Effects of microwave resonance therapy on erythrocyte and plasma proteins and lipids in alcoholics.

The content of lipid peroxides and protein carbonyls in erythrocytes and plasma were elevated in patients with alcoholism during abstinence. A course of microwave resonance therapy reduced the level of lipid peroxide in erythrocytes, but not in the plasma, and significantly decreased the content of protein carbonyls in the plasma and erythrocytes.

What role does measuring medication compliance play in evaluating the efficacy of naltrexone?

BACKGROUND: Compliance with medication in pharmacotherapy trials of alcoholism has been shown to be equal to, or more, important than in other areas of medicine. Research has suggested that naltrexone's effectiveness can be greatly influenced by the compliance of participants in clinical trials. Presently, we compare 2 compliance measurement methods [urine riboflavin and medication event monitoring system (MEMS)] used simultaneously to evaluate naltrexone's efficacy and the impact of compliance on the size of observable treatment effects. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-seven of 160 randomized alcoholic patients completed 12-weeks (84 days) of naltrexone or placebo and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or motivational enhancement therapy (MET). Urine riboflavin was determined during study weeks 2, 6, and 12. The MEMS provided a detailed computerized record of when a participant opened their medication bottle throughout the trial. Baseline predictors of MEMS (80% openings) and urine riboflavin (>or=1,500 ng/mL by fluorimetry) compliance were examined. The effects of the treatments in the compliant participants defined by one, the other, or both methods were compared and contrasted with a previously reported intent-to-treat analysis where compliance was not taken into account. RESULTS: Age was predictive of compliance. 105 participants were deemed compliant via urine riboflavin criteria, 87 via MEMS, and 77 when both criteria were met, with no significant differences between treatment groups. The most compliant participants showed a significant medication by therapy interaction. Those treated with naltrexone/CBT showed more abstinence days (p<0.03), less heavy drinking days (p<0.03) and less total drinks (p<0.03) than the other groups. The effect size of this interaction increased from about 0.2 in the intent-to-treat analysis, to about 0.4 to 0.5 in the compliant group analyses, with little difference between compliance measurement methods. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance measurement does appear to influence the evaluation of the efficacy of naltrexone within the context of CBT. Treatment effect sizes approximately doubled in the most compliant individuals. Measuring compliance by either of 2 distinct methods provides approximately similar results. As compliance with naltrexone within the context of CBT has such a large impact of treatment outcome, methods of enhancing compliance during treatment should be given the utmost attention.

Influencia del apoyo familiar en la autoeficacia de los drogodependientes / Influence of family support on substance abuser self-efficacy

En este estudio se investiga si el apoyo de los progenitores afecta a la autoeficacia de los drogodependientes. Para ello se utilizó una muestra de 186 sujetos de Méjico que se dividieron en dos grupos (experimental y control). A su vez, ambos grupos se dividieron en 2 subgrupos en función del apoyo de sus progenitores. Se midió la autoeficacia con la escala de Sherer et al., (1982) y el consumo de drogas con la entrevista de investigación acerca del comportamiento adictivo. Se realizó un Análisis Multivariado de la Varianza (MANOVA) para un diseño bifactorial entre grupos utilizando como variables independientes el consumo (consumo versus no consumo) y el apoyo de los progenitores (implicación versus no implicación) y como variable dependiente la autoeficacia. Los resultados indicaron que los sujetos drogodependientes presentaban puntuaciones más bajas en autoeficacia que los sujetos controles. No se encontraron diferencias estadística mente significativas en el apoyo de los progenitores aunque podemos observar que el nivel de autoeficacia de los grupos (experimental y control) es menor cuando los progenitores se implican. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto que la autoeficacia podría ser una variable protectora para el consumo de drogas y sugieren la necesidad de seguir investigando las actitudes, actuaciones y recursos familiares que inciden en el consumo de drogas

This study investigates whether or not parental support affects the self-efficacy of the substance abuser. A sample of 186 subjects from Mexico was divided into two groups (experimental and control). Both groups, in their turn, were divided into 2 subgroups in relation to parental support. Selfefficacy was measured with the scale of Sherer et al., (1982), and drug use with the research interview on addiction behaviour. A Multivariable Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was carried out for a bifactorial design among groups with use (use versus nonuse) and parental support (involvement versus non-involvement) as independent variables and with self-efficacy as dependent variable. The results indicated that the drug dependent subjects presented lower scorings in self-efficacy than the control subjects. Statistically significant differences in parental support were not found although we do observe that the level of self-efficacy in the groups (experimental and control) is lower when parents are involved. Our results revealed that self-efficacy could be a protective variable in drug use, and suggest the need to continue investigating the familial attitudes, actions and resources that have an impact on drug use

Use of low-energy laser as adjunct treatment of alcohol addiction.

Auricular acupuncture is a medical method that has been used in the treatment of alcohol addiction. In our study we decided to intensify this method by additional biostimulation of the whole organism. The aim of this study was the therapy of patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. Fifty-three alcoholics were treated with two types of laser stimulation in four sessions. Each session consisted of 20 consecutive daily helium-neon laser neck biostimulations and 10 auricular acupuncture treatments with argon laser (every 2nd day). The Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS) was used to assess their frame of mind before the session and after 2 months of treatment. Moreover, beta-endorphin plasma concentration was estimated five times using the radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Improvement in BDI-FS and increase in, beta-endorphin level were observed. These results suggest that laser therapy can be useful as an adjunct treatment for alcoholism.