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Background and aims Examination of longitudinal relationships between childhood traumatic experiences and drug use across the life-course at the national level, with control of confounding by other forms of trauma, is needed. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of nine typologies of childhood traumas and the cumulative number experienced, correlation between traumas and associations between individual and cumulative number of traumas with drug use during adolescence, emerging adulthood and adulthood. Design Secondary data analysis using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Setting United States. Participants A nationally representative sample of individuals in grades 7-12 (aged 11-21 years) during 1994-95, who were re-interviewed during emerging adulthood (2001-02; aged 18-28) and adulthood (2007-08; aged 24-34). The analytical sample comprised 12 288 participants with data at all three waves. Measurements Nine typologies of childhood traumas: neglect; emotional, physical and sexual abuse; parental incarceration and binge drinking; and witnessing, being threatened with and experiencing violence. Indicators of each were summed to measure cumulative dose. Outcomes were marijuana and cocaine use during adolescence, emerging adulthood and adulthood. Findings Approximately half experienced at least one childhood trauma; traumas were not highly correlated. We observed a dose-response relationship between the number of traumas and drug use in adolescence [marijuana, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) one trauma versus none = 1.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.42, 1.92; two traumas = 2.58, 95% CI = 2.17, 3.06; ≥ four traumas = 6.92, 95% CI = 5.17, 9.26; cocaine, aOR one trauma = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.23, 2.84; two traumas = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.74, 4.51; ≥ four traumas = 9.54, 95% CI = 5.93, 15.38]. Similar dose-response relationships with drug use were observed in emerging adulthood and adulthood. Each individual trauma was associated independently with either marijuana or cocaine use in adolescence, emerging adulthood and/or adulthood. Conclusions Childhood trauma is prevalent in the United States, and individual types as well as the total number experienced are associated significantly with marijuana and cocaine use throughout the life-course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between religious fundamentalism, humor, and psychological well-being was examined with a sample of individuals (n=109) being treated for drug abuse in a court-mandated AA outpatient program. Three separate factors of religious fundamentalism were found through exploratory factor analysis of the Revised Religious Fundamentalism Scale, and these were named Righteous-Evil Worldview, True Religion, and Scriptural Literalism. Psychological well-being of individuals in court-mandated outpatient substance abuse treatment was found to be correlated with high levels of humor but not religious fundamentalism. Psychological well-being and humor were found to be related to satisfaction with services; no relationship was found between religious fundamentalism and satisfaction with services. One factor of religious fundamentalism, Scriptural Literalism, was found to be associated with high levels of depression and paranoia/hostility. Implications of these relationships for treatment and understanding of religious fundamentalism and psychological well-being are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents may engage in risk behaviors to cope with the negative psychological impacts resulting from exposure to political violence. Guided by the Deterioration Deterrence Model and General Strain Theory, the present study assessed the mediating role of school support and posttraumatic stress (PTS) on two adolescent risk behaviors (i.e., school violence and drug use) among Arab and Jewish Israeli adolescents. We analyzed data from a nationally representative survey that consisted of 4,733 Israeli high school students (54.5% females; 63.2% Jewish) following the Second Lebanon War. Structural equation modeling using weighted data bootstrapped with 2,000 iterations evaluated the mediated effects of school support and PTS. The results showed that both school support and PTS mediated the pathways from political violence exposure to school violence and drug use. However, although school support and PTS fully mediated the relationship between political violence exposure and these risk behaviors for Jewish students, school support and PTS only partially mediated the relationships for Arab students. While school support can help decrease the detrimental effect of exposure to terrorism and war, Israeli adolescents exposed to more political violence may perceive receiving less school support than those experiencing less exposure. Findings of this study provide evidence for the theorized mediated pathways between political violence exposure and adolescent risk behaviors by PTS and school support. The study serves as a basis for future research that can unpack the relationship between exposure to political violence and adolescent risk-taking behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many studies have examined factors associated with the first onset of cannabis use and abuse. Currently, there is relatively little research regarding conditions under which cannabis dependence is more likely to emerge. Although previous studies have examined different potential determinants of cannabis dependence, to our knowledge, a systematic review is lacking. Aims: The study aims to identify recent findings regarding psychosocial determinants of cannabis dependence and to summarize them systematically. Methods: A literature search in 4 databases - Embase, Medline, PsycINFO and PSYNDEX - was conducted. Searches were limited to publications between 2000 and April 2014, English and German as languages and humans as study subjects. Results: Our search detected a total of 10,568 studies. Twenty-six studies finally met inclusion criteria. Consumption patterns such as a regular cannabis use independent of social context and an early onset of use (11-15 years) were correlates of cannabis dependence. Moreover, early reactions to cannabis use and coping-oriented use motives explained additional variance. Stress factors and critical life events such as parental separation and early parental death as well as mental and social conflicts have also been linked with development of cannabis dependence. Additionally, comorbid mental disorders correlated with cannabis dependence. Conclusion: Numerous factors were shown to have an impact on transition to cannabis dependence. In particular, a wide range of mental disorders has been linked to an elevated risk of becoming dependent. The development of a dependence syndrome seems to be associated with diverse processes, in which social, biological and intra-individual factors interact in a complex manner. Nevertheless, the link between cannabis dependence and predisposing factors could not be resolved convincingly by most studies due to methodological weaknesses regarding dependence crite [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined 25 male prisoners