opioid substitution therapy with buprenorphine-naloxone during COVID-19 outbreak in India: Sharing our experience and interim standard operating procedure.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. It has affected most countries of the world, including India. Both the disease and the unavoidable national response to it have posed unique challenges to our health-care system.

Neurocognitive functions in patients on buprenorphine maintenance for opioid dependence: A comparative study with three matched control groups.

Background: Neurocognitive dysfunction with buprenorphine has mixed evidence, with many confounding factors. We compared the neurocognitive functions in patients with opioid dependence on buprenorphine maintenance (Index Group; IG) with those on naltrexone (NG), opioid-dependent in early detoxification (OD), and healthy control (CG).

Materials & Methods: The four groups were matched for age, sex, and years of education.

The Consortium on Vulnerability to Externalizing Disorders and Addictions (c-VEDA): an accelerated longitudinal cohort of children and adolescents in India.

The global burden of disease attributable to externalizing disorders such as alcohol misuse calls urgently for effective prevention and intervention. As our current knowledge is mainly derived from high-income countries such in Europe and North-America, it is difficult to address the wider socio-cultural, psychosocial context, and genetic factors in which risk and resilience are embedded in low- and medium-income countries. c-VEDA was established as the first and largest India-based multi-site cohort investigating the vulnerabilities for the development of externalizing disorders, addictions, and other mental health problems.

Sexual dysfunction in men on buprenorphine - naloxone-based substitution therapy.

Background: The literature on sexual dysfunction in patients on buprenorphine-naloxone (BNX) substitution is limited.

Materials And Methods: This research aimed to study the prevalence and correlates of sexual dysfunction in men on BNX substitution therapy. We recruited consecutive forty men from BNX clinic, who had received BNX for at least 6 months, who were free from any recent illicit drug use (confirmed by urine chromatographic immune assay), and who were either married or had a stable sexual partner.

Consortium on Vulnerability to Externalizing Disorders and Addictions (cVEDA): A developmental cohort study protocol.

Background: Low and middle-income countries like India with a large youth population experience a different environment from that of high-income countries. The Consortium on Vulnerability to Externalizing Disorders and Addictions (cVEDA), based in India, aims to examine environmental influences on genomic variations, neurodevelopmental trajectories and vulnerability to psychopathology, with a focus on externalizing disorders.

Methods: cVEDA is a longitudinal cohort study, with planned missingness design for yearly follow-up.

Attitude and perceptions of patients towards long acting depot injections (LAIs).

Background: Despite the well-established efficacy of the long acting depot injectable (LAIs) antipsychotics, these are significantly underused and underutilized by the mental health professionals, with a belief that patients will not accept the same.

Aims & Objectives: To explore the acceptability and perception of patients towards various psychiatric treatments, with specific focus on LAIs. Additionally the study aimed to compare the acceptability of various types of treatments including LAIs between patients with severe mental disorders (Psychotic disorders and Bipolar disorder) and those with Common mental disorders (Anxiety, neurotic and depressive disorders).