Comparing the Performance of World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview Substance Abuse Module in Adolescents to Diagnoses Made by Pediatric Addiction Medicine Specialists.

OBJECTIVES: The World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview Substance Abuse Module (WMH-CIDI-SAM) is commonly used as a criterion standard measure for substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses, although the accuracy of this tool when used with adolescents is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agreement between SUD diagnoses for adolescents made by WMH-CIDI-SAM and those made by specialists based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) ( DSM-5 ) SUD criteria during an SUD evaluation. METHODS: Adolescents aged 12 to 17 years presenting to an outpatient SUD program for youth were administered the WMH-CIDI-SAM by a trained research assistant, and results were compared with diagnoses made by experienced clinicians based on DSM-5 SUD criteria during an initial SUD evaluation. Chance-corrected concordance was estimated using the κ coefficient for the comparisons. RESULTS: The level of concordance between the WMH-CIDI-SAM interview and the clinician diagnosis based on DSM-5 SUD criteria were fair to moderate for alcohol use disorder and tobacco use disorder and poor for cannabis use disorder. Three of 11 WMH-CIDI-SAM item constructs showed poor concordance with clinician diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Interpreting the diagnostic criteria for SUDs, particularly cannabis use disorders, is nuanced, and the meaning of the criteria may be misunderstood by adolescents. Further evaluation of the performance of the WMH-CIDI-SAM diagnostic interview for identifying cannabis use disorders in adolescents is needed.

Opioid Settlements: The Role for Addiction Medicine in Guiding Effective Spending.

ABSTRACT: States are set to receive an estimated $56 billion in funds from litigation against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies over the next 18 years. Unlike the big tobacco settlements in the 1990s, which were often spent on items unrelated to tobacco use, guardrails set by the opioid settlements require the majority of the funds will be spent on opioid remediation. Nonetheless, state and local jurisdictions still have wide discretion on the types and quality of programs that they fund. Addiction medicine specialists have several opportunities to utilize their expertise to inform the effective investment of opioid settlement dollars.

Is There a Case for Palliative Care Addiction Psychiatry?

This commentary on a case suggests how palliative care psychiatry can facilitate compassionate resolution of ethical conflicts in end-of-life care decision making with persons with substance use disorders.

Emerging Perspectives in Addiction Psychiatry.

Despite their legality, alcohol and tobacco both have a well-documented potential for misuse and elevate users' likelihood for disease. Dependence on alcohol also contributes to opioid overdoses, which claim 130 lives every day. Although awareness of the opioid epidemic is rising broadly among health care professionals, a majority of Americans still do not receive adequate, FDA-approved medications for their addiction. Effective medications are available for alcohol use disorder and medications for opioid use disorder have validated benefits that justify their use. In recent years, psychedelic compounds have attracted interest among scientists for their potential to alter mood and cognition in beneficial manners. Already, some evidence supports the use of psilocybin in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety; psychedelic compounds also have potential as alcohol use disorder treatments and may help reduce symptoms tied to opioid withdrawal. Because substance use disorders can culminate in death, a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to the treatment of people with substance use disorders is essential.

Nicotine Addiction: A Burning Issue in Addiction Psychiatry.

Addressing nicotine addiction has been given a low priority, compared with other substance use disorders (SUDs), by the addiction treatment field. Persons with nicotine addiction are reluctant to attempt to stop using nicotine products-despite recognizing it to be a problem-because they are feeling discouraged by multiple past unsuccessful attempts at quitting. By understanding that discouragement is a frequent reason that these people are in Precontemplation and by using traditional clinical interventions applied to other SUDs, clinicians could achieve better overall treatment outcomes.

The Development and Implementation of a Hospitalist-Directed Addiction Medicine Consultation Service to Address a Treatment Gap.