with a history of heroin dependency (M = 35.3 yr., SD = 8.5, range = 21-48) and 25 male prisoners with no history of substance abuse (M = 31.5 yr., SD = 9.8, range = 19-47) who were selected to complete the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Results showed that the group with a history of heroin dependency used a cognitive reappraisal strategy less frequently than controls and that there was no difference in the use of expression suppression strategies between the two groups. It was concluded that the negative impact of heroin abuse on an individual's emotion regulation is primarily reflected in the cognitive reappraisal dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drugs of abuse are known to reduce intake of a taste conditioned stimulus (conditional stimulus, CS), a behavioral response sometimes seen as paradoxical because the same drugs also serve as rewards in other behavioral procedures. In the present study we compared patterns of intake and palatability (assessed using microstructural analysis of licking) for a standard saccharin CS paired with the following: lithium chloride, morphine, amphetamine, or sucrose. We found that morphine and amphetamine, like lithium-induced illness, each suppressed CS intake and caused a reduction in saccharin palatability. Sucrose, a rewarding stimulus, did not reduce the palatability of the saccharin CS. We interpret these finds as evidence that drugs of abuse induce conditioned taste aversions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Counseling maintains a small yet growing presence in Jamaica as a profession. Practitioners are confronted with several societal problems. The authors provide a historical overview of Jamaica and a synopsis of the development of counseling. The emergence of counseling services through the limitations of psychiatry and psychology sets the stage for current practices and notable involvement of guidance counselors. It is concluded that the continued growth and effectiveness of counseling is dependent on overcoming negative attitudes and economic barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research project is to provide basic information regarding the use of substances and its behavioral consequences such as health problems and criminal offences. It is the first survey in Greece in the field of self-help groups. The main research instrument was a 55-item ques- tionnaire that was administered to members of NA and AA in the Greek cities of Athens, Thessaloniki, Serres, Nafplio, liaklio, and Katerini. This article presents an analysis of the answers given by the respondents to 12 of the 55 items of the questionnaire. It also includes a comparison of the relevant findings with data provided by the central organizations of AA and NA as well as by official therapeutic programs in Greece and by other researchers who have studied the same subject. More specifically, this article presents, examines and analyzes data which focuses on: (a) the age at which a substance was first used, (b) the time it took the individual respondents to acknowledge such use as a problem, (c) the main substance abused at the onset, (d) the main substance in use when the individuals approached the self-help group, (e) the existence or not of another individual with a substance abuse disorder in the immediate family, (1) possible health problems and (g) the entanglement or not with the penal justice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in developmental trajectories of physical violence, vandalism, theft, and alcohol-drug use from ages 10 to 15 were studied. For females and for males, three trajectories of theft and of alcohol-drug use increased from 10 years to 15 years, while only the high trajectory of vandalism increased from ten to 14. All trajectories of physical violence decreased. Children who engaged in the high trajectories of vandalism, theft, and alcohol-drug use had a high probability of also being high in physical violence. Compared to males, females were less likely to be on the high trajectory of physical violence, and their trajectories of other antisocial behaviors were less strongly associated with high levels of physical violence. The results suggest that physical violence during pre-adolescence and adolescence has a different developmental pattern than other forms of antisocial behavior, and that its relation to these other forms of antisocial behavior differs by sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is conflicting data on drug abuse and outcome in severe mental illness. This study aims to investigate if the amount of illicit psychoactive drug use is related to symptom load or premorbid functioning across diagnosis in patients with severe mental illness. Method: Symptom load, sociodemographic status, premorbid functioning and the level of use of illicit psychoactive drugs were assessed in 423 subjects with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in a cross-sectional study. Results: High amount of illicit drug use was associated with poorer premorbid academic functioning. In schizophrenia, there was a significant positive association between amount of drug use and severity of psychiatric symptoms. The association between symptom load and drug use was significant after controlling for premorbid functioning. Conclusion: The results suggest a direct association between the quantity of current drug use and more severe symptoms in schizophrenia. Poor premorbid functioning was related to high amount of use, but did not explain the difference in symptom load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cannabis use increases the risk for psychosis, but psychotogenic effects of cannabis may be restricted to exposure during early adolescence. Method: Four hundred and seventy-two participants (aged 12–23 years), randomly selected from the general population in Trinidad, completed questionnaires on past and current cannabis use and psychotic symptoms (using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences). Results: Cannabis use increased the risk of experiencing psychotic symptoms and this effect was conditional on early exposure, defined around the mean age of onset of cannabis use. Thus, exposure before but not after the age of 14 years predicted psychotic symptoms (respectively β: 0.71, 95% CI 0.22; 1.19, P = 0.004 and β: −0.11, 95% CI −0.57; 0.36, P = 0.66). The developmental effect of cannabis use was independent of use of other drugs or current use of cannabis. Conclusion: Early adolescence may be a critical period with regard to the psychotogenic effect of cannabis across geographical settings and ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on neurobehavior disinhibition (ND) trait. ND consists of behavior, affect, and cognitive indicators of self regulation. The psychometric properties of the ND trait was evaluated in 278 boys at ages 10 - 12 and 16 years. The authors discuss the ND trait indicators which measures the executive cognitive function (ECF), behavior control, and emotion regulation. They reveal that the ND score predicted SUD and results that manifest SUD by age 19 like violence,committing crime while intoxicated, and concussion injury. The usefulness of ND trait for detecting youth at high risk for SUD development and related results is also presented.

