Search

The identification of variables that can modulate the efficacy of cue exposure using virtual reality (VR) is crucial. This study aimed to explore determinant variables of cue-elicited alcohol craving and perceived realism (PR) of environments and alcoholic beverages during a VR cue-exposure session among alcohol use disorder (AUD) outpatients. A prospective cohort study was conducted amongst 72 outpatients with AUD from a clinical setting. Alcohol craving experienced during VR exposure and PR of virtual environments and alcoholic drinks were evaluated after a VR session of exposure to alcohol-related contexts and cues. Sociodemographic, psychological and consumption characteristics were examined as possible predicting variables. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the AUD severity and PR of beverages were predictors of cue-elicited alcohol craving. Educational level, PR of beverages and age were predictors of the PR of VR environments. In relation to the PR of VR beverages, cue-elicited alcohol craving and the PR of environments were predictors. A simple mediational model was also performed to analyze the influence of the PR of beverages on the relationship between the AUD severity and alcohol craving experienced during VR exposure: an indirect or mediational effect was found. PR of alcoholic beverages was (1) a key predictor of the PR of VR environments (and vice versa) and the alcohol craving (and vice versa) experienced during VR cue-exposure sessions using ALCO-VR software among AUD patients and (2) a mediator between AUD severity and cue-elicited alcohol craving.

Background/Objective: Determining the predictive variables associated with levels of alcohol craving can ease the identification of patients who can benefit from treatments. This study aimed to describe changes (improvement or no change/deterioration) in alcohol craving levels and explore the predictors of these changes from admission to discharge in outpatients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) undergoing treatment-as-usual (TAU), or treatment-as-usual supplemented with virtual reality cue-exposure therapy (TAU + VR-CET). Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted amongst 42 outpatients with AUD (n = 15 TAU + VR-CET and n = 27 TAU) from a clinical setting. Changes in the levels of alcohol craving between admission and discharge were assessed with the Multidimensional Alcohol Craving Scale. Sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education, and socioeconomic and civil status), cognitive-affective behavioral patterns (AUD severity, abstinence duration, psychiatric comorbidity, state anxiety, attentional bias, and substance use), and type of treatment (TAU + VR-CET and only TAU) were also evaluated. Results: The TAU + VR-CET group showed greater changes of improvement in the levels of alcohol craving than the TAU group (χ2 = 10.996; p = 0.001). Intragroup changes in alcohol craving from pre to post-treatment were significant in the TAU + VR-CET group (χ2 = 13.818; p = 0.003) but not within the TAU group (χ2 = 2.349; p = 0.503). The odds of an improvement in any of the craving levels between pre- and post-test was 18.18 (1/0.055) times higher in the TAU + VR-CET group with respect to the TAU group. The use of illicit drugs in the month prior to the test increased the odds of having a positive change by 18.18 (1/0.055) with respect to not having consumed. Conclusions: Including VR-CET in TAU programs may provide benefits in the treatment of AUDs mainly among patients with intense alcohol craving and individuals having used illicit substances prior to treatment This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, Delegation of the Government for the National Plan on Drugs (FEDER/EU/Project 2016I078: ALCO-VR: Virtual reality-based protocol for the treatment of patients diagnosed with severe alcohol use disorder). The study also received support from AGAUR, Generalitat de Catalunya, 2017SGR1693

This study is part of a larger project aiming to develop a virtual reality (VR) software to be implemented as a clinical tool for patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The study is based on previous research in which we identified factors that elicit craving for alcohol in a sample of AUD patients, and which led to the development of a virtual reality software to be used in cue exposure treatments of alcohol use disorder (ALCO-VR). The main objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of ALCO-VR to elicit cue-induced craving and anxiety responses among social drinkers (SD) and AUD patients. Our secondary objective was to explore which responses (cue-induced craving or anxiety) can best differentiate between AUD patients and the SD group. Method: Twenty-seven individuals (13 AUD patients and 14 SD) participated in this study after giving written informed consent. Their anxiety and alcohol craving levels were measured by different instruments at different stages of the procedure. The VR equipment consisted of Oculus Rift technology, and the software consisted of the ALCO-VR platform. Results: Our data indicate that the ALCO-VR software can elicit responses of anxiety and alcohol craving, especially in the group of AUD patients. The cue-induced anxiety response differentiated AUD patients and the SD group better than the cue-induced craving response. Conclusions: The general interest in applying new technologies to the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders has led to the development of immersive real-life simulations based on the advantages of VR technology. Our study concluded that the ALCO-VR software can elicit anxiety and craving responses and that cue-induced anxiety responses can distinguish between AUD and SD groups better than cue-induced craving. The data on craving and anxiety were assessed consistently by different instruments. In addition, we consider that ALCO-VR is able to ecologically assess cue-induced anxiety and alcohol craving levels during exposure to VR alcohol-related environment This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, Delegation of the Government for the National Plan on Drugs (FEDER/UE/Project 2016I078: “ALCO-VR: Virtual Reality-based protocol for the treatment of patients diagnosed with severe alcohol use disorder”). The study also received support from AGAUR, Generalitat de Catalunya, 2017SGR1693

