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BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhances treatment outcomes post-stroke. Feasibility and tolerability of high-definition (HD) tDCS (a technique that increases current focality and intensity) for consecutive weekdays as an adjuvant to behavioral treatment in a clinical population has not been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: To determine HD-tDCS feasibility outcomes: 1) ability to implement study as designed, 2) acceptability of repeated HD-tDCS administration to patients, and 3) preliminary efficacy. METHODS: Eight patients with chronic post-stroke aphasia participated in a randomized crossover trial with two arms: conventional sponge-based (CS) tDCS and HD-tDCS. Computerized anomia treatment was administered for five consecutive days during each treatment arm. RESULTS: Individualized modeling/targeting procedures and an 8-channel HD-tDCS device were developed. CS-tDCS and HD-tDCS were comparable in terms of implementation, acceptability, and outcomes. Naming accuracy and response time improved for both stimulation conditions. Change in accuracy of trained items was numerically higher (but not statistically significant) for HD-tDCS compared to CS-tDCS for most patients. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding feasibility, HD-tDCS treatment studies can be implemented when designed similarly to documented CS-tDCS studies. HD-tDCS is likely to be acceptable to patients and clinicians. Preliminary efficacy data suggest that HD-tDCS effects, using only 4 electrodes, are at least comparable to CS-tDCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of sexual intercourse frequency are informative for research on pregnancy, contraception, and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections; however, efficiently collecting data on this sensitive topic is complex. The purpose of this study was to determine whether retrospective recall of sexual intercourse frequency was consistent with information obtained through the use of prospective daily diary methods corresponding to the same time period in a diverse sample of women. A total of 185 women participated in a longitudinal, prospective cohort study of oral contraceptive users and 98 of these women provided complete information on sexual intercourse frequency on diaries (prospective) and postcards (retrospective). Linear mixed models were used to test for variation in response within categories of demographic and other variables. The mean number of days women had sexual intercourse per week was 1.5 days using prospective diary information versus 2.0 days when using 3-month retrospective recall ( p < 0.001). Mean differences for the various sociodemographic subgroups were positive for all groups indicating that women consistently reported a higher frequency of sexual intercourse on the retrospective postcards than they recorded on their prospective diaries; however, these mean differences did not vary significantly. If confirmed in other samples, the use of retrospective methods may be adequate to accurately collect data on sexual intercourse frequency-and may be preferable. Using only retrospective measurements could decrease study costs, the burden to participants, and have a higher response rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared personality risk factors and readiness to change drinking behavior among mandated and volunteer college students. The sample ( N = 583) completed three measures of motivation to change and personality risk factors at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months between 2011 and 2012. Linear mixed models were used to determine an association of continuous outcome variable(s) with covariates over time. Participants in the action stage had lower impulsivity scores. Gender was significant, with females showing the highest anxiety and lowest sensation seeking. The findings indicate a number of future directions to advance innovative alcohol intervention and treatment programs on college campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alcohol consumption and illicit drug use among college students are national public health concerns. Mandated students who have violated campus alcohol policies often are at higher risk for heavy drinking and illicit drug use. Purpose: This longitudinal study compared the effectiveness of the Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI) in decreasing alcohol consumption and illicit drug use, as well as the associated negative consequences among mandated students (Group 1) and voluntary students (Group 2). Methods: Eligible participants (436 voluntary, 147 mandated, N = 583) who agreed to be in the study received the BMI at baseline and again at 2 weeks, with boosters at 3 months and 6 months. Descriptive statistics, frequency tables and summary graphs were used to summarize the study variables in both groups. Results: Alcohol and drug use in both groups decreased between baseline and 6 months, with drug use in the mandated group declining to 10% by 6 months. The consequences, including blackouts, decreased significantly for both groups at baseline and 3 months, and then plateaued at 6 months. Conclusions: The results from this study showed that the BMI was effective in decreasing alcohol consumption and illegal drug use, along with the associated negative consequences, among freshman students and voluntary students who were mandated to attend the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: This study investigated high-risk drinking and polydrug use (PU) over 6 months for freshmen college students. Methods: The Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) brief motivational interviewing (BMI) intervention was implemented at a public university as a 3-year programme designed to reduce underage drinking among freshmen with a secondary focus on PU. Participants were 299 freshmen from a state-supported university. Participants attended baseline visit, 2-week, 3- and 6-month visits. Analysis: Paired t-tests were used to determine the differences between alcohol consumption at different time points. McNemar's test was used to compare correlated proportions. Results: At the baseline, 30% of the participants were drinking and using illicit drugs, compared with 25% at the sixth month visit. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a decrease in alcohol consumption will also reduce the probability of PU. These findings can assist in developing health professional strategies for effective use of BMI interventions aimed at alcohol and PU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This longitudinal pilot study investigated the effectiveness of a Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI) in decreasing the quantity and frequency of high-risk drinking and associated negative consequences for freshmen. The treatment effects of the intervention (n = 110) were obtained using a quasi-experimental design. Alcohol consumption and risk behaviors were assessed for the intervention and the control group. Freshmen students who received the intervention reported a greater decrease in alcohol consumption and negative consequences than freshmen students assigned to the control group. This study supported the effectiveness of the BASICS BMI intervention for freshmen students with high-risk drinking behaviors. This pilot study has implications for the sustainability of the intervention for freshmen students and supports further research for the remaining 2-year intervention program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]