INTRODUCTION: Hospitalizations related to the consequences of substance use are rising yet most hospitalized patients with substance use disorder do not receive evidence-based addiction treatment. Opportunities to leverage the hospitalist workforce could close this treatment gap. AIM: To describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a hospitalist-directed addiction consultation service (ACS) to provide in-hospital addiction treatment. SETTING: Six hundred fifty-bed university hospital in Aurora, Colorado. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Hospitalists completed buprenorphine waiver training, participated in a 13-part addiction lecture series, and completed a minimum of 40 hours of online addiction training. Hospitalists participated in shadow shifts with an addiction-trained physician. Dedicated addiction social workers developed relationships with local addiction treatment services. PROGRAM EVALUATION METRICS: Physician-related metrics included education, training, and clinical time spent in addiction practice. Patient and encounter-related metrics included a description of ACS care provision. RESULTS: Eleven hospitalists completed an average of 95 hours of addiction-related didactics. Once addiction training was complete, hospitalists spent an average of 30 days over 12 months staffing a weekday ACS. Between October 2019 and November 2020, the ACS completed 1620 consultations on 1350 unique patients. Alcohol was the most common substance (n = 1279; 79%), followed by tobacco (979; 60.4%), methamphetamines/amphetamines (n = 494; 30.5%), and opioids (n = 400; 24.7%). Naltrexone was the most frequently prescribed medication (n = 350; 21.6%), followed by acamprosate (n = 93; 5.7%), and buprenorphine (n = 77, 4.8%). Trauma was a frequent discharge diagnoses (n = 1564; 96.5%). Leaving prior to treatment completion was commonly noted (n = 120, 7.4%). The ACS completed 47 in-hospital methadone enrollments. DISCUSSION: The hospitalist-directed ACS is a promising clinical initiative that could be implemented to expand hospital-based addiction treatment. Future research is needed to understand challenges to disseminating this model into other hospital settings, and to evaluate intended and unintended effects of broad implementation.

Orthorexia, muscle dysmorphia and exercise addiction: comparison between amateur running, fitness functional and bodybuilding athletes / Ortorexia, dismorfia muscular e dependência ao exercício: comparação entre atletas amadores de corrida de rua, functional fitness e bodybuilding

This study aimed to compare the degree of exercise addiction (EA), muscle dysmorphia and signs of orthorexia according to the type of exercise, age, practice time and weekly training frequency. It was a cross-sectional study with 159 (running = 38, Fitness Functional = 85 and bodybuilding = 35), amateur athletes of both sexes, aged over 18 years and with at least 3 months of practice in the exercise. The following instruments were used: Dedication to Exercise Scale, Ortho15 and Complex in Adonis Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted through Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), using age as a covariate (p<0.05). The main finding of the present investigation was that individuals who practiced exercise more than 5 times per week presented higher total score of EA, muscle dysmorphia and orthorexia (p<0.05). However, no differences were observed in the total score of EA between sex and type of exercise. It can be concluded that recreational athletes who exercise more than five times per week showed higher EA, orthorexia and muscle dysmorphia. (AU)

Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar o grau de dependência de exercícios (DE), dismorfia muscular e sinais de ortorexia de acordo com o tipo de exercício, idade, tempo de prática e frequência semanal de treinamento. Foi um estudo transversal com 159 (corredores = 38, fitness funcional = 85 e musculação = 35), atletas amadores de ambos os sexos, com idade superior a 18 anos e com pelo menos 3 meses de prática no exercício. Foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos: Escala de Dedicação ao Exercício, Questionário Orto-15 e o Questionário de Complexo em Adônis. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio da Análise de Covariância (ANCOVA), utilizando a idade como covariável (p<0,05). O principal achado da presente investigação foi que indivíduos que praticavam exercícios mais de 5 vezes por semana apresentaram maior pontuação total de IA, dismorfia muscular e ortorexia (p<0,05). No entanto, não foram observadas diferenças no escore total da DE entre sexo e tipo de exercício. Pode-se concluir que atletas recreativos que se exercitam mais de cinco vezes por semana apresentaram maior DE, ortorexia e dismorfia muscular. (AU)

Primary Addiction Medicine Skills for Hospice and Palliative Medicine Physicians: A Modified Delphi Study.