El consumo de drogas y la participación deportiva podrían desempeñar un importante papel en la salud y en el desempeño profesional de futuros profesionales de la salud y el deporte. Sin embargo, existen opiniones contrapuestas sobre la relación entre el consumo de sustancias y la práctica deportiva en jóvenes. El objetivo era describir la relación existente entre el consumo de drogas y la participación deportiva en universitarios del ámbito de la salud y el deporte. Participaron 480 universitarios (43,7% chicas) entre 18 y 36 años. Se administró un autoinforme para evaluar el consumo de drogas (tabaco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaína, heroína, inhalantes volátiles, anfetaminas, alucinógenos), el policonsumo simultáneo y la participación en el deporte. Entre los no consumidores de tabaco, cannabis y policonsumo simultáneo, la práctica de algún deporte era más frecuente que entre los consumidores. Cuando se controló el efecto de la edad y el sexo dentro del modelo de regresión, la variable que mejor predijo la práctica deportiva era el consumo de cannabis hallando una relación negativa entre ambas variables. Estos resultados evidencian la importancia de integrar medidas preventivas frente al consumo de cannabis en los programas y grados universitarios dirigidos al fomento de la actividad deportiva y la salud.

Determining the predictive variables associated with cannabis use and cannabis-related problems can ease the identification of young cannabis consumers who can benefit from prevention interventions. This study aimed: (1) to describe, among university students, the cannabis use and cannabis-use problems, intention to use cannabis and family climate based on the gender and the people the student lives with; (2) to explore whether the family climate and intention to use cannabis are predictors of cannabis use and cannabis-related problems. The sample was composed of 339 Spanish undergraduates (51.9% females) in a 17-to-25 age range (19.67 ± 1.53). The variables were assessed through a battery based on the ESPAD survey, cannabis abuse screening test, cannabis use intention questionnaire and family climate scale. More men than women had used cannabis in the precedent year and showed greater intention to use cannabis, whereas more women than men showed greater self-efficacy in not using cannabis. The family climate did not predict cannabis use and cannabis-related problems. However, subjective norms and self-efficacy were key predictors of cannabis use and cannabis-use problems, respectively. Different factors seemed to predict the use cannabis in the past year versus cannabis-related problems, and these differences may help inform the development and delivery of preventative efforts.

Polydrug use among university students may be a predictor for established patterns of multiple substance use and potentially entail long-term health problems. This study examined the types of polydrug use among Spanish students in health sciences. Undergraduate students (n = 968), aged 18-38 years (M = 21.09 years, SD = 4.10), completed the survey. A percentage of 44.3% of the participants were classified as polydrug users. Type A users (alcohol and cigarettes) made up 17.8% of the participants surveyed, whereas 20.1% were Type B (cannabis with cigarettes and/or alcohol), and a further 5.7% were Type C (cannabis with cigarettes and/or alcohol, plus at least another kind of illegal drug). Type A was the most common type among women, whereas Type C was the most common among men. Type B use was higher among women 18-19 years old than among women 25-29 years old, whereas there were no female Type C users younger than 20 years old. Weekend consumption was higher, than weekday consumption, across all polydrug user types and substances. These results suggest that the prevalence of polydrug use among Spanish students in health sciences was similar to students in other disciplines, with Type B as the most prevalent among healthcare and nonhealthcare students. Taking into account the differences based on gender, age, and time of consumption, a specific approach to the different typologies of polydrug users might be a vital step in the successful development of preventive interventions tailored to the changing reality of psychoactive substance use.

En la actualidad se han evaluado numerosas intervenciones preventivas de drogodependencias en el medio escolar. Sin embargo, en España son pocos los estudios que analizan la influencia precisa de cada uno de los componentes específicos a los programas con el fin de determinar cuáles se consideran cruciales para el cambio de conducta de consumo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar los efectos de una nueva versión del programa de prevención del consumo de drogas Saluda en la que se prescinde del componente fomento del ocio saludable y las tareas para casa. Esta versión reducida fue dirigida a una muestra de 106 escolares (44.6 % chicos) entre 14 y 17 años (M = 15.20; DT = 0.92) de un centro de Educación Secundaria. Se trata de un estudio exploratorio de tipo cuasi experimental y un diseño pre-post de un único grupo. Se realizó diferencia de proporciones mediante la prueba Z y diferencia de medias mediante la prueba T para muestras relacionadas. Los resultados muestran una reducción en el porcentaje de episodios de embriaguez, así como un efecto de mejora significativa sobre las variables protectoras del consumo. Se discuten estos hallazgos y se realizan propuestas para la mejora de futuras intervenciones.

