A randomized controlled trial of nurse-led Brief Focused Intervention for patients with alcohol use-related mild traumatic brain injury in the emergency and casualty services of a tertiary hospital.

Objectives: Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the leading causes of road traffic accidents in India. Individuals with acute injuries often present to emergency hospital services. Carrying out brief interventions in the emergency can prevent further injury and even progression to severe patterns of drinking. However, there are no known studies from India examining the effectiveness of such interventions in emergency settings. Against this background, the objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led Brief Focused Intervention (BFI) in comparison with the minimal intervention for patients with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) reporting to the emergency and casualty services of a tertiary hospital in Bengaluru, South India, who screened positive for alcohol use. Materials and Methods: The BFI comprised a video portraying the effects of alcohol on the brain and muscles and brief advice on how to reduce or avoid alcohol use. Subjects (N = 90) were randomly allocated to two groups: BFI (n = 45) or Minimal Intervention Group (MIG) (n = 45). Standardized tools were used to assess both groups on specific outcomes for up to six months following discharge from the emergency and casualty services. At the end of six months, complete data wasavailable for 73 patients. Results: Participants' (N = 73) mean age was 35 years (standard deviation [SD]-11). Over the six-month follow-up, the BFI group reported significantly lesser quantity of alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test [AUDIT] Score - 5.03, SD 4.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.70, 6.35) compared to MIG (AUDIT Score - 9.76, SD 2.96, 95% CI = 8.73, 10.80), and fewer alcohol use-related problems in BFI group (Mean - 4.18, SD 3.21, 95% CI = 3.14, 5.22) compared to MIG (Mean - 5.88, SD 2.59, 95% CI = 4.98, 6.79). Results of logistic regression showed that being in MIG as well as baseline hazardous use of alcohol were associated with unfavorable outcomes at the end of six months follow-up. Conclusion: Findings provide the first known evidence from India for the effectiveness of nurse-led BFI in the emergency and casualty services in improving post-discharge outcomes for patients with alcohol use-related mild TBI. While the findings of the study are statistically significant, these findings also have significant clinical relevance, as they have shown that the BFI improved clinical outcomes. Thus, brief interventions should be implemented for these patients whenever possible in the Emergency setting.

Assessing Adult ADHD: An Updated Review of Rating Scales for Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

METHOD: Scholarly articles on adult ADHD between 1996 and 2022 were reviewed using the PRISMA guidelines. ADHD rating scales with multiple citations were selected and their psychometric properties and symptom coverage were analyzed. RESULTS: Ten rating scales, with sound psychometric properties, were identified. Out of those reviewed two (BADDS and BAARS-IV) load on the inattentive domain of ADHD, while the rest focus on a comprehensive assessment of ADHD. Only one scale (BARRS-IV) incorporates an assessment of functional impairment. Some scales though widely utilized have not been adequately examined for their sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Rating scales are reliable and valid, in the assessment of adult ADHD. We present a review of recent scales, with an expanded focus, to help clinicians make informed decisions on diagnosis, identifying targets and planning interventions accordingly.

Lived Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Help-seeking among Wives of Persons with Alcohol Dependence: A Thematic Analysis.

Background: Worldwide, intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem. Most of the wives of persons with alcohol dependence (PwAD) experience IPV in their lifetime. The study examined lived experiences of IPV among wives of PwAD. Methods: Qualitative research study design was used. Twenty participants were recruited using the consecutive sampling method. The researcher used an in-depth interview guide to collect the data. ATLAS.ti.9 software was used to analyse the qualitative data. Thematic analysis was used for coding and emerging themes. The thematic analysis yielded four themes generated from the in-depth interview: (1) reasons for the IPV, (2) help-seeking, (3) barriers in help-seeking and (4) coping with IPV. Conclusion: Survivors of IPV do not seek help due to self-stigma, unavailable resources, and lack of awareness about treatment for alcohol dependence. Clinicians should routinely screen for IPV among female spouses of persons with alcohol-dependent syndrome and provide psychosocial interventions for the survivors of IPV.

A descriptive study of hepatitis C in people who inject drugs.