CONTEXT: Hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) physicians frequently care for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), but there is no consensus on which primary addiction medicine (AM) skills are essential. OBJECTIVES: Identify key primary AM skills that physicians should acquire during an ACGME-accredited HPM fellowship program. METHODS: A modified Delphi study consisting of 18 experts on SUD in HPM and medical education. A literature review and expert input identified initial AM skills. In three Delphi rounds, participants rated each skill on a nine-point scale from "not at all important to include" to "crucial to include." We calculated medians (IQRs), analyzed panelists' comments, and grouped skills using the RAND / UCLA appropriateness method. RESULTS: Among 62 proposed AM skills, 53 skills were rated as appropriate to include (38 of which achieved agreement), and nine skills were rated as uncertain. AM skills most relevant to HPM included 1) defining chemical coping, median 8.5 (IQR 2); 2) balancing life expectancy with risks of opioid use for patients with SUD, 9 (IQR 0); 3) explaining best practices to dispose unused opioids postmortem, 8 (IQR 2); 4) managing pain for hospice patients with SUD, 9 (IQR 0.75); and 5) partnering with hospice to manage patients on methadone and buprenorphine, 9 (IQR 2). Experts did not achieve consensus on whether HPM physicians should be encouraged to learn to prescribe buprenorphine for patients with opioid use disorder, 6 (IQR 3). CONCLUSION: HPM fellowships should consider incorporating the primary AM skills identified in this study in their curricula.

La ruptura del lazo al Otro en las toxicomanías: Reflexiones éticas sobre la posición del analista / Rupture of the bond to the Other in drug addiction: Ethical considerations regarding the position of the analyst

En el presente trabajo nos proponemos indagar los desarrollos con respecto a la ruptura con el Otro en las adicciones, en tanto suele decirse que el adicto es alguien que posee una certeza de goce respecto de la sustancia/objeto y, dado que prescinde del Otro, ya que busca una operación que no pase por lo simbólico, se trataría de una respuesta a lo real por la vía de lo real (Naparstek, 2010). No obstante, en la práctica clínica hallamos que estos pacientes acuden efectivamente a la consulta, tanto en el ámbito público como privado. En tal sentido, el analizante se dirige al analista, por estar ahí en el lugar del Otro, por lo que resulta central el modo en que éste se sitúa frente a la demanda. Si bien existe relativo consenso con respecto a que la adicción supone una ruptura del lazo al Otro, nos interesa dilucidar sus implicancias y su operatoria, a los fines de (re)pensar la posición del analista en el lazo transferencial

In this article we intend to investigate developments regarding the rupture with the Other in drug addiction, since it is often said that the addict is someone who has a certainty of enjoyment related to the substance /object and, given that he dispenses of the Other, since he seeks an operation that does not go through the symbolic, it would be a response to the real by the real (Naparstek, 2010). However, in clinical practice we find that these patients actually attend the consultation, both in the public and private spheres. In this sense, the analysand addresses the analyst, because he is there in the place of the Other, therefore the way in which the latter stands in the face of demand is central. Although there is a relative consensus that addiction involves a rupture in the bond to the Other, we are interested in elucidating its implications and its operation, in order to (re)think about the position of the analyst in the transferential bond

Evaluation of Risks of Bias in Addiction Medicine Randomized Controlled Trials.

