Interdisciplinary working in public health research: a proposed good practice checklist.

Background: Guidance on how different disciplines from the natural, behavioural and social sciences can collaborate to resolve complex public health problems is lacking. This article presents a checklist to support researchers and principle investigators to develop and implement interdisciplinary collaborations. Methods: Fourteen individuals, representing 10 disciplines, participated in in-depth interviews to explore the strengths and challenges of working together on an interdisciplinary project to identify the determinants of substance use and gambling disorders, and to make recommendations for future interdisciplinary teams. Data were analysed thematically and a checklist was derived from insights offered by participants during interview and discussion among the authors on the implications of findings. Results: Participants identified 18 scientific, interactional and structural strengths and challenges of interdisciplinary research. These findings were used to develop an 18-item BASICS checklist to support future interdisciplinary collaborations. The five domains of the checklist are: (i) Blueprint, (ii) Attitudes, (iii) Staffing, (iv) Interactions and (v) Core Science. Conclusion: Interdisciplinary work has the potential to advance public health science but the numerous challenges should not be underestimated. Use of a checklist, such as BASICS, when planning and managing projects may help future collaborations to avoid some of the common pitfalls of interdisciplinary research.

The role of mental disorders in the risk and speed of transition to alcohol use disorders among community youth.

BACKGROUND: Among adolescents and young adults with DSM-IV alcohol use disorders (AUDs), there are inter-individual differences in the speed of transition from initial alcohol use (AU) to AUD. AUDs are highly co-morbid with other mental disorders. The factors associated with rapid transition from first AU to AUD remain unknown and the role of mental disorders in rapid transitions is unclear. Given this background we examined (1) whether prior anxiety, mood, externalizing and non-alcohol substance use disorders are related to the risk and speed of transition from first AU to DSM-IV alcohol abuse (AA) and alcohol dependence (AD) and (2) whether early age of onset of prior mental disorders (PMDs) is a promoter of rapid transition. METHOD: A total of 3021 community subjects (97.7% lifetime AU) aged 14-24 years at baseline were followed up prospectively for up to 10 years. AU and mental disorders were assessed with the DSM-IV/M-CIDI. RESULTS: Among subjects with lifetime AU, several PMDs, such as specific phobia, bipolar disorder and nicotine dependence, were associated with an increased risk of AUD independent of externalizing disorders. Associations of PMDs with the speed of transition to AUDs were mostly weak and inconsistent. Only social phobia and externalizing disorders were associated with faster transitions to AD even after adjustment for other PMDs. Earlier age of onset of PMD was not associated with rapid transition. CONCLUSIONS: Mental disorders are associated with the risk of AUD. With the possible exception of social phobia and externalizing disorders, they do not promote rapid transition, even if they occur particularly early. Future research needs to identify factors relevant to rapid transition to AUD.

What are the high risk periods for incident substance use and transitions to abuse and dependence? Implications for early intervention and prevention.

BACKGROUND: For a better understanding of the evolution of addictive disorders and the timely initiation of early intervention and prevention, we have to learn when and how quickly the critical transitions from first substance use (SU) to regular use and from first SU and regular SU to abuse and dependence occur. Little data are currently available on the transitions to substance use disorders (SUDs) across the spectrum of legal and illegal drugs taking into account gender differences. It is the aim of this paper to describe the high density incidence and transition periods of SU and SUD for alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and other illicit drugs for young males and females. METHODS: A sample of (N = 3021) community subjects aged 14-24 at baseline were followed-up prospectively over 10-years. SU and SUD were assessed using the DSM-IV/M-CIDI. RESULTS: Ages 10-16 are the high risk period for first alcohol and nicotine use (up to 38% of subjects start before age 14). Onset of illegal SU occurs later. Substantial proportions of transitions to regular SU and SUD occur in the first three years after SU onset. Only few gender differences were found for time patterns of SU/SUD incidence and transition. CONCLUSION: Except for alcohol the time windows for targeted intervention to prevent progression to malignant patterns in adolescence are critically small, leaving little time for targeted intervention to prevent transition. The fast transitions to abuse and dependence in adolescence may be indicative for the increased vulnerability to substance effects in this time period. Basic research on the determinants of transitions should thus target this period in adolescence.

