Inhibitory control dysfunction is regarded as a core feature in addicts.The major objective of this study was to explore the time course of response inhibition in chronic heroin addicts and provide the neurophysiologi...Inhibitory control dysfunction is regarded as a core feature in addicts.The major objective of this study was to explore the time course of response inhibition in chronic heroin addicts and provide the neurophysiological evidence of their inhibitory control dysfunction.The amplitudes and latencies of ERP components were studied in fourteen heroin addicts(mean duration of heroin use being(13.54±5.71) years(Mean±SD),average abstinence being((4.67±6.44) months)) and fourteen matched healthy controls with a visual Go/Nogo task.Our results showed that heroin addicts demonstrated significantly larger Go-N2 amplitudes which results in a decreased N2 Go/Nogo effect,but no statistically significant differences were found between heroin addicts and controls in P3.The ERP data suggest that fronto-central areas of heroin addicts were impaired during the inhibition process(200-300 ms) and over-activated to targets.The impaired early process might reflect an abnormal conflict monitoring process in heroin addicts.These results consolidate the inhibitory control dysfunction hypothesis in chronic heroin users.展开更多
Far from the financial gains of cyber crooks, the informed observer will see in cyber crookery a complex field of psychopathological expression where addictions and ritualistic practices intermingle. We thus carried o...Far from the financial gains of cyber crooks, the informed observer will see in cyber crookery a complex field of psychopathological expression where addictions and ritualistic practices intermingle. We thus carried out a qualitative observational study, focusing on a young Ivorian cyber-escroc, hard drug user and follower of mystical practices taken in charge by a multidisciplinary team during a resocialization course for children in conflict with the law from November to December 2022. The aim was to describe the difficulties experienced by a young Ivorian cyber crook in escaping the clutches of occult practices, internet addictions and psychoactive substances encountered in the field of cyber crookery. KA is confronted with the problem of cybercrime associated with occult practices and drug addiction. He is a heroin addict and secondary internet addict, undergoing de facto detoxification and presenting risky consumption behaviors. His fear is fuelled by the sudden death of his childhood friend, who introduced him to cyber-scams and occult practices, and the impossibility of returning his “Agbaladai” fetish when he can no longer honor the weekly sacrifices. Our results show an interweaving of psychopathological entities, namely cyberaddiction and addiction to psychoactive substances, against a backdrop of mystico-cultural practices and interpretations.展开更多
Previous research using functional MRI has shown that specific brain regions associated with drug dependence and cue-elicited heroin craving are activated by environmental cues. Craving is an important trigger of hero...Previous research using functional MRI has shown that specific brain regions associated with drug dependence and cue-elicited heroin craving are activated by environmental cues. Craving is an important trigger of heroin relapse, and acupuncture may inhibit craving. In this study, we performed functional MRI in heroin addicts and control subjects. We compared differences in brain activation between the two groups during heroin cue exposure, heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the Zusanli point （ST36） without twirling of the needle, and heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the Zusanli point with twirling of the needle. Heroin cue exposure elicited significant activation in craving-related brain regions mainly in the frontal lobes and callosal gyri. Acupuncture without twirling did not significantly affect the range of brain activation induced by heroin cue exposure, but significantly changed the extent of the activation in the heroin addicts group. Acupuncture at the Zusanli point with twirling of the needle significantly decreased both the range and extent of activation induced by heroin cue exposure compared with heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture without twirling of the needle. These experimental findings indicate that presentation of heroin cues can induce activation in craving-related brain regions, which are involved in reward, learning and memory, cognition and emotion. Acupuncture at the Zusanli point can rapidly suppress the activation of specific brain regions related to craving, supporting its potential as an intervention for drug craving.展开更多