Aim To discuss the contributions and future course of the psychological science of addiction. Background The psychology of addiction includes a tremendous range of scientific activity, from the basic experimental laboratory through increasingly broad relational contexts, including patient–practitioner interactions, families, social networks, institutional settings, economics and culture. Some of the contributions discussed here include applications of behavioral principles, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience and the development and evaluation of addiction treatment. Psychology has at times been guilty of proliferating theories with relatively little pruning, and of overemphasizing intrapersonal explanations for human behavior. However, at its best, defined as the science of the individual in context, psychology is an integrated discipline using diverse methods well-suited to capture the multi-dimensional nature of addictive behavior. Conclusions Psychology has a unique ability to integrate basic experimental and applied clinical science and to apply the knowledge gained from multiple levels of analysis to the pragmatic goal of reducing the prevalence of addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the relationship between religiousness and alcohol use of adolescents. Categories of variables related to alcohol use; Utilization of data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988; Impact of religiousness on substance use.

Migraine patients abusing ergotamine often have chronic daily headaches associated with tiredness, sleep and memory disturbances, and reduced general well-being. We quantified psychological and cognitive functioning in 12 migraine patients with and 12 without ergotamine abuse (> or = 5 days/week for > or = 6 months) and 12 healthy controls. Psychological functioning assessed by Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and Profile Of Mood State (POMS), was impaired in ergotamine abusers compared to healthy controls. Cognitive functioning divided into four domains: attention (critical flicker frequency analysis and mental control subscale of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), speed of information processing (reaction time tasks and lexical decision tasks), memory (four subscales of the WMS) and cognitive flexibility (trailmaking test and WMS digits backwards), was impaired in ergotamine abusers in speed of information processing and cognitive flexibility. These differences disappeared after correction for total SCL-90 scores. In conclusion, ergotamine abuse is associated with high psychological distress but not with structural impaired cognitive functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The present study examined the acute behavioral effects and abuse potential of three drugs commonly used to treat sleep disorders, trazodone, zolpidem and triazolam, and placebo in ten male volunteers with histories of alcohol and drug 'abuse. Trazodone (100, 200 and 300 mg), a triazolopyridine antidepressant, was included because antidepressants are being used more frequently to treat sleep disorders, but it is unclear whether they have a distinct behavioral pharmacologic profile relative to benzodiazepine hypnotics. Zolpidem (15, 30 and 45 mg), an imidazopyridine hypnotic, was tested because it is the most commonly prescribed hypnotic and purportedly has a unique benzodiazepine-receptor binding profile. Triazolam (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 mg), a triazolobenzodiazepine hypnotic, was included as the standard component because previous laboratory studies have demonstrated that it has at least some abuse potential. Trazodone, zolpidem and triazolam generally produced comparable dose-related increases in scores on the PCAG scale of the ARCI, which suggests the doses tested were equivalent on some behavioral dimension. The effects of trazodone on subject-rated items thought to measure abuse potential (e.g., subject ratings of Willing to Take Again) were less than those observed with triazolam. Zolpidem and triazolam produced comparable effects on these measures. The highest dose of zolpidem, but not triazolam, increased ratings of Like Drug, Happy, Good Effects, Friendly, Elated, Carefree and Bad Effects. Triazolam and zolpidem produced dose-dependent impairment on all of the performance tasks. Trazodone impaired performance on some, but not all, of these tasks. Consistent with the pharmacokinetics of these compounds, the time-action functions of trazodone, zolpidem and triazolam were similar on these measures.... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Set against a background of assumptions that heroin use is inevitably problematic, there is significant evidence of its controlled use. This paper attempts to draw together the literature on patterns of heroin use which avoid physical and psychological dependence. However, studies of such patterns of use are hampered by the absence of a common definition. 'Occasional' use, 'recreational' use and 'controlled' use have been used interchangeably. Moreover, these terms have been defined variously by frequency of use, quantities of heroin used and consequences of such use. Nonetheless, these studies suggest that patterns of heroin use which avoid physical and psychological dependence do exist. However there is a paucity of research on non-dependent patterns of use. Potential issues f or future research are accordingly outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the conceptual and empirical foundations of individual drug use stage development and progression related to tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Limitations of a majority of stage conceptualizations; Research as supportive to the existence of intra-drug use stages of acquisition for cigarettes and other drugs.

Presents an abstract of the research `Behavioral Indices of Food Craving: A Potential Model for Drug Craving,' by T.J. Zarcone, R.D. Hienz and J.V. Brady presented at the annual meeting of the Pavlovian Society held in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 14-16, 1996.