[Proportion of smokers, stages of preparedness to change and utilisation of a smoking cessation intervention in mother-child rehabilitation]. / Anteil von Raucherinnen, Stadien der Veränderungsbereitschaft und Inanspruchnahme von Tabakentwöhnung in der Mutter-Kind-Rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Smoking mothers put their own health as well as that of their children at risk. Mother-child inpatient rehabilitation centres can be a suitable setting for reaching this target group and providing support for smoking cessation. AIM: The aim of the study is to describe for the first time the smoking prevalence and motivation to change of patients in German mother-child inpatient rehabilitation centres and to investigate the actual utilisation of an offered smoking cessation programme. METHOD: In a cross-sectional field study with a consecutive sample from 22 mother-child inpatient rehabilitation centres (N=4329 mothers) smoking prevalence, stage of preparedness to change according to the transtheoretical model and consideration to seek help for cessation were assessed via a questionnaire. In addition, the number of smokers who can be reached by the offer of a quit-smoking programme was assessed by means of reports of the course instructors. RESULTS: 29.2% of patients in mother-child rehabilitation are smokers. Compared to the female general population, a higher proportion of the women were in an advanced stage of preparedness to change (19.4% are in preparation) and the majority of smokers are willing to seek help to quit smoking. 37.6% of smoking mothers participated in the offered smoking cessation intervention. CONCLUSION: There is a high proportion of smokers and a high readiness to change in German mother-child rehabilitation centres. The actual participation rate in an offered smoking cessation programme is quite remarkable, but nevertheless has to be enhanced further. One possible approach is measures to enhance smoking mothers' motivation to quit.

CANDIS treatment program for cannabis use disorders: findings from a randomized multi-site translational trial.

BACKGROUND: In a recent paper, we reported the efficacy of a modular cognitive-behavioral intervention for treating adolescents and adults with cannabis use disorders (CUD). In this study, we examine the outcome of this intervention after translating it into clinical practice. METHODS: A multi-site, randomized controlled trial of 279 treatment seekers with ICD-10 cannabis use disorders aged 16- 63 years was conducted in 11 outpatient addiction treatment centers in Germany. Patients were randomly assigned to an Active Treatment (AT, n=149) or Delayed Treatment Control (DTC, n=130). Treatment consisted of 10 sessions of fully manualized individual psychotherapy that combined Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational EnhancementTherapy and problem-solving training. Assessments were conducted at baseline, during each therapy session, at post-treatment and at three and six month follow-ups. RESULTS: At post assessment 53.3% of AT patients reported abstinence (46.3% negative urine screenings) compared to 22% of DTC patients (17.7% negative drug screenings) (p<0.001, Intention-to-treat analysis). AT patients improved in the frequency of cannabis use, number of cannabis dependence criteria, severity of dependence, as well as number and severity of cannabis-related problems. Effect sizes were moderate to high. While abstinence rates in the AT group decreased over the 3-month (negative urine screenings: 32.4%) and 6-month (negative urine screenings: 35.7%) follow-up periods, the effects in secondary outcomes were maintained. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention can successfully be translated to and applied in clinical practice. It has the potential to improve access to evidence-based care for chronic CUD patients.

Characteristics of developmentally early alcohol use disorder symptom reports: a prospective-longitudinal community study.

BACKGROUND: There is little prospective-epidemiological information on symptoms of DSM-IV-alcohol use disorder (alcohol abuse and dependence; AUD) that may be typical for early AUD stages or the developmental periods of adolescence and early adulthood. AIMS: To investigate AUD symptoms (AUDS) cross-sectionally at three subsequent assessment waves regarding prevalence rates, symptom counts, associated drinking patterns, positive predictive values (PPV) for DSM-IV-alcohol dependence (AD), and AUDS stability over time. METHODS: N=2039 community subjects (baseline age 14-24 years) participated in a baseline and two follow-up assessment(s) over up to ten years. DSM-IV-AUDS, DSM-IV-AUD and craving were assessed with the DSM-IV/M-CIDI. RESULTS: Over the assessment waves, tolerance and much time were most and role obligations and withdrawal least frequent. Most subjects with DSM-IV-AUDS reported only one symptom (47.2-55.1%). PPV for DSM-IV-AD only exceeded 70% for activities, problem, withdrawal, and desired control; PPV were lowest for tolerance and hazardous use. For most AUDS, AUDS report compared to non-report was associated with elevated drinking frequency and amounts. Stability of baseline AUDS at four-year and ten-year follow-up did not exceed 36.4% for any symptom. CONCLUSIONS: The overall pattern of most/least frequent AUDS reported in adolescence and early adulthood resembles findings in older adults and does not suggest a developmentally specific symptom pattern. Moderate AUDS-stability and considerable remission rates indicate that AUDS in this age group are transient for a considerable proportion of subjects. However, the associations with elevated consumption indicate that AUDS reports early in life need to be taken seriously in prevention and intervention.

Efficacy of a targeted cognitive-behavioral treatment program for cannabis use disorders (CANDIS).