Quality of life (QoL) is an important measure to verify the effectiveness of therapy in substance use disorders (SUD). In this cross-sectional, multicenter study QoL has been measured in 1057 heroin dependents attendi...Quality of life (QoL) is an important measure to verify the effectiveness of therapy in substance use disorders (SUD). In this cross-sectional, multicenter study QoL has been measured in 1057 heroin dependents attending SerDs (“Servizi per le Dipendenze”, Italian National Health System Services for Addictions) and has been correlated with demographic variables and drug treatment. QoL has been measured by using GHQ-12 (12-item General Health Questionnaire), a self-administered questionnaire whose value is inversely correlated with the QoL. The median value of GHQ-12 in the study population was 12 (interquartile range [IQ] 9 - 18): 640 patients (60.6%) scored 20 points at the GHQ-12, which relates with a bad QoL. Female population showed higher GHQ12 scores when compared to male population (14 [IQ 9 - 19] vs. 12 [IQ 9 - 17], p = 0.03). Similarly, unemployed patients showed higher GHQ12 scores when compared to employed patients (15 [IQ 10 - 20] vs. 12 [IQ 8 - 16], p 20. Results show that most of patients receiving care for heroin dependence at SerDs have a positive assessment of their quality of life, and that being unemployed and having a dual diagnosis are predictors of poor QoL. Besides, data suggest that assuming buprenorphine could be a protective factor for QoL.展开更多
Introduction: Opioid use is a public health problem today. The aim of this study was to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, judicial aspects, addictive behaviours and medical aspects of heroin users placed...Introduction: Opioid use is a public health problem today. The aim of this study was to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, judicial aspects, addictive behaviours and medical aspects of heroin users placed on methadone (HUM) at the Integrated Addiction Care Centre of Kodjoviakopé (CEPIAK). Framework and Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the CEPIAK in Lomé, Togo, from December 1st, 2020 to January 31, 2021. Results: A total of 200 HUM were included in this study. They were Togolese in 89.0% of cases. Their mean age was 43.4 ± 9.6 years with extremes ranging from 16 to 66 years. Males accounted for 90.5% of the HUM, i.e. a sex ratio of 9.5. Primary education accounted for 39.0% of cases. Single people accounted for 44.0% of cases. One hundred and nineteen HUM (59.5%) had a history of incarceration. Cannabis, tobacco and cocaine were the other drugs associated with heroin use in 79.5%, 74.5% and 59.5% of cases respectively. A history of overdose accounted for 18.0% of the HUM in our sample. Suicide attempts accounted for 19.5% of the HUM. Tuberculosis was detected in 5.5% of the HUM. HIV accounted for 3.0% of the HUM. Conclusion: It is important for the Togolese health system to give more importance to this issue, which is shared by the medical and social sectors, in order to effectively reduce and prevent these social ills.展开更多
Objective:To study the mental health status of heroin addicts and their need for psychotherapy after detoxification. Methods:The mental health of 83 heroin addicts and 70 normal subjects were assessed by SCL-90, Socia...Objective:To study the mental health status of heroin addicts and their need for psychotherapy after detoxification. Methods:The mental health of 83 heroin addicts and 70 normal subjects were assessed by SCL-90, Social Support Rating Scale , EPQ, SAS and SDS. Results:As compared to normal controls, heroin additions were found to score higher on various mental health measures, including SCL-90 total and factor scores, the N score of EPQ, as well as total scores on SAS and SDS. The social support in heroin addicts scored lower than normal subjects. Conclusion:Heroin addicts have severe psychological problems, which warrant long-term psychological rehabilitation after detoxification.展开更多
基金Supported by Beijing Bureau of Reeducation-through-laber Administration (Grant NO. 2006021515)
文摘Inhibitory control dysfunction is regarded as a core feature in addicts.The major objective of this study was to explore the time course of response inhibition in chronic heroin addicts and provide the neurophysiological evidence of their inhibitory control dysfunction.The amplitudes and latencies of ERP components were studied in fourteen heroin addicts(mean duration of heroin use being(13.54±5.71) years(Mean±SD),average abstinence being((4.67±6.44) months)) and fourteen matched healthy controls with a visual Go/Nogo task.Our results showed that heroin addicts demonstrated significantly larger Go-N2 amplitudes which results in a decreased N2 Go/Nogo effect,but no statistically significant differences were found between heroin addicts and controls in P3.The ERP data suggest that fronto-central areas of heroin addicts were impaired during the inhibition process(200-300 ms) and over-activated to targets.The impaired early process might reflect an abnormal conflict monitoring process in heroin addicts.These results consolidate the inhibitory control dysfunction hypothesis in chronic heroin users.