AIMS: Perhaps the most important step when designing and conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in addiction is to put methodological safeguards in place to minimize the likelihood for bias to affect trial outcomes. In this study, we applied the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool (ROB 2) to RCTs of drug, alcohol or tobacco interventions. METHODS: We searched for trials published in 15 addiction medicine journals over a 7-year period. Our primary endpoint is the risk of bias of included studies. We conducted a sensitivity analysis of publicly funded trials. RESULTS: Overall, included RCTs were most often at high risk of bias per our judgments (244/487, 50.1%). However, significant proportions of included RCTs were at low risk of bias (123/487, 25.3%) or some concerns for bias (120/497, 24.6%). RCTs with behavioral modification interventions (19/44, 43.2%) and alcohol interventions (80/150, 53.3%) had the highest proportion of high-risk judgments. In a sensitivity analysis of publicly funded RCTs), 195/386 (50.5%) were at high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately half of included drug, alcohol or tobacco RCTs in our sample were judged to be at high risk of bias with the most common reason being a lack of proper blinding or proper description of blinding. Key action items to reduce bias in future addiction RCTs include adequate randomization, blinding and inclusion of a trial registry number and protocol.

Meeting of Minds around Food Addiction: Insights from Addiction Medicine, Nutrition, Psychology, and Neurosciences.

This review, focused on food addiction (FA), considers opinions from specialists with different expertise in addiction medicine, nutrition, health psychology, and behavioral neurosciences. The concept of FA is a recurring issue in the clinical description of abnormal eating. Even though some tools have been developed to diagnose FA, such as the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) questionnaire, the FA concept is not recognized as an eating disorder (ED) so far and is even not mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders version 5 (DSM-5) or the International Classification of Disease (ICD-11). Its triggering mechanisms and relationships with other substance use disorders (SUD) need to be further explored. Food addiction (FA) is frequent in the overweight or obese population, but it remains unclear whether it could articulate with obesity-related comorbidities. As there is currently no validated therapy against FA in obese patients, FA is often underdiagnosed and untreated, so that FA may partly explain failure of obesity treatment, addiction transfer, and weight regain after obesity surgery. Future studies should assess whether a dedicated management of FA is associated with better outcomes, especially after obesity surgery. For prevention and treatment purposes, it is necessary to promote a comprehensive psychological approach to FA. Understanding the developmental process of FA and identifying precociously some high-risk profiles can be achieved via the exploration of the environmental, emotional, and cognitive components of eating, as well as their relationships with emotion management, some personality traits, and internalized weight stigma. Under the light of behavioral neurosciences and neuroimaging, FA reveals a specific brain phenotype that is characterized by anomalies in the reward and inhibitory control processes. These anomalies are likely to disrupt the emotional, cognitive, and attentional spheres, but further research is needed to disentangle their complex relationship and overlap with obesity and other forms of SUD. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment must rely on a multidisciplinary coherence to adapt existing strategies to FA management and to provide social and emotional support to these patients suffering from highly stigmatized medical conditions, namely overweight and addiction. Multi-level interventions could combine motivational interviews, cognitive behavioral therapies, and self-help groups, while benefiting from modern exploratory and interventional tools to target specific neurocognitive processes.

Palliative care for patients with substance use disorder and multiple problems: a qualitative study on experiences of healthcare professionals, volunteers and experts-by-experience.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about how healthcare professionals feel about providing palliative care for patients with a substance use disorder (SUD). Therefore, this study aims to explore: 1) the problems and needs experienced by healthcare professionals, volunteers and experts-by-experience (HCP/VE) during their work with patients with SUD in a palliative care trajectory and; 2) to make suggestions for improvements using the quality of care model by Donabedian (Structure, Process, Outcome). METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted, consisting of six focus group interviews which consisted of HCP/VE working with patients with SUD in a palliative care phase. At the end of the focus group interviews, participants structured and summarized their experiences within a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) framework. Interview transcripts (other than the SWOT) were analysed by the researchers following procedures from the Grounded Theory Approach ('Grounded Theory Lite'). SWOT-findings were not subjected to in-depth analysis. RESULTS: HCP/VE stated that within the Structure of care, care networks are fragmented and HCP/VE often lack knowledge about patients' multiplicity of problems and the time to unravel these. Communication with this patient group appears limited. The actual care-giving Process requires HCP/VE a lot of creativity and time spent seeking for cooperation with other caregivers and appropriate care settings. The latter is often hindered by stigma. Since no formalized knowledge is available, care-delivery is often exclusively experience-based. Pain-medication is often ineffective due to active substance use. Finally, several Outcomes were brought forward: Firstly, a palliative care phase is often identified only at a late stage. Secondly, education and a (mobile) team of expertise are desired. Thirdly, care for the caregivers themselves is often de-prioritized. CONCLUSIONS: Better integration and collaboration between the different professionals with extensive experience in addiction, palliative and general curative care is imperative to assure good palliative care for patients with SUD. Currently, the resources for this care appear to be insufficient. Development of an educational program and social mapping may be the first steps in improving palliative care for patients with severe SUD.

