A Cost-Utility Analysis of Add-On Cannabidiol Versus Usual Care Alone for the Treatment of Seizures Associated with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex in England and Wales.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost effectiveness of plant-derived highly purified cannabidiol (Epidyolex® in the UK; 100 mg/mL oral solution) as an add-on treatment to usual care for the management of treatment-refractory seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients aged ≥ 2 years. METHODS: A cohort-based model was developed using a National Health Service perspective and lifetime horizon. Health states were based on weekly seizure frequency and seizure-free days, utilizing patient-level data from the GWPCARE6 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02544763). Two independent regression models were applied to individual patient-level data to predict seizure-free days and seizure frequency. Healthcare resource utilization data were sourced from a Delphi panel, and patient and caregiver health-related quality of life values were elicited using vignettes valued by the general public. Outcomes relating to TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders were modeled with costs and quality-adjusted life-years sourced from published literature. RESULTS: In the base case, compared with usual care alone, 12 mg/kg/day cannabidiol was associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £23,797. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence disease severity modifier reduced the ICER to £19,831. Probabilities of cost effectiveness at willingness-to-pay thresholds of £20,000 and £30,000 were 30% and 52%, respectively, for the base case and 39% and 66%, respectively, for the disease severity modifier. Results were robust to sensitivity and scenario analyses. CONCLUSIONS: At 12 mg/kg/day and an ICER threshold of £20,000-£30,000, we provide evidence for the cost effectiveness of add-on cannabidiol treatment for patients with TSC-associated seizures aged ≥ 2 years who are refractory to current treatment.

Design, Recruitment, and Implementation of Research Interventions Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematic Review.

Transitional age youth experiencing homelessness (TAY-EH) represent an underserved and understudied population. While an increasing number of empirical interventions have sought to address the high burden of psychopathology in this population, findings remain mixed regarding intervention effectiveness. In this systematic review of behavioral health interventions for TAY-EH, we sought to examine the structural framework in which these interventions take place and how these structures include or exclude certain populations of youth. We also examined implementation practices to identify how interventions involving youth and community stakeholders effectively engage these populations. Based on PRISMA guidelines, searches of Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were conducted, including English language literature published before October 2022. Eligible studies reported on interventions for adolescent or young adult populations ages 13-25 years experiencing homelessness. The initial search yielded 3850 citations; 353 underwent full text review and 48 met inclusion criteria, of which there were 33 unique studies. Studies revealed a need for greater geographic distribution of empirically based interventions, as well as interventions targeting TAY-EH in rural settings. Studies varied greatly regarding their operationalizations of homelessness and their method of intervention implementation, but generally indicated a need for increased direct-street outreach in participant recruitment and improved incorporation of youth feedback into intervention design. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to examine the representation of various groups of TAY-EH in the literature on substance use and mental health interventions. Further intervention research engaging youth from various geographic locations and youth experiencing different forms of homelessness is needed to better address the behavioral health needs of a variety of TAY-EH.

Attitudes Toward School-Based Surveillance of Adolescents' Social Media Activity: Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Survey.

BACKGROUND: US schools increasingly implement commercially available technology for social media monitoring (SMM) of students, purportedly to address youth mental health and school safety. However, little is known about how SMM is perceived by stakeholders, including the students who are the focus of these efforts. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess attitudes toward SMM in schools among 4 stakeholder groups and examine reasons for holding supportive, neutral, or unsupportive views toward the technology. We also sought to explore whether any differences in attitudes were associated with binary sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. METHODS: In October 2019, we conducted a convergent parallel mixed methods web-based survey of young adults (aged 18-22 y; n=206), parents (n=205), teachers (n=77), and school administrators (n=41) via Qualtrics web-based panels. We included Likert-type survey items to assess perceived benefits, risks, and overall support of SMM in schools and test for differences based on stakeholder group or demographic characteristics. We also included open-ended questions, and the responses to these items were analyzed using thematic content analysis of reasons given for holding supportive, neutral, or unsupportive views. RESULTS: The tests of group differences showed that young adults perceived lower benefit (P<.001) as well as higher risk (P<.001) and expressed lower overall support (P<.001) of the use of SMM in schools than all other stakeholder groups. Individuals identifying as nonheterosexual also perceived lower benefit (P=.002) and higher risk (P=.02) and expressed lower overall support (P=.02) than their heterosexual counterparts; respondents who identified as people of racial and ethnic minorities also perceived higher risk (P=.04) than their White counterparts. Qualitative thematic content analysis revealed greater nuance in concerns about SMM. Specifically, the primary reasons given for not supporting SMM across all stakeholder groups were (1) skepticism about its utility, (2) perceived privacy violations, and (3) fears of inappropriate or discriminatory use of the data. Within the young adult group in particular, concerns were also raised about (4) unintended and adverse consequences, including the erosion of trust between students and school institutions and administrators, and the chronic adverse effects of constant or prolonged surveillance. Thematic analysis also showed that individuals in every stakeholder group who indicated overall support of SMM were likely to cite the potential for enhanced school safety as the reason. Young adults' overall stances toward SMM were the most polarized, either strongly for or strongly against SMM, and responses from teachers indicated similar polarization but more often favored support of SMM in schools. CONCLUSIONS: This study found differing perspectives among stakeholder groups regarding SMM in schools. More work is needed to assess the ways in which this type of surveillance is being implemented and the range and complexity of possible effects, particularly on students.

Substance Use Disorders and Psychiatric Illness Among Transitional Age Youth Experiencing Homelessness.

Objective: Transitional age youth experiencing homelessness (TAY-EH) bear a high burden of substance use disorders (SUDs) and psychopathology. However, limited data exist on the co-occurrence and interactions between these diagnoses in this marginalized group. This study sought to identify rates of single and co-occurring SUDs and psychiatric diagnoses among a sample of TAY-EH and to investigate associations between psychopathology and prevalence and severity of SUDs in this group. Method: TAY-EH accessing a low-threshold social service agency in a large metropolitan area completed psychosocial and diagnostic interviews to assess for SUDs and psychopathology. Analyses examined rates of single and co-occurring disorders and associations between burden of psychopathology and presence and severity of SUDs. Results: The assessment was completed by 140 TAY-EH; the majority were youth of color (54% Black/African American, 16% Latinx), and 57% identified as male. Rates of single and co-occurring psychiatric disorders and specific SUDs (cannabis use disorder [CUD] and alcohol use disorder [AUD]) were notably high. An increasing number of psychiatric diagnoses was significantly associated with elevated CUD/AUD prevalence and severity. Mood, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, and antisocial personality disorders were significantly associated with elevated CUD/AUD prevalence and severity, as was suicidality (all p < .05). Conclusion: This study reveals a complex overlay of SUDs and psychopathology facing TAY-EH, with a significant association between co-occurring psychopathology and severity of CUD/AUD. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine associations between specific psychopathology and severity of SUDs among TAY-EH. Further research into the mechanistic and temporal links between these conditions is needed to inform tailored treatment interventions.