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: The seroprevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in general population is higher than that of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in India. People who inject drugs (PWIDs) constitute a high-risk group for all blood-borne infections. Multiple behavioural surveillance surveys have provided a rich typology of HIV-infected PWIDs, but this information is missing for HCV infection. We describe awareness, transmission risk factors and the treatment continuum for HCV infection among PWID. We also report spatial clustering of HCV infection in PWIDs residing in Bengaluru. METHODS: Information from clinical records was collected and telephonic interviews of retrospectively identified PWIDs who received treatment at a tertiary-level addiction treatment facility between 2016 and 2021 were conducted. RESULTS: We identified 391 PWIDs; 220 (56.26%) received an anti-HCV antibody test (4 th Generation HCV-Tridot). Individuals reporting unsafe injection practices were more often tested than those who did not ( χ2 =44.9, df=1, P <0.01). Almost half of the tested and more than a quarter of the whole sample (109/220, 49.9%; 109/391, 27.9%) were seropositive for HCV infection. The projected seropositivity in this group was between 27.9 per cent (best case scenario, all untested assumed negative) and 71.6 per cent (worst case scenario, all untested assumed positive). Only a minority of participants interviewed were aware of HCV (27/183, 14.7%). HCV infection and its associated risk behaviour (PWID) were clustered in certain localities (Diggle and Chetwynd Test; P =0.001) in Bengaluru in the southern district of Karnataka. INTERPRETATION CONCLUSIONS: Undetected HCV infection is common in PWIDs; awareness and treatment uptake is poor in this group. Spatial clustering of infections in a district shows transmission in close networks and provides opportunities for targeted interventions.

Behavioral Activation for Comorbid Depression in People With Noncommunicable Disease in India: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

BACKGROUND: The increasing burden of depression and noncommunicable disease (NCD) is a global challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries, considering the resource constraints and lack of trained human resources in these settings. Effective treatment of depression in people with NCDs has the potential to enhance both the mental and physical well-being of this population. It will also result in the effective use of the available health care resources. Brief psychological therapies, such as behavioral activation (BA), are effective for the treatment of depression. BA has not been adapted in the community health care services of India, and the feasibility of using BA as an intervention for depression in NCD and its effectiveness in these settings have not been systematically evaluated. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to adapt BA for the Indian NCD context and test the acceptability, feasibility, and implementation of the adapted BA intervention (BEACON intervention package [BIP]). Additionally, we aim to test the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial evaluation of BIP for the treatment of depression compared with enhanced usual care. METHODS: Following well-established frameworks for intervention adaptation, we first adapted BA (to fit the linguistic, cultural, and resource context) for delivery in India. The intervention was also adapted for potential remote delivery by telephone. In a randomized controlled trial, we will be testing the acceptability, feasibility, and implementation of the adapted BA intervention (BIP). We shall also test if a randomized controlled feasibility trial can be delivered effectively and estimate important parameters (eg, recruitment and retention rates and completeness of follow-up) needed to design a future definitive trial. RESULTS: Following the receipt of approval from all the relevant agencies, the development of the BIP was started on November 28, 2020, and completed on August 18, 2021, and the quantitative data collection was started on August 23, 2021, and completed on December 10, 2021. Process evaluation (qualitative data) collection is ongoing. Both the qualitative and quantitative data analyses are ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: This study may offer insights that could help in closing the gap in the treatment of common mental illness, particularly in nations with limited resources, infrastructure, and systems such as India. To close this gap, BEACON tries to provide BA for depression in NCDs through qualified NCD (BA) counselors integrated within the state-run NCD clinics. The results of this study may aid in understanding whether BA as an intervention is acceptable for the population and how feasible it will be to deliver such interventions for depression in NCD in South Asian countries such as India. The BIP may also be used in the future by Indian community clinics as a brief intervention program. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Registry of India CTRI/2020/05/025048; https://tinyurl.com/mpt33jv5. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/41127.

IMPACT smoking cessation support for people with severe mental illness in South Asia (IMPACT 4S): A protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial of a combined behavioural and pharmacological support intervention.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of smoking is high among people living with severe mental illness (SMI). Evidence on feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions among smokers with SMI is lacking, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We aim to test the feasibility and acceptability of delivering an evidence-based intervention,i.e., the IMPACT smoking cessation support for people with severe mental illness in South Asia (IMPACT 4S) intervention that is a combination of behavioural support and smoking cessation pharmacotherapies among adult smokers with SMI in India and Pakistan. We will also test the feasibility and acceptability of evaluating the intervention in a randomised controlled trial. METHODS: We will conduct a parallel, open label, randomised controlled feasibility trial among 172 (86 in each country) adult smokers with SMI in India and Pakistan. Participants will be allocated 1:1 to either Brief Advice (BA) or the IMPACT 4S intervention. BA comprises a single five-minute BA session on stopping smoking. The IMPACT 4S intervention comprises behavioural support delivered in upto 15 one-to-one, face-to-face or audio/video, counselling sessions, with each session lasting between 15 and 40 minutes; nicotine gum and/or bupropion; and breath carbon monoxide monitoring and feedback. Outcomes are recruitment rates, reasons for ineligibility/non-participation/non-consent of participants, length of time required to achieve required sample size, retention in study and treatments, intervention fidelity during delivery, smoking cessation pharmacotherapy adherence and data completeness. We will also conduct a process evaluation. RESULTS: Study will address- uncertainty about feasibility and acceptability of delivering smoking cessation interventions, and ability to conduct smoking cessation trials, among adult smokers with SMI in low- and middle-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: This is to inform further intervention adaptation, and the design and conduct of future randomised controlled trials on this topic. Results will be disseminated through peer-review articles, presentations at national, international conferences and policy-engagement forums. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN34399445 (Updated 22/03/2021), ISRCTN Registry https://www.isrctn.com/.