Substance use disorders in people with intellectual disability.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide an overview of studies on substance use and substance use disorder (SUD) in individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF). RECENT FINDINGS: Many individuals with MID-BIF use tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. On average, rates of substance use and SUD are similar to or even higher than those in peers with average intelligence. Individuals with MID-BIF are overrepresented in (forensic) addiction care. Several instruments are now available for the assessment of SUD and its risk factors in this target group. Prevention and intervention programs have been shown feasible and with promising outcomes, although the evidence base is still small. Professionals in addiction care and intellectual disability care facilities show deficiencies in skills in addressing SUD in clients with MID-BIF. SUMMARY: Research in this area is still in its infancy, though an increasing number of studies show promising outcomes regarding case identification, assessment, and treatment of SUD in intellectual disability. Policy and practice should be adapted to the characteristics of individuals with MID-BIF.

Validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version for university students and adult population / Validade e confiabilidade da versão Brasileira da Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version para estudantes universitários e adultos

This study sought evidence of the validity of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version for a Brazilian sample of 718 individuals, amongst university students (n = 387, M age = 22.1 years) and adults (n = 331, M age = 35.2 years), who completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the scale. The transcultural adaptation was carried out using specific protocols as recommended by expert's committees. The factorial structure was evaluated by three methods: Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, and Network Analysis. The adjustment parameters were not adequate and Principal Component Analysis explained 39.2% of the variance. The scale showed good reliability (α = 0.81) and a 39.4% prevalence of problematic phone use. The Network Analysis indicated that the correlations between the items were similar in the two populations. This is an unpublished study evaluating the usage pattern of smartphones in a sample of the adult population from all Brazilian states.

Este estudo buscou evidências de validade da Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version para uma amostra brasileira de 718 indivíduos, entre universitários (n = 387; Midade = 22,1 anos) e adultos (n = 331; Midade = 35,2 anos), que preencheram um questionário sociodemográfico e uma escala. Realizou-se a adaptação transcultural com protocolos específicos respondidos por juízes. A estrutura fatorial foi avaliada por três métodos: Análise Fatorial Confirmatória, Análise de Componentes Principais e Análise de Rede. Os parâmetros de ajustes não foram adequados e a Análise de Componentes Principais explicou 39,2% da variância. A escala mostrou boa confiabilidade (α = 0,81) e prevalência de 39,4% de uso problemático de smartphone. A Análise de Rede indicou que as correlações entre os itens foram parecidas nas duas populações. Este é um estudo inédito, avaliando o padrão de uso de smartphones em uma amostra da população adulta de todos os estados brasileiros.

Integration of an Addiction Team in a Liver Transplantation Center.