The purpose of this chapter is to describe the different types of polydrug use among adolescents and adults. The examination of the natural heterogeneity in the typologies of polydrug users may be a helpful strategy to understand the etiology and problematic use. Alcohol is present among almost all types of polydrug users. Alcohol and tobacco, followed by illegal drugs (marijuana in particular), are a combination frequently used by adolescents and young adults. The majority of studies focus either on specific populations or on specific substances, or even only on indicators of polydrug use. Few studies have provided apparent evidence concerning similar types of polysubstance use. Future studies should be based on participants from the general population, clarify the concept of polydrug use, examine wider ranges of drugs, and measure polysubstance use over time. Early preventive interventions are needed, which provide a polysubstance perspective required to avoid the initiation and maintenance of polydrug use.

The prevalence of polydrug use continues to grow among Spanish college students. The European Observatory for Drugs and Addictions establishes three different types of polydrug use: Pattern A (consumers of alcohol and tobacco), Pattern B (consumers of cannabis plus alcohol and/or tobacco) and Pattern C (consumers of cannabis plus alcohol plus tobacco plus at least one other kind of illegal drug). The objectives are: 1) to study the frequency of substance consumption among a sample of young Spanish undergradudates studying health and sports science according to their sex; 2) to describe the patterns of polydrug use; 3) to study the relationship between the polydrug use of the participants and polydrug use within their closest environment (parents, sisters or brothers, best friend and partner). The sample was composed of 480 Spanish undergraduates (43.7% females) aged 18 to 36. The level of drug consumption of students and their closest reference persons was evaluated by means of a self-report measure. A total of 46% of the participants reported consumption of two or more substances; among them 29.4% corresponded to Pattern A, 50.7% to Pattern B and 16.7% to Pattern C, while 3.2% corresponded to other multiple consumption patterns (alcohol + cocaine; alcohol + cocaine + tobacco; alcohol + inhalants; amphetamines + hallucinogens + Spice). An important correlation was observed concerning polydrug use between participants and their closest reference persons: the more the reference person is a multiple consumer, the more the participant tends to consume. Polydrug use within the closest environment emerges as one of the key elements to be taken into account in further prevention programs.El policonsumo de drogas es cada vez más prevalente entre los jóvenes españoles. El Observatorio Europeo de las Drogas y las Toxicomanías establece tres tipologías de policonsumo: Patrón A (consumidores de alcohol y tabaco), Patrón B (consumidores de cannabis junto con alcohol y/o tabaco) y Patrón C (consumidores de cannabis junto con alcohol y tabaco y al menos otra droga ilegal). Los objetivos son: 1) estudiar la frecuencia de consumo de drogas en una muestra de jóvenes universitarios españoles del ámbito de la salud y el deporte según el sexo; 2) describir los patrones de policonsumo; 3) estudiar la relación entre el policonsumo de los participantes y el policonsumo de las personas de su entorno próximo (padres, hermanos, pareja y mejor amigo). La muestra consta de 480 universitarios (43.7% chicas) entre 18 y 36 años. Se administró un autoinforme para evaluar el policonsumo de los participantes y de sus referentes más próximos. Un 46% de los participantes eran consumidores de dos o más sustancias, de los cuales un 29.4% correspondían al Patrón A, un 50.7% al Patrón B, un 16.7% al Patrón C y un 3.2% a otros patrones de policonsumo (alcohol + cocaína; alcohol + cocaína + tabaco; alcohol + inhalantes; anfetaminas + alucinógenos + Spice). Se observa una elevada concordancia entre el policonsumo de los participantes y el de sus referentes próximos, de modo que si el referente es policonsumidor es más probable que el participante también lo sea. El policonsumo de drogas en el entorno próximo de los jóvenes deviene uno de los elementos clave a tener en cuenta en futuras campañas preventivas.

El objetivo del presente estudio es revisar las evidencias sobre la eficacia del programa Saluda, un protocolo de prevención escolar del consumo de drogas dirigido a adolescentes. Se describen los contenidos del programa y se revisan los resultados de nueve ensayos controlados que evaluaron los efectos del programa. Los participantes fueron estudiantes españoles con edades de 12 a 16 años. El programa fue elaborado a partir de los resultados de una revisión cuantitativa de programas españoles, donde se identificaron los componentes más eficaces. Los primeros ensayos compararon sus resultados respecto a un programa de eficacia probada y una intervención inespecífica de promoción de la salud, mostrando efectos positivos. Estudios posteriores evaluaron los efectos del programa según el tipo de aplicador, la edad de los participantes, y los efectos sobre aspectos actitudinales y cognitivos. Los estudios más recientes se han centrado en analizar la eficacia de los componentes del programa y la contribución de las tareas asignadas. En este estudio se sintetizan las evidencias empíricas sobre los efectos del programa para modificar variables de riesgo y protección y se plantean líneas de futuro para mejorar la eficacia y eficiencia del programa.