文摘Far from the financial gains of cyber crooks, the informed observer will see in cyber crookery a complex field of psychopathological expression where addictions and ritualistic practices intermingle. We thus carried out a qualitative observational study, focusing on a young Ivorian cyber-escroc, hard drug user and follower of mystical practices taken in charge by a multidisciplinary team during a resocialization course for children in conflict with the law from November to December 2022. The aim was to describe the difficulties experienced by a young Ivorian cyber crook in escaping the clutches of occult practices, internet addictions and psychoactive substances encountered in the field of cyber crookery. KA is confronted with the problem of cybercrime associated with occult practices and drug addiction. He is a heroin addict and secondary internet addict, undergoing de facto detoxification and presenting risky consumption behaviors. His fear is fuelled by the sudden death of his childhood friend, who introduced him to cyber-scams and occult practices, and the impossibility of returning his “Agbaladai” fetish when he can no longer honor the weekly sacrifices. Our results show an interweaving of psychopathological entities, namely cyberaddiction and addiction to psychoactive substances, against a backdrop of mystico-cultural practices and interpretations.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No. 2011zr001Athe Key Project for Science and Technology of Anhui Province, No. 07010302205
文摘Previous research using functional MRI has shown that specific brain regions associated with drug dependence and cue-elicited heroin craving are activated by environmental cues. Craving is an important trigger of heroin relapse, and acupuncture may inhibit craving. In this study, we performed functional MRI in heroin addicts and control subjects. We compared differences in brain activation between the two groups during heroin cue exposure, heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the Zusanli point （ST36） without twirling of the needle, and heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the Zusanli point with twirling of the needle. Heroin cue exposure elicited significant activation in craving-related brain regions mainly in the frontal lobes and callosal gyri. Acupuncture without twirling did not significantly affect the range of brain activation induced by heroin cue exposure, but significantly changed the extent of the activation in the heroin addicts group. Acupuncture at the Zusanli point with twirling of the needle significantly decreased both the range and extent of activation induced by heroin cue exposure compared with heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture without twirling of the needle. These experimental findings indicate that presentation of heroin cues can induce activation in craving-related brain regions, which are involved in reward, learning and memory, cognition and emotion. Acupuncture at the Zusanli point can rapidly suppress the activation of specific brain regions related to craving, supporting its potential as an intervention for drug craving.
文摘Quality of life (QoL) is an important measure to verify the effectiveness of therapy in substance use disorders (SUD). In this cross-sectional, multicenter study QoL has been measured in 1057 heroin dependents attending SerDs (“Servizi per le Dipendenze”, Italian National Health System Services for Addictions) and has been correlated with demographic variables and drug treatment. QoL has been measured by using GHQ-12 (12-item General Health Questionnaire), a self-administered questionnaire whose value is inversely correlated with the QoL. The median value of GHQ-12 in the study population was 12 (interquartile range [IQ] 9 - 18): 640 patients (60.6%) scored 20 points at the GHQ-12, which relates with a bad QoL. Female population showed higher GHQ12 scores when compared to male population (14 [IQ 9 - 19] vs. 12 [IQ 9 - 17], p = 0.03). Similarly, unemployed patients showed higher GHQ12 scores when compared to employed patients (15 [IQ 10 - 20] vs. 12 [IQ 8 - 16], p 20. Results show that most of patients receiving care for heroin dependence at SerDs have a positive assessment of their quality of life, and that being unemployed and having a dual diagnosis are predictors of poor QoL. Besides, data suggest that assuming buprenorphine could be a protective factor for QoL.
文摘Introduction: Opioid use is a public health problem today. The aim of this study was to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, judicial aspects, addictive behaviours and medical aspects of heroin users placed on methadone (HUM) at the Integrated Addiction Care Centre of Kodjoviakopé (CEPIAK). Framework and Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the CEPIAK in Lomé, Togo, from December 1st, 2020 to January 31, 2021. Results: A total of 200 HUM were included in this study. They were Togolese in 89.0% of cases. Their mean age was 43.4 ± 9.6 years with extremes ranging from 16 to 66 years. Males accounted for 90.5% of the HUM, i.e. a sex ratio of 9.5. Primary education accounted for 39.0% of cases. Single people accounted for 44.0% of cases. One hundred and nineteen HUM (59.5%) had a history of incarceration. Cannabis, tobacco and cocaine were the other drugs associated with heroin use in 79.5%, 74.5% and 59.5% of cases respectively. A history of overdose accounted for 18.0% of the HUM in our sample. Suicide attempts accounted for 19.5% of the HUM. Tuberculosis was detected in 5.5% of the HUM. HIV accounted for 3.0% of the HUM. Conclusion: It is important for the Togolese health system to give more importance to this issue, which is shared by the medical and social sectors, in order to effectively reduce and prevent these social ills.
文摘Objective:To study the mental health status of heroin addicts and their need for psychotherapy after detoxification. Methods:The mental health of 83 heroin addicts and 70 normal subjects were assessed by SCL-90, Social Support Rating Scale , EPQ, SAS and SDS. Results:As compared to normal controls, heroin additions were found to score higher on various mental health measures, including SCL-90 total and factor scores, the N score of EPQ, as well as total scores on SAS and SDS. The social support in heroin addicts scored lower than normal subjects. Conclusion:Heroin addicts have severe psychological problems, which warrant long-term psychological rehabilitation after detoxification.
