Abstinence duration and psychopathology among addiction outpatients during 18 months of COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of patients with substance use disorder (SUD). However, few longitudinal studies have been done which examine associations between the pandemic, SUD patients' mental health and their drug use. Objectives: This study aimed to examine duration of abstinence according to psychiatric status among SUD outpatients followed-up for 18 months from the pandemic related lockdown. Methods: A follow-up study of 316 SUD outpatients was undertaken. Sociodemographic features, and clinical and consumption related variables were recorded. Pre, during and post lockdown information was evaluated. Abstinence/substance use was monitored at the patient's scheduled follow-up appointments, and psychiatric disorders and psychological variables were revaluated at 18 months. Results: Survival analyses were used to compare the duration of abstinence (in months) from the beginning of the lockdown. It was observed that 70% of patients consumed the main substance for which they were being treated at some point during the follow-up. Men, younger patients, those with more symptoms of anxiety and personality disorders, and patients who experienced increased craving during follow-up, showed shorter duration of abstinence. While patients who had previously maintained at least one year of abstinence, achieved better results. Conclusions: During the first year and a half of the pandemic, SUD outpatients presented alterations in mental health, such us anxiety, depression and maladaptive personality traits and a high rate of relapse. For this reason, despite the health and social crisis and their restrictive measures, a comprehensive treatment should be ensured.

Clinical features and factors related to lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in patients who have had substance-induced psychosis across their lifetime.

Suicidal behaviors are common among patients with substance use disorders (SUD). However, the prevalence and clinical factors related to suicide behaviors among patients who have had substance-induced psychosis (SIP) is unknown. This study aims to explore the prevalence, clinical features, and factors related to lifetime suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) in patients who have had SIP across their lifetime. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an outpatient center for addiction treatment between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2021. 601 patients were evaluated with validated scales and questionnaires (79.03% males; M age 38.11±10.11 years). The prevalence of SI and SA was 55.4% and 33.6%, respectively. SI was independently related to any type of lifetime abuse, depressive spectrum disorders, benzodiazepine use disorder, borderline personality disorder, and the level of depressive symptoms. SA was independently associated with lifetime physical abuse, benzodiazepine use disorder, the number of psychotic symptoms, borderline personality disorder, and the level of depressive symptoms. The main factors related to SI and SA in those patients should be evaluated in daily clinical practice and considered in any approach to clinical practice as well as in health policies targeting suicide prevention.

Confirmatory factor analysis of 20-item toronto alexithymia scale in spanish patients with substance use disorder.

Alexithymia is highly prevalent in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) and has been implied in SUD pathogenesis and treatment outcomes. However, the psychometric properties of the most-used instrument for evaluating alexithymia (the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20) have been scarcely studied in relation to SUD patients.

Análisis factorial confirmatorio dela escala de alexitimia de toronto de20 ítems en pacientes españoles contrastorno por uso de sustancias / Confirmatory factor analysis of 20-item toronto alexithymia scale in spanish patients with substance use disorder

La alexitimia es altamente prevalente en pacientes con trastorno por uso de sustancias (TUS) y ha sido relacionado conla patogénesis y la evolución del TUS. Sin embargo, el instrumento más frecuentemente usado para la medición de laalexitimia (la Escala de Alexitimia de Toronto de 20 ítems- TAS-20) ha sido poco estudiado en cuanto a sus propiedades psicométricas en pacientes con TUS. Solamente cincoestudios han evaluado las características psicométricas de laTAS-20 en pacientes con TUS y ninguno en población española con TUS. Por lo anterior, se realizó un análisis factorialconfirmatorio y de fiabilidad en una muestra de pacientesespañoles con TUS (n=126; 75,4% hombres; edad media de43,7±14,6 años). El análisis factorial confirmatorio se realizóconsiderando que la TAS-20 tiene una estructura de tres factores (Dificultad para Identificar Sentimientos [DIF]; Dificultad para Describir Sentimientos [DDF]; Pensamiento Orientado hacia lo Externo [EOT]). En general, la TAS-20 tiene unaspropiedades psicométricas adecuadas en pacientes españolescon TUS. Sin embargo, el modelo clásico de tres factores dela TAS-20 se ajusta solo moderadamente bien en pacientesespañoles con TUS, siendo los factores DIF y DDF los constructos fiables y válidos, mientras que el factor EOT necesitamás investigación y debe analizarse con cautela en pacientescon adicciones. (AU)

Alexithymia is highly prevalent in patients withsubstance use disorders (SUDs) and has been implied inSUD pathogenesis and treatment outcomes. However, thepsychometric properties of the most-used instrument forevaluating alexithymia (the 20-item Toronto AlexithymiaScale, TAS-20) have been scarcely studied in relation toSUD patients. Specifically, only five psychometric studieshave been performed with samples of SUD patients, andno studies have focused exclusively on Spanish patientswith SUDs. Therefore, the aim of the present study was toexamine the internal accuracy and reliability of the TAS20 with a sample of Spanish SUD patients (n = 126; 75.4%male; mean age 43.7 ± 14.6 years). A reliability analysis and aconfirmatory factor analysis were executed, considering thatTAS-20 has a three-factor structure (difficulty identifyingfeelings [DIF]; difficulty describing feelings [DDF]; externallyoriented thinking [EOT]). The results indicated that TAS20’s psychometric properties are acceptable for assessingalexithymia in Spanish patients with SUDs. However,the three-factor model of TAS-20 was found to fit onlymoderately well with the patient sample, with DIF and DDFbeing the most reliable and valid constructs. In contrast, theEOT factor needs further research and should be cautiouslyanalyzed in the context of patients with addictions. (AU)

Catatonia Related to Cannabis and Synthetic Cannabinoids: A Review.

OBJECTIVE: Cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids (SC) are related to several neuropsychiatric symptoms and disorders, especially psychotic symptoms and disorders. Interestingly, catatonia-like symptoms associated with cannabis and SC have been generally neglected in research and scarcely described despite the clinical repercussions. Hence, this review aims to analyze current clinical publications on catatonia induced by cannabis or SC in a systematized way. Methods: A search using PRISMA guidelines was performed on three databases based on a specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: 11 publications describing 14 patients (10 males; mean age 22.50 ± 6.67 years old) with catatonia apparently precipitated by the use of cannabis (n = 6) or SC (n = 8) were found. Clinical features and treatment are described and discussed. Conclusion: From a clinical perspective, cannabis and SC use may be related to catatonia-like symptoms and catatonia syndrome in the same way these substances (cannabis and SC) are related to induced-psychotic episodes. However, further research will be required to understand the exact nature of that relationship. Additionally, investigations focused on the clinical significance (i.e., prognosis, evolution, and outcomes) of catatonia-like symptoms induced by cannabis and SC use in patients are also needed.