Self-stigma, hope for future, and recovery: An exploratory study of men with early-onset substance use disorder.

Context: The internalizing of experience of stigma among patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) can be debilitating to recovery. Individual factors such as self-regulation and abstinence self-efficacy can impact confidence in recovery and hope for future. Aims: The aim of the study was to explore relationship among self-stigma, self-regulation, self-efficacy, optimism, and confidence in recovery of patients with early-onset SUDs. Settings and Design: The study was carried out on a sample of 40 male patients with SUDs. The study had a single group exploratory design. Materials and Methods: The Self-Regulation Questionnaire, Drug Taking Confidence Questionnaire, Substance Abuse Self Stigma Scale, Revised Generalized Expectancy of Success (GES), and visual analog scale for craving were the measures used in the study. Statistical Analysis: Pearson and spearman's correlation coefficient were used to test associations between the variables. Multiple regression models were drawn to examine predictors of generalized expectancy of success and confidence in recovery. Results: Self-regulation, generalized expectancy of success (optimism), and confidence in recovery were found to be significantly correlated with self-stigma dimensions. The multiple regression model revealed self-regulation and self-devaluation as significant predictors of optimism (GES), whereas abstinence self-efficacy and values disengagement dimension of self-stigma predicted patients' confidence in recovery. Conclusions: Poor regulatory capacities along with internalized feelings of shame, guilt, and devaluation may lead to lower levels of optimism and poorer expectancies of success from future. Patient's self-efficacy in terms of abstaining from use behaviors and disengagement from pursuing life goals can lead to lower levels of confidence in recovery from SUDs and have implications for treatment seeking.

Title of the study: Practice and attitude of doctors towards patients with substance use: A study from south India.

AIM: To evaluate the practice and attitude of doctors towards substance use disorders (SUD) and their management. METHODS: Following stratified proportionate random sampling, selected doctors in the south zone of Bengaluru, India, were interviewed face-to-face using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: 150 doctors were interviewed. In their practice, a quarter of patients (median of 27.5 (IQR: 11.45-45) use one or other form of Alcohol, Tobacco or Other Drugs of abuse (ATOD). Doctors, in general, enquire about substance use but do not actively intervene. They have mixed attitudes (both positive and negative) towards persons with SUD. A significant positive correlation was noted between the number of years of experience (post-MBBS) with practices related to "brief-intervention" (p = 0.014) and "concerned and sympathetic" attitudes (p < 0.001). However, a significant negative correlation was observed between the number of years of experience and "substance-specific management" practices (p < 0.001). Further, there was a positive correlation between "brief-interventions" practices with the attitude of being "concerned and sympathetic" (p < 0.001). A mediation analysis revealed that nearly a third of the overall effect of the number of years of experience on brief-interventions practices was mediated by a concerned and sympathetic attitude. CONCLUSIONS: Serious efforts must be made to train doctors in the effective management of SUD. Attitudes of the doctors influence practices such as brief interventions. Programs directed towards changing the attitudes of doctors can bring changes in their practices.

Occupational Challenges in Physicians with Substance Use Disorder: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) in physicians impact their professional responsibilities toward patients. Understanding the difficulties of physicians with SUDs would facilitate early identification and reduce the complications they face in various domains, particularly in settings where there are no physician-health care programs. In this background, we aimed to understand the challenges physicians with SUDs face at their workplace. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews of 21 physicians receiving treatment from a tertiary care addiction medicine center for their SUD were conducted and, based on the transcripts from the interview after coding and recoding, through inductive content analysis, themes and subthemes were identified. Results: The following occupational challenges were identified: direct consequences of the psychoactive effect of the substance, adverse effects on clinical care and service delivery, impairment in regularity and punctuality, changes in the physicians' behaviors, changes in the work environment and diverse responses of colleagues and the hospital administration toward substance use-related actions, ethical issues at workplace, and effects on career growth. Conclusions: SUDs in physicians have a significant impact on their functioning at work, affecting patient care, interpersonal relationships as well as career growth. Knowledge of occupational challenges among physicians with SUD will help us in understanding the severity of the problem.

