: This study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of delivering Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) to veterans with moral injury and co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder (PTSD-SUD). : Veterans (N = 26; M age = 50.92; 100% male) were recruited for an 8-week MSC group. Participants completed measures of self-compassion, guilt, shame, PTSD, and substance use outcomes at baseline, post-treatment, and one-month post-treatment. : The recruitment target was easily met, and dropout rates were low (30.8%) for a comorbid veteran sample. Participants reported satisfaction with the intervention. Clinically meaningful change was examined for self-compassion, trauma-related symptoms, and substance use. A clinically meaningful increase for self-compassion and clinically meaningful decreases in PTSD symptoms, guilt, shame, and number of drinking days were observed. : The open-label design and small sample size preclude conclusions regarding efficacy. However, these preliminary findings are encouraging and suggest further investigation of MSC as a compliment to existing trauma-related therapies (NCT03681288).

The relationship between concurrent depression and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment outcomes remains incompletely understood. Prior studies found mixed results regarding the impact of psychiatric comorbidities on retention to medications for OUD. This study aims to evaluate how the receipt of pharmacotherapy for depression impacts retention to buprenorphine therapy among patients with OUD and concurrent depression. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Humana Healthcare Research claims database (2014-2020) on a sample of adult patients who initiated buprenorphine for OUD between January 2015, and September 2019. Patients were required to have a 180-day buprenorphine-free period pre-index. Patients with concurrent depression were identified via diagnosis in a medical claim within the baseline period. Antidepressant use was defined as cumulative exposure from the start of the baseline through the end of the 180-day follow-up period. The primary outcome was time to buprenorphine discontinuation, defined as a gap of more than 30 days from the day of last supply. Cox Proportional Hazards regression was used to estimate the association between antidepressant receipt and buprenorphine discontinuation. Sensitivity analyses on specific classes of antidepressants were also conducted. The final analytical cohort included 1,973 patients with OUD and concurrent depression. Of these, 235 (11.91%) discontinued buprenorphine during the follow-up period, with a mean time to discontinuation of 97.92 (±68.64) days. Survival analysis revealed that patients who received antidepressants had a significantly lower hazard of discontinuation [aHR (95% CI): 0.995 (0.994, 0.996); .0001]. Initiated dose of buprenorphine also had a significant effect on the hazard of discontinuation [0.976 (0.956, 0.997); .0270]. Our findings support the notion that continuation of antidepressants when initiating buprenorphine therapy for OUD positively influences buprenorphine retention among patients with OUD and concurrent depression.

Co-occurrence of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (SSD) and stimulant use disorder (StUD) is an ongoing clinical problem and can lead to poor outcomes. Although emerging evidence has suggested psychostimulant substitution therapy may result in improved outcomes in those with StUD, the efficacy and safety of psychostimulant substitution therapy for StUD in those with concurrent SSD is uncertain. This review aims to systematically find and assess all available efficacy and safety evidence on the use of prescription psychostimulants in those with co-occurring SSD and StUD. Electronic searches of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, ClinicalTrials, EU Clinical Trials, and CADTH were conducted from inception to February 27, 2024. Any study design was accepted if they involved the following concepts 1) SSD and StUD and 2) prescription psychostimulants. Given the paucity of trials meeting criteria, outcomes of interest were described qualitatively. Risk of bias was assessed using Q-Coh and ROB2. Only seven articles met criteria, and most of these were case reports and series. The single RCT included was at high risk of bias. Outcomes included abstinence, reductions in non-prescribed stimulant use, psychiatric hospitalizations, levels of craving, improvements in mental health, improvements in psychosocial functioning, adherence to antipsychotic medications, and retention in treatment. Most of the results indicated that psychostimulant substitution therapy in individuals with SSD-StUD was not associated with improved outcomes. Available evidence for treatment of StUD via psychostimulant substitution therapy in individuals with SSD is lacking. More exploration is required for this clinical question to allow for current practice to be backed by evidence.

Drug use and related harm among women of color who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious clinical concern. Depression symptoms have been identified as an important risk factor for the development of drug use and related harm among women of color with a history of IPV. The current study advances this research by examining the roles of distinct domains of racial microaggressions in the relation between depression symptoms and drug use and related harm in this population. Participants were 103 women of color experiencing IPV ( = 40.39, 51% Black/African American). Results indicated an indirect effect of depression symptoms on drug use and related harm via racial microaggression domains of Assumptions of Inferiority, Second-Class Citizen and Assumptions of Criminality, Microinvalidations, Exoticization and Assumptions of Similarity, and Environmental Microaggressions. Findings provide preliminary support for the role of racial microaggressions in the association between depression and drug use and related harm among women of color experiencing IPV.

To examine how non-pharmacological integrated treatment components are presented in the literature, to facilitate high-quality dual diagnosis treatment and support informed decision-making in the development of integrated treatment facilities. A literature search was conducted in databases Ovid/Embase, PubMed, CINAHL focusing on intervention studies published between 2013 and 2023, describing integrated treatment for patients with dual diagnosis. A six-stage methodological framework for scoping reviews was used for selection and analysis of the papers included. Twenty-six studies were included. Most integrated interventions were group therapy sessions guided by CBT or MI, however there was a large heterogeneity in the remaining core components and outcome measurements. Staff competence was often vaguely defined and described. : The heterogeneity of the studies included influences reproductivity and comparability which makes it challenging to condense firm recommendations and point directions for design of treatment and scientific practice.