The objective of the present study was to examine the contribution of three intervention components (public commitment, resistance to advertising, and leisure promotion) on alcohol and protective variables in a school-based substance use prevention program. Participants included 480 Spanish students aged from 14 to 16 who received the Saluda prevention program in one of the following five experimental conditions: complete program, program minus public commitment, program minus resistance to advertising, program minus leisure promotion, and a waiting-list control. The students completed self-report surveys at pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up assessments. When excluding the healthy leisure promotion component, the Saluda program showed no loss of efficacy neither on alcohol use nor on other substance-related variables, while public commitment and resistance to advertising improved the aforementioned program's efficacy.

Introducción. La evaluación de programas escolares de prevención de drogodependencias indica distintos grados de eficacia según la estrategia utilizada. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar distintos tipos de intervención preventiva para modificar la actitud hacia las drogas en adolescentes.Método. Se utilizó un diseño cuasi-experimental con cinco condiciones: dos programas de prevención específica (Programa Saluda y Programa Life Skills Training), un programa de Educación para la salud, un grupo de Atención Placebo y un grupo de control sin intervención.Resultados. El Programa Saluda y el programa Life Skills Training mejoraron los resultados frente al grupo de Atención Placebo y el grupo sin intervención sobre la intención de consumo de alcohol. El análisis de los tamaños del efecto en la actitud ante las drogas indica que el programa Saluda produce mayores cambios actitudinales en comparación con los demás grupos.Discusión y Conclusiones. Se discuten los hallazgos alcanzados y las implicaciones en futuras investigaciones sobre el efecto de los programas en la actitud hacia las drogas y su consumo.

El policonsumo de drogas es cada vez mas prevalente entre los jovenes espanoles. El Observatorio Europeo de las Drogas y las Toxicomanias establece tres tipologias de policonsumo: Patron A (consumidores de alcohol y tabaco), Patron B (consumidores de cannabis junto con alcohol y/o tabaco) y Patron C (consumidores de cannabis junto con alcohol y tabaco y al menos otra droga ilegal). Los objetivos son: 1) estudiar la frecuencia de consumo de drogas en una muestra de jovenes universitarios espanoles del ambito de la salud y el deporte segun el sexo; 2) describir los patrones de policonsumo; 3) estudiar la relacion entre el policonsumo de los participantes y el policonsumo de las personas de su entorno proximo (padres, hermanos, pareja y mejor amigo). La muestra consta de 480 universitarios (43.7% chicas) entre 18 y 36 anos. Se administro un autoinforme para evaluar el policonsumo de los participantes y de sus referentes mas proximos. Un 46% de los participantes eran consumidores de dos o mas sustancias, de los cuales un 29.4% correspondian al Patron A, un 50.7% al Patron B, un 16.7% al Patron C y un 3.2% a otros patrones de policonsumo (alcohol + cocaina; alcohol + cocaina + tabaco; alcohol + inhalantes; anfetaminas + alucinogenos + Spice). Se observa una elevada concordancia entre el policonsumo de los participantes y el de sus referentes proximos, de modo que si el referente es policonsumidor es mas probable que el participante tambien lo sea. El policonsumo de drogas en el entorno proximo de los jovenes deviene uno de los elementos clave a tener en cuenta en futuras campanas preventivas.

The objectives of the present study are the following ones: 1) to study the use of drugs, the prosocial behaviour and the problem-solving skills with respect to age and gender, and 2) to analyze the association of both the prosocial behaviour and the problem-solving skills with the use of drugs. An exploratory cross-sectional study was performed, amongst a sample of 567 students in Spanish Compulsory Secondary Education (48.14% males) with an age range from 14 to 17 years (M = 14.92; SD = 0.90). Statistically significant differences were found concerning alcohol use and the prosocial behaviour with respect to gender, as well as concerning alcohol and cannabis use with respect to age. Logistic regression analyses revealed statistical significance of the prosocial behaviour with respect to the use of alcohol and cannabis. The ability in problem-solving was the most important protective predictor with respect to the abuse of cannabis. The results from this study enhance the importance of tailored interventions based on the promotion of prosocial behaviours and/or problem-solving strategies as fundamental protective factors for substance use amongst adolescents.