Traumatic brain injury during COVID-19 pandemic-time-series analysis of a natural experiment.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to find if the incidence and pattern of traumatic brain injury (TBI) changed during the COVID-19pandemic. We also aim to build an explanatory model for change in TBI incidence using Google community mobility and alcohol sales data. DESIGN: A retrospective time-series analysis. SETTING: Emergency department of a tertiary level hospital located in a metropolitan city of southern India. This centre is dedicated to neurological, neurosurgical and psychiatric care. PARTICIPANTS: Daily counts of TBI patients seen between 1 December 2019 and 3 January 2021 (400 days); n=8893. To compare the profile of TBI cases seen before and during the pandemic, a subset of these cases seen between 1 December 2019 and 31 July 2020 (244 days), n=5259, are studied in detail. RESULTS: An optimal changepoint is detected on 20 March 2020 following which the mean number of TBI cases seen every day has decreased and variance has increased (mean 1=29.4, variance 1=50.1; mean 2=19.5, variance 2=59.7, loglikelihood ratio test: χ2=130, df=1, p<0.001). Two principal components of community mobility, alcohol sales and weekday explain the change in the number of TBI cases (pseudo R2=58.1). A significant decrease in traffic accidents, falls, mild/moderate injuries and, an increase in assault and severe injuries is seen during the pandemic period. CONCLUSIONS: Decongestion of roads and regulation of alcohol sales can decrease TBI occurrence substantially. An increase in violent trauma during lockdown needs further research in the light of domestic violence. Acute care facilities for TBI should be maintained even during a strict lockdown as the proportion of severe TBI requiring admission increases.

Effect of national cultural dimensions and consumption rates on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders.

BACKGROUND: Despite the notion of stigma as a socio-cultural process with the concept rooted in social space rather than in individual space, global studies examining impact of cultural differences on stigma toward substance use disorders are lacking. AIM: In this study, we aim to study the influence of national culture differences on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders. METHODS: We analyzed individual-level data from 68,041 respondents from 49 countries on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders. We examined the effect of the national culture dimensions and national alcohol and substance consumption rates on stigma toward alcohol and substance use disorders using hierarchical linear modeling. RESULTS: Our hierarchical linear modeling results indicate that cultural dimensions and consumption rates significantly influence stigma. We found significant positive associations between stigma toward AUD and institutional collectivism and assertiveness, but a negative association with future orientation dimension. Like AUD, stigma toward SUD was also positively associated with institutional collectivism and assertiveness, but negatively associated with power distance. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings have immense implications for national interventions to decrease stigma and influence policy making.

Forensic Aspects of Substance Use in Older Adults.

Older adults are at high risk of developing more severe consequences of substance use. Due to aging, they may also have multiple medical and psychiatric comorbidities as well as cognitive impairment. This may lead to forensic issues both in terms of civil and criminal matters. This article will review the forensic issues of substance use and their relevance to the older population in particular.

Knowledge, attitude, and behaviours on diet, physical activity, and tobacco use among school students: A cross-sectional study in two Indian states.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are escalating in India and can be attributed to behavioural risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use that began in early years. Understanding adolescents' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KAB) related to NCD risk factors would inform the development of school-based health programmes to prevent NCDs. Methods: Sixth-grade students (n=1026) in 20 schools (10 private, 10 public) from two Indian cities (n=667 from Pune; n=359 from Bengaluru) participated in a KAB survey in 2019. Differences in KAB by gender, school type within cities were investigated. Results: Knowledge about the harms of tobacco use was higher than knowledge about a healthy diet and the importance of physical activity. Only a small proportion of students did not eat breakfast (8.7%) or fruits (11.3%) daily. Only 33.4% of students read nutrition labels before choosing their food. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of less than an hour per day was reported by 42.5% of students. Approximately one-third of students had ever tried smoking tobacco (30.1%), smokeless tobacco (30.5%), and e-cigarettes (32.4%). Differences in these behaviours by gender and school type showed that both boys, girls and students of private and public schools are vulnerable. Conclusions: The findings highlight that knowledge is low for thematic areas like diet and physical activity. Low knowledge can be attributed to unfavourable behaviours like lack of reading nutrition labels and indulgence in sedentary activities. To protect India's young population (adolescents), there is a need to amplify health education activities and context-specific health intervention materials for them by engaging parents and communities. Thus, these programmes should be incorporated into the curriculum as part of the regular teaching, as they may induce positive changes in their knowledge and behaviours. In India, school health programmes should dedicate significant time to health promotion and NCD risk prevention.