Explore local leaders' perceptions of substance use and psychosis treatment to inform the implementation of an assertive community treatment model for historically marginalized youth. Interviews were conducted with local leaders in a Northeast city with relevant expertise. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research domains. Fifteen leaders completed interviews and four key themes emerged: (1) A patchwork of systems attempts to catch youth early on, but often fails; (2) The inability to simultaneously address mental health and substance use concerns complicates care; (3) An ideal program would be flexible in the ways the current system is inflexible; (4) factors important in tailoring a program to serve historically marginalized youth. When designing a program to support the engagement of youth with symptoms of psychosis and SUD, it is important to take a patient-centered and flexible approach that accounts for the community-based setting.

This study examined behavioral health clinician perceptions at the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic regarding their preparedness, training, and effectiveness in delivering telehealth to adults and adolescents in substance use and mental health settings. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey of 241 behavioral health practitioners in Pennsylvania from November 17, 2020, to January 3, 2021. Quantitative descriptive and qualitative analyses on survey results are presented. Clinicians believed they were effective in their delivery of therapeutic services through telehealth modalities. However, they noted key training needs for delivering telehealth. Results indicate greater difficulty in delivering telehealth to adolescent clients and those with substance use. Practitioners indicate that telehealth allows greater access to treatment. Researchers recommend increasing training for practitioners and conducting training for patients. Policies should be reconsidered and address the changing landscape of behavioral health service provision.

Cannabis is the most widely used substance among people with recent onset psychosis, but it can have significant negative consequences for long term wellbeing in this cohort. We explored the perspectives of people with recent onset psychosis who used cannabis on their motivations for quitting, their experiences of trying to do so, and their views of the support they had received and the strategies that they had tried. Twenty one-to-one qualitative interviews were conducted with Early Intervention in Psychosis service users in England who had participated in the CIRCLE trial. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a mix of demographic, cannabis use status, and other characteristics. Quitting cannabis is often very challenging for people and can require making substantial changes in their lives, including to their social relationships, living arrangements, or pathways through work or education. Participants reported wanting help, but often experienced support from mental health services as insubstantial and poorly tailored. Support from peers with relevant lived-experience, where available, was highly valued. Common reasons for quitting included its impact on key life goals or engaging with hobbies, finances, mental health, incompatibility with self-image, and negative use expectancies of intoxication. Concerns regarding mental health were primarily related to psychotic illness, including fear of exacerbating symptoms or experiencing future hospital admissions. It is currently unclear how best to support people in this cohort. Interventions that provide support from people with relevant lived experience may be more valued and more clinically effective than current offerings.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as cognitive dysfunctions, improve with abstinence in individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD), but less is known about psychotic features. The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychosis proneness in a sample of individuals with severe AUD and potential changes after alcohol withdrawal.

The first objective was to identify common exclusion criteria used in clinical trials. The second objective was to quantify the degree to which these criteria exclude emergency psychiatry patients. Qualitative Content Analysis was used for the first objective, identifying common exclusion criteria used in recent high-impact substance use clinical trials. A retrospective record review was used for the second objective, which examined the frequency of these exclusion criteria in a 1-month sample of adults receiving psychiatric evaluation in an emergency department. Most trials had exclusions for co-occurring psychiatric problems (76.6%), medical problems (74.0%), prior or current treatment (72.7%), motivation for change (61.1%), pregnancy or lactation (57.1%), or using other specified substances of abuse (54.6%). In the clinical sample, exclusions for co-occurring psychiatric problems would make 94.7% of patients ineligible. Other exclusions had a combined effect of making 76% of patients ineligible. Clinical trials using typical exclusion criteria exclude nearly all emergency psychiatry patients with substance use problems.

Dropout rates are high in treatments for co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs). We examined dropout predictors in PTSD-SUD treatment. Participants were 183 veterans receiving integrated or phased motivational enhancement therapy and prolonged exposure. Using survival models, we examined demographics and symptom trajectories as dropout predictors. Using latent trajectory analysis, we incorporated clusters based on symptom trajectories to improve dropout prediction. Hispanic ethnicity (integrated arm), Black or African American race (phased arm), and younger age (phased arm) predicted dropout. Clusters based on PTSD and substance use trajectories improved dropout prediction. In integrated treatment, participants with consistently-high use and low-and-improving use had the highest dropout. In phased treatment, participants with the highest and lowest PTSD symptoms had lower dropout; participants with the lowest substance use had higher dropout. Identifying within-treatment symptom trajectories associated with dropout can help clinicians intervene to maximize outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01211106.

Our aim was to analyze the association between criminal behavior and impulsivity in individuals with drug addiction and investigate whether impulsiveness mediates the relationship between drug use severity and legal problems.

