The bidirectional relationship between pain and tobacco use: Insights from the longitudinal Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study.

Background: Tobacco smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death, whereas chronic pain is the leading cause of disability. Chronic pain and tobacco smoking are closely interrelated. We investigated whether pain predicts daily cigarette smoking and if daily cigarette smoking predicts the development of pain.

Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies.

The current opioid crisis has had an unprecedented public health impact. Approved medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) exist, yet their limitations indicate a need for innovative treatments. Limited preliminary clinical studies suggest specific psychedelics might aid OUD treatment, though most clinical evidence remains observational, with few controlled trials.

The potential of non-psychedelic 5-HT2A agents in the treatment of substance use disorders: a narrative review of the clinical literature.

Introduction: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a public health issue, with only some having FDA-approved indicated treatments and these having high attrition. Consequently, there has been interest in novel interventions (e.g.

Stability and Reliability of Repeated Plasma Pregnenolone Levels After Oral Pregnenolone Dosing in Individuals with Cocaine Use Disorder: Pilot Findings.

Substance use disorders (SUDs), including cocaine use disorder (CUD), have significant negative health risks and impose a substantial social burden, yet effective treatments are limited. Pregnenolone, a neuroactive steroid precursor, has been shown to reduce alcohol craving and normalize stress biology in individuals with CUD, but its clinical utility has been questioned due to limited data on bioavailability and the stability of blood levels in humans. Thus, this pilot study aimed to determine whether twice-daily oral pregnenolone (PREG) at 300 mg/day and 500 mg/day versus placebo in week two of PREG administration led to stable increased plasma pregnenolone levels in individuals with CUD.

Effect of estradiol with or without micronized progesterone on cholinergic-related cognitive performance in postmenopausal women.

Introduction: Women are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the decline in estrogens post-menopause is thought of as a factor increasing this risk. Estradiol (E2) is important in supporting cholinergic neuronal integrity, and cholinergic functioning may be negatively impacted following the loss of E2 post-menopause. The use of exogenous E2 has been observed to enhance cholinergically mediated cognitive performance in healthy post-menopausal women, which indicates a potentially protective mechanism.

A preliminary investigation of the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on pain and opioid attentional bias among persons with opioid use disorder.

Introduction: Attentional bias (AB) is believed to be an important factor in the development and maintenance of both opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain. Cannabis and its main psychoactive constituent, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), produce analgesic effects via processes that are potentially relevant to AB and is commonly used by persons with OUD. This exploratory study investigated if THC influences AB towards pain and opioid cues individuals with OUD.

Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis Through the Predictive Coding Framework.

Psychological treatments for persecutory delusions, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis, are efficacious; however, mechanistic theories explaining why they work rarely bridge to the level of cognitive neuroscience. Predictive coding, a general brain processing theory rooted in cognitive and computational neuroscience, has increasing experimental support for explaining symptoms of psychosis, including the formation and maintenance of delusions. Here, we describe recent advances in cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis-based psychotherapy for persecutory delusions, which targets specific psychological processes at the computational level of information processing.

Glial modulators as novel therapeutics for comorbid pain and opioid use disorder.

Chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) are major public health problems, with rising opioid-related overdose deaths linked to increased opioid prescriptions for pain management. Novel treatment approaches for these commonly comorbid disorders are needed. Growing evidence supports a role for glial activation for both chronic pain and substance use disorders, including OUD.

A review of the kappa opioid receptor system in opioid use.

The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system is implicated in dysphoria and as an "anti-reward system" during withdrawal from opioids. However, no clear consensus has been made in the field, as mixed findings have been reported regarding the relationship between the KOR system and opioid use. This review summarizes the studies to date on the KOR system and opioids.

Alcohol Use Disorder and Chronic Pain: An Overlooked Epidemic.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and chronic pain disorders are pervasive, multifaceted medical conditions that often co-occur. However, their comorbidity is often overlooked, despite its prevalence and clinical relevance. Individuals with AUD are more likely to experience chronic pain than the general population.

From taboo to treatment: The emergence of psychedelics in the management of pain and opioid use disorder.

The rise of psychedelics in contemporary medicine has sparked interest in their potential therapeutic applications. While traditionally associated with countercultural movements and recreational use, recent research has shed light on the potential benefits of psychedelics in various mental health conditions. In this review, we explore the possible role of psychedelics in the management of chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD), 2 critical areas in need of innovative treatment options.

Nonmedical Use of Stimulants Among Students in Jordan: A Nationwide Study.

Objectives: Nonmedical use (NMU) of stimulants is an increasingly common phenomenon worldwide. Motivated by enhancing academic performance, peer pressure, and seeking pleasure, students in the Middle East are thought to be a high-risk population. This is especially important in times when the political instability in the region facilitates the production and trafficking of such substances.

Substance use and spine density: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies.

The elucidation of synaptic density changes provides valuable insights into the underlying brain mechanisms of substance use. In preclinical studies, synaptic density markers, like spine density, are altered by substances of abuse (e.g.

Assessing pain in persons with opioid use disorder: Approaches, techniques and special considerations.

Pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) are inextricably linked, as the former can be a risk factor for the development of the latter, and over a third of persons with OUD suffer concomitant chronic pain. Assessing pain among people with OUD is challenging, because ongoing opioid use brings changes in pain responses and most pain assessment tools have not been validated for this population. In this narrative review, we discuss the fundamentals of pain assessment for populations with OUD.

Investigating the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder among Jordanian adults with dermatologic and cosmetic concerns: a case-control study.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is an underexplored psychiatric condition in Middle Eastern countries, particularly in patients with dermatologic concerns, where alterations in appearance may elevate the risk of BDD. We studied patients at Jordan University Hospital's general dermatology and cosmetic clinics from July to September 2022, comparing them to healthy controls. Patients with dermatologic conditions were evaluated per the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) criteria by trained dermatologists.

Serotonergic Psychedelics: A Comparative Review of Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Binding Profile.

Psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), DMT (N,N -dimethyltryptamine), and 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), all of which are serotonin 2A receptor agonists, are being investigated as potential treatments. This review aims to summarize the current clinical research on these 4 compounds and mescaline to guide future research. Their mechanism(s) of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety were reviewed.