Legal, Social, and Occupational Problems in Persons with Alcohol Use Disorder: An Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND: Very few studies have examined the extent and nature of legal, social, and occupational problems among persons who have SUDs. This study was aimed at studying the prevalence and patterns of the aforementioned problems among individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and their relationship with the quantity of alcohol consumed and other variables. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adult patients with a diagnosis of AUDs admitted to the deaddiction unit of a tertiary care facility in India, using a semistructured questionnaire prepared for this study. RESULTS: The mean age (SD) of the 91 subjects (95.6% males) was 40.3 years (8.5). Majority of them (92.3%) had started alcohol consumption before the age of 25 years. Common problems reported were work absenteeism (83.5%), a major altercation with spouse (69.3%), assaulting someone while intoxicated (53.8%), and driving under the influence of alcohol (59.3%). Significant association was found between being unemployed and having a police complaint lodged against them (chi-square = 5.7, P = 0.01). Quantity of alcohol consumed per day was significantly more among those who had a history of work absenteeism (Z = 2.27, P = 0.01), major altercation with spouse (Z = 2.25, P = 0.02) and assaulted someone under intoxication (Z = 2.33, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The quantity of alcohol consumed is significantly more in those who had several legal, social, and occupational problems when compared to those who did not have, highlighting the need for routine assessment of the aforementioned problems among patients of AUDs. Treatment of AUDs should be multidisciplinary, with targeted interventions tailored to the aforementioned problems. Doing so will go a long way in reducing the harm to patients and the community at large.

Diploma in primary care psychiatry: Do primary care doctors need training in cannabis use disorder module?

BACKGROUND: Cannabis is one of the most used illicit substances in India but is under-recognized and under-represented in clinical settings of India, especially at primary care. Patients usually do not seek treatment primarily for cannabis use, but it is identified on pro-active questioning by doctors. The aim is to study the clinical profiles of patients with cannabis use disorders (CUD) at primary care and to derive learning points from collaborative consultations to devise an optional module for CUD primarily for primary care doctors (PCDs). METHODS: File review of general patients with cannabis use, identified by PCDs during collaborative video consultation module of Diploma in Primary Care Psychiatry, was performed, and their profile and management difficulties were assessed. RESULT: Twelve patients with a mean age of 31.25 ± 12.04 years were identified by PCDs over a year. All were males with psychosis being the most common comorbidity. None of the patients presented primarily for cannabis use disorder. CONCLUSION: Identifying cannabis use among patients visiting PCDs becomes all the more important as the use of cannabis is not usually revealed spontaneously unless specifically probed. This warrants establishing guidelines for CUD specifically for use of PCDs for identifying and managing CUD.

Suicidal Ideation among Persons with Alcohol Use Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Suicide is a major threat to public health worldwide. Evidence suggests alcohol use disorders (AUD) are associated with suicide ideation. There is a paucity of studies in India regarding suicidal ideation among individuals receiving in-patient treatment for alcohol dependence. Aim: To assess the suicidal ideation and its severity among persons with alcohol use disorder. Methods: Cross-sectional research design was used. Totally 47 persons with alcohol use disorder receiving in-patient treatment were screened for suicidal ideation using a consecutive sampling technique based on inclusion and exclusion criteria at centre for addiction medicine, tertiary care teaching hospital at Bangalore. An interview schedule was used to collect the data. Tools: Mini+ suicidality was used for screening suicidal ideation and Columbia suicide severity rating scale was used to assess the frequency and severity of the suicidal ideation. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean were used for data analysis. Results & Discussion: Out of 47 patients, 29 reported having suicidal ideations (62%). AUD suicidal ideation was more among persons belong to below poverty line, lower education level, unemployed, married, living with family of origin, nuclear family, urban, using tobacco. Their mean age was 35 years (±6.6). Majority (62%) of them had suicidal ideation in the past one month, 43% reported having thought to kill themselves over the past one month. One-third (35%) able to control suicidal thought with lot of difficulty, 83% reported that deterrents stopped them attempting suicide, 82%wanted to end their life to end or stop the pain that they are enduring. Conclusion: The prevalence of suicidal ideations is high among persons with alcohol use disorder. Socio-demographic factors likely to have an influence on suicidal ideation among persons with alcohol use disorder.