Validation of an ultra-short global quality of life scale in a large population-based health survey.

Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) assessment is essential in health-related research and clinical settings, offering insights into individuals' well-being and functioning. This study validated the Essential QoL-3 (EQoL-3), an ultra-short scale assessing essential dimensions of QoL, for use in epidemiological research and clinical settings.

Methods: Data from a 2021 national survey in Norway (N = 17,487) were used.

Adverse childhood experiences and impact on quality of life in adulthood: development and validation of a short difficult childhood questionnaire in a large population-based health survey.

Purpose: A short adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) measure is needed with non-intrusive items that include subjective evaluations of childhood. We validated a short Difficult Childhood Questionnaire (DCQ) that assesses ACEs using personal perceptions of events.

Methods: The study relied on 2019 data from a representative survey (N = 28,047) in Norway.

Internet searches for opioids predict future emergency department heroin admissions.

Background: For a number of fiscal and practical reasons, data on heroin use have been of poor quality, which has hampered the ability to halt the growing epidemic. Internet search data, such as those made available by Google Trends, have been used as a low-cost, real-time data source for monitoring and predicting a variety of public health outcomes. We aimed to determine whether data on opioid-related internet searches might predict future heroin-related admissions to emergency departments (ED).

Al-Anon newcomers: benefits of continuing attendance for six months.

Background: Al-Anon Family Groups, a 12-step mutual-help program for people concerned about another person's drinking, is the most widely used form of help by Concerned Others.

Objectives: This longitudinal study examined newcomers' outcomes of attending Al-Anon. Aims were to better understand early gains from Al-Anon to inform efforts in the professional community to facilitate concerned others' attendance of and engagement in Al-Anon.

Building the first step: a review of low-intensity interventions for stepped care.

Within the last 30 years, a substantial number of interventions for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) have received empirical support. Nevertheless, fewer than 25% of individuals with alcohol-related problems access these interventions. If several intensive psychosocial treatments are relatively effective, but most individuals in need do not access them, it seems logical to place a priority on developing more engaging interventions.

Treatment, alcoholics anonymous, and 16-year changes in impulsivity and legal problems among men and women with alcohol use disorders.

Objective: The link between impulsive personality traits and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is well established. No studies, however, have investigated whether receipt of help for AUDs predicts change in impulsivity or whether such change is associated with relevant outcomes such as legal problems. The present study examined predictive associations between the duration of help for AUDs (Alcoholics Anonymous [AA], professional treatment) and impulsivity and legal problems over 16 years in men and women with AUDs.

Influence of subject eligibility criteria on compliance with National Institutes of Health guidelines for inclusion of women, minorities, and children in treatment research.

Background: Many alcohol treatment outcome studies exclude some patients with particular problems, such as psychiatric disorders, noncompliance, and homelessness. Such criteria may increase the likelihood of a study being successfully conducted, but may also have the unintended consequence of reducing a study's ability to comply with National Institutes of Health guidelines for inclusion of racial minorities, women, and children in treatment research.

Methods And Results: This paper examined this issue empirically using 5 prior studies of treatment systems enrolling over 100,000 alcohol patients.

Can targeting nondependent problem drinkers and providing internet-based services expand access to assistance for alcohol problems? A study of the moderation management self-help/mutual aid organization.

Objective: Moderation Management (MM) is the only alcohol self-help organization to target nondependent problem drinkers and to allow moderate drinking goals. This study evaluated whether MM drew into assistance an untapped segment of the population with nondependent alcohol problems. It also examined how access to the organization was influenced by the provision of Internet-based resources.