Up to 50% of liver transplantation (LT) recipients with known or clandestine alcohol-use disorder (AUD) before surgery return to alcohol use after LT. However, only severe alcohol relapse, which varies in frequency from 11% to 26% of patients, has an impact on longterm survival and significantly decreases survival rates after 10 years. Therefore, it is crucial to identify patients with the highest risk of severe relapse in order to arrange specific, standardized monitoring by an addiction team before and after LT. The aims of this study were to describe the effects of combined management of AUD on the rate of severe alcohol relapse and to determine the risk factors before LT that predict severe relapse. Patients transplanted between January 2008 and December 2014 who had met with the LT team's addiction specialist were included in the study. Patients who exhibited alcohol-related relapse risk factors received specific addiction follow-up. A total of 235 patients were enrolled in the study. Most of them were men (79%), and the mean age at the time of the LT was 55.7 years. Severe relapse occurred in only 9% of the transplant recipients. Alcohol-related factors of severe relapse were a pretransplant abstinence of 6 months and family, legal, or professional consequences of alcohol consumption, whereas the nonalcohol-related factors were being single and being eligible for a disability pension. In conclusion, the integration of an addiction team in a LT center may be beneficial. The addiction specialist can identify patients at risk of severe relapse in the pretransplantation period and hence arrange for specific follow-up.

Integrating addiction medicine into rural primary care: Strategies and initial outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study describes the role of behavioral health in an addiction medicine program integrated in a primary care clinic, and evaluates retention, substance use, and mental health symptoms for patients in a rural underserved community. METHOD: Data were abstracted from records of patients referred for buprenorphine treatment of opioid use disorder (N = 101; 45% female, 23% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Mage = 42.5, SD = 12.75). Among patients prescribed buprenorphine (n = 61), most had comorbid substance-related diagnoses (72% with tobacco use, 75% with at least one other substance use disorder) and non-substance-related mental health diagnoses (77%), most commonly depression and anxiety. Integrated sessions with a behavioral health provider and a buprenorphine-waivered prescriber occurred weekly to monthly. Participants completed depression and anxiety questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7) and provided urine samples at each visit. RESULTS: Most patients (72%) were retained for at least 3 months, with early dropout associated with higher initial depression and anxiety scores. Inconsistent urine drug tests (i.e., those positive for illicit/nonprescribed substances) were significantly more common at treatment initiation (74%) than during the most recent visit (43%, p < .001), and were associated with baseline substance and other mental health factors, as well as shorter treatment duration. Generalized estimating equations models suggested time-based improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms, especially for patients retained for at least 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating wraparound addiction treatment within a rural primary care setting is feasible and associated with improved mental health and retention outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Role of the Hospital in the 21st Century Opioid Overdose Epidemic: The Addiction Medicine Consult Service.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore and describe the structure and design elements of addiction medicine consult (AMC) services within selected US hospitals. METHODS: As part of a larger mixed methods study, 10 qualitative semi-structured telephone interviews were completed with board-certified addiction medicine physicians affiliated with the Addiction Medicine Foundation's Addiction Medicine Fellowship Programs at 9 US hospitals. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a directed content analysis. RESULTS: Interviews completed with established AMC services in 9 hospitals probed AMC structure and design commonalities and differences across 4 domains: (1) availability and coverage, (2) team composition, (3) scope and responsibility, and (4) financing. Only 1 service provided weekend consults and most services did not provide coverage in the emergency department. Interprofessional teams were common with a variety of discipline combinations. AMC service scope and responsibility, generally, included 3 types of activities: (1) education and culture change, (2) the delivery of psychosocial and medical services, and (3) hospital guidance document development. Finally, most AMC services existed within a fragile financial environment with idiosyncratic arrangements. CONCLUSIONS: As opioid use disorder (OUD)-related hospitalizations increase stakeholders look to innovative care delivery mechanisms to improve care and outcomes for persons with OUD. The implementation of an AMC service may be an organizational intervention for achieving these aims. Understanding the shared and different approaches to AMC service structure and design is an important first step for delivery systems interested in implementing or expanding these services.

Tobacco Cessation Services in Addiction Treatment: What Do Clients Say?