AIMS: To examine the efficacy, 3- and 6-month follow-up effects of a psychological treatment for older adolescents and adults with DSM-IV cannabis use disorders. The program was tailored to the needs of this patient population. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES: A randomized controlled clinical trial of 122 patients aged 16 to 44 years with DSM-IV cannabis dependence as the main substance use diagnosis was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to either Active Treatment (AT, n = 90) or a Delayed Treatment Control group (DTC, n = 32). Treatment consisted of 10 sessions of therapy, detailed in a strictly enforced manual. Assessments were conducted at baseline, during each therapy session, at post treatment and at follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: The treatment retention rate was 88%. Abstinence was achieved in 49% of AT patients and in 13% of those in DTC (p < 0.001; intend-to-treat (ITT) analysis). Further, AT patients improved significantly (p < = 0.001) in the frequency of cannabis use per week, addiction severity, number of disability days, and overall level of psychopathology. Program effects were maintained over a 3-month- (abstinence rate: 51%) and 6-month follow-up (45%) period. CONCLUSION: The treatment program is effective in obtaining abstinence as well as reducing cannabis use and improves the associated social and mental health burden.

[Smoking cessation during treatment of alcohol dependence in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres--a review]. / Tabakentwöhnung bei Personen mit einer Alkoholabhängigkeit im Setting der Suchtrehabilitation--Ein Uberblick.

PURPOSE: Review of the international literature on smoking cessation with smokers having a concurrent alcohol abuse disorder. The three aims are: 1. discussion of the pros and cons of concurrent smoking cessation and treatment of alcohol use disorder, 2. smoking cessation strategies and 3. description of national and international studies evaluating smoking cessation interventions with patients who are at the same time treated for their alcohol abuse disorder. METHOD: The results are collected on the basis of an extensive literature research in PsychInfo, Science Direct and Medicine. RESULTS: Considering the pros and cons, it can be concluded that smoking cessation should be offered to this subgroup of high risk smokers. The open question is which kind of interventions are effective. Intervention strategies should consist of a multi-level approach including structural as well as person-specific components. Evaluation studies show that a 12% abstinence rate at one year follow-up can be achieved in case of an intensive intervention in combination with a restrictive tobacco policy. Alcohol abstinence is not jeopardised by a concurrent smoking cessation, when smoking cessation is voluntary. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of empiric research the common arguments against smoking cessation within the subgroup of alcohol-addicted smokers cannot be maintained on the basis of empiric research. Rehabilitation centres treating substance abuse disorders provide an excellent setting for the treatment of nicotine dependence. Interventions should include structural as well as subgroup-specific components.

Intensive gamblers on German-style slot-machines.

Results of German-style slot-machine gambling are reported, stemming from seven individual surveys in representatively sampled households (N=7,643). The aim of the inquiry was the reexamination of studies of the number of gamblers in the population together with gambling hours spent per week by active gamblers. The results are largely identical with already known data. Of persons of voting age or older, 10.2% are active gamblers (4.6 million; having gambled at least once within the last 3 months). Of the active gamblers 0.7% are intensive gamblers (5 hours and more per week). These persons number approximately 32,000 in the Federal Republic of Germany, or from 12,000 to 71,000 (95% confidence interval). In addition to the frequency distributions, interactions with socio-demographic characteristics were examined, and an estimate was made for the prevalence of intensive gamblers with severe stress.

[Slot machine gambling behaviour in East Germany 1990-2000]. / Spielverhalten an Geldspielautomaten in den neuen Bundesländern 1990-2000.

TARGET: To test the hypothesis that parameters of slot machine gambling behaviour and related treatment cases have been increasing heavily in the new Länder of Germany (after reunification). METHOD: Data from the National Population Survey 2000 and from the EBIS Treatment Monitoring System (1998-2000) were compared with figures from previous analyses for 1990-1997. RESULTS: The percentage of people with gambling experience increased, but the proportion of currently active gamblers decreased. The proportion of frequent gamblers (as an indicator of high-risk behaviour) did not change. The annual average number of new outpatient treatment cases per treatment facility increased, from a low baseline of 1.5 cases, by about 20 %. All figures are still below those for former Western Germany. CONCLUSION: At least until 2000 A.D., the expected extreme increase in gambling behaviour and related treatment demand did not occur.

Uniform standards for substance user treatment research: an example from Germany for the United States and other countries.

It is only through reasoned, accurate treatment evaluation research that its effectiveness can be assessed. The value of these data can be limited, however, by variability of methods and noncomparability of data. This is not the case, however, in other western countries. Germany has developed and is using a set of research and publication standards which speak to many of these deficiencies. These standards, described here in some detail, can serve as a model for regular, uniform, and universal data collection, thus allowing for some meaningful comparisons and assessments of in-situ treatment and the individuals receiving it.