OBJECTIVE: Specialty addiction programs treat people who are addicted to alcohol, opioids, stimulants, and other drugs. This study identified the proportion of addiction program clients who received tobacco-related services and factors associated with receipt of such services. METHODS: In 2015 and 2016, clients (N=2,119) in 24 programs were surveyed for receipt of services aligning with three of the five As of tobacco cessation: ask, advise, assist. Multivariate analyses examined factors associated with receipt of each service. RESULTS: Most clients (76%) were asked about smoking. Among smokers (N=1,630), 53% were advised to quit, 41% received counseling, 26% received cessation medication, and 17% received counseling and medication. Clients were more likely to receive tobacco-related services if they wanted help quitting smoking or were enrolled in programs with tobacco-free grounds. CONCLUSIONS: These correlational findings suggest that increasing client motivation to quit and implementing tobacco-free policies on the grounds of treatment centers may increase tobacco-related services in addiction treatment.

Validation of the Cell Phone Dependence Scale

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The boundary between cellphone use and abuse is quite tenuous. Research is required to evaluate the use of this device interacting in the everyday life of users, whether to speak or to perform tasks. OBJECTIVE: To construct a novel and specific scale to evaluate cellphone dependence checking its psychometric properties for clarity, accuracy and reliability. METHODS: Validation of a Cellphone Dependence Scale (CPDS) was performed in 5 phases: 1- initial scale construction with 20 questions, 2- expert evaluation, 3- application to 200 volunteers, 4- statistical analysis and results, and 5- elaboration of the final version of the CPDS. RESULTS: We used the R statistical program Version 3.4.2 and the "dplyr" package to present the descriptive statistics, the hypotheses tests of differences of means and the factorial analysis. The results provided a validated and accepted final version for CPDS. The last step of the study was to calculate Cronbach's alpha, in order to measure the internal consistency of the questionnaire. The value found was 0.897, which is considered very good. CONCLUSIONS: This project resulted in the construction of the final CPDS version suitable for the clinical context and to be used in the conduct of research on cellphone dependence. CPDS may contribute to future studies, conscious use of cellphones, harm reduction, and improved quality of life vis-à-vis the cellphone.

Addiction disorders: a need for change. Proposal for a new management. Position paper of SIA, Italian Society on Alcohol.

Various epidemiological and biological evaluations and the recent publication of the DSM-V (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders) has imposed on the scientific community a period of reflection on the diagnosis and treatment of what in the DSM-IV was defined as "addiction". To date, the term "addiction" has been replaced by the DSM-5, because there is no global scientific consensus that has unequivocally characterized its clinical characteristics. This, we will talk about substance/alcohol use disorders (SUDs/AUDs) and disorders related to behavioral alterations (DBA) that can generate organic diseases, mental disorders, and social problems. In the first psychotic episode 40-70% of subjects meet the criteria of a SUDs/AUDs, excluding tobacco dependence. Substances can not only be the cause of a psychotic onset, but they can also disrupt a psychotic picture or interfere with drug therapy. The pharmacodynamic profiles of many substances are able to provoke the phenomenology of the main psychotic symptoms in a way that can be superimposed onto those presented by psychotic subjects without a history of SUDs/AUDs. The Department of Addictions (DAs) must not be absorbed by or incorporated into the Departments of Mental Health (DMH), with which, however, precise operational cooperation protocols will have to be defined and maintained, but it will have to maintain its own autonomy and independent connotation. Addiction Medicine is a discipline that brings together elements of public health, prevention, internal medicine, clinical pharmacology, neurology, and even psychiatry. The inclusion of the DAs in those of DMH refers purely to a problem of pathology that has to do with lifestyle, choices, and behaviors. These, over time, show their dysfunctionality and only then do related problems emerge. Moreover, epidemiological, social, and clinical motivations impose the creation of alcohological teams dedicated to alcohol-related activities. The collaboration with self-help-groups (SHGs) is mandatory. The action of SHGs is accredited in numerous international recommendations both on the basis of consensus and evidence in the literature.