The co-occurrence of anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and substance use problems was examined. The Mental Health Client-Level Data dataset was used to conduct logistic regression models and an artificial neural network analysis. Logistic regression analyses were conducted among adults with anxiety ( = 547,473) or depressive disorders ( = 1,610,601) as their primary diagnosis who received treatment in a community mental health center. The artificial neural network analysis was conducted with the entire sample ( = 2,158,074). Approximately 30% of the sample had co-occurring high-risk substance use or substance use disorder. Characteristics including region of treatment receipt, age, education, gender, race and ethnicity, and the presence of co-occurring anxiety and depressive disorders were associated with the co-occurring high-risk substance use or a substance use disorder. Findings from this study highlight the importance of mental health facilities to screen for and provide integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders.

Early leaving in substance use disorder treatment may be the single largest variable undermining treatment success. Existing work on early leaving tends to explore either client factors, which include age, race, gender, and diagnoses, or treatment factors, which include the type of treatment activities offered, treatment experiences of clients and staff, treatment amenities, and environmental factors in the residential treatment program. However, existing work on both client factors and treatment factors provides mixed results on what contributes to early leaving. Further, there has been very little research in the private residential treatment setting. This study aims to explore the factors influencing early leaving in a private residential treatment setting. The study analyzed admission and treatment records from 247 consecutive clients at a private treatment facility in Southern California to identify factors related to shorter retention. The program employs a biopsychosocial approach and evidence-based practices to assist clients in recovery from substance use disorders and mental health conditions. We utilize a battery of client measures, including the Outcome Questionnaire 45.2, Trauma History Questionnaire, as well as demographic and psychiatric variables in our analyses. Findings challenge previous research by showing that age and gender do not predict shorter retention, contrary to findings in the extant literature on public treatment centers. Instead, clients with higher symptoms of distress stay longer, as indicated by scores on the Outcome Questionnaire 45.2. Additionally, we find the majority of the cohort stayed in residential treatment for more than 30 days, with the average length of stay being 47.92 days, indicating that treatment completion of clients with severe symptomatology for an extended time in treatment (30 days or more) is achievable. The study underscores the importance of considering client symptomologies and severities in understanding and improving retention in substance use disorder treatment programs. This study highlights the potential impact of treatment services offered in private settings on client retention.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client centered counseling approach which aims to promote behavior change by enhancing patient motivation through the exploration and resolution of ambivalence. This type of psychotherapy, initially designed for the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD), is now seen as an effective way to manage chronic physical and psychiatric diseases. Patients with Dual Diagnosis (DD), people who simultaneously have a SUD diagnosis and a mental illness, are a complex group of psychiatric patients who have a particularly low treatment engagement. It was hypothesized that MI could be a valuable add-on therapy for DD patients. This review summarizes the main findings of randomized controlled trials applying MI to patients' psychiatric diagnoses and substance use. We aim to clarify previous inconsistent results regarding MI effectivity in this complex and challenging disorder.

To investigate demographic/cinical variables associated to dual diagnosis and the psychological reaction of dual-diagnosis patients to COVID-19 pandemic.

This longitudinal cohort study aims to investigate the relationship between self-reported childhood maltreatment (CM) and the retrospective trajectory of substance use, mental health, and satisfaction with life in individuals with substance use disorders.

Chronic pain (CP) is independently associated with substance use disorders (SUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little is known about factors associated with CP among patients with co-occurring PTSD and SUD. Patterns of hospital resource usage should also be explored further. Using the 2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), we identified 216,125 hospital discharges with co-occurring diagnoses of PTSD and SUD in 2019 and examined their association with CP. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with an increased likelihood of CP in this cohort. Among those with co-occurring PTSD and SUD ( = 216,125), 35,450 had associated CP, a prevalence of 164.02 cases per 1,000 discharges (95% CI [160.54, 167.52]). Individuals aged 55-64 with co-occurring PTSD and SUD were approximately 7.2 times more likely to experience CP, compared to those aged 16-24 (OR = 7.2; 95% CI [6.09, 8.60]). Being in the CP group was associated with 50% increased odds of insomnia and obesity (OR = 1.5; 95% CI [1.12, 2.03] and OR = 1.5; 95% CI [1.38, 1.55], respectively), 30% increased odds of anxiety (OR = 1.3; 95% CI [1.24, 1.38]), 20% increased odds of attention deficit disorder (ADD;OR = 1.2; 95% CI [1.12, 1.38]) and 10% increased odds of depression (OR = 1.1; 95% CI [1.01, 1.14]). Compared with females, being male was associated with slightly decreased odds of CP (OR = 0.9; 95% CI [0.84, 0.94]). Among hospitalized Americans with co-occurring PTSD and SUD, advanced age, being female, and the presence other mental health disorders were associated with an increased risk of CP. Providers treating co-occurring PTSD/SUD should evaluate for and consider evidence-based management of CP if present.

This study aimed to examine the potential changes in substance use disorder (SUD) admission rates before and after the lockdown in a major addiction center in Saudi Arabia. This retrospective cohort study extracted data from Al-Amal Hospital Electronic Health Record in the city of Dammam, Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. A total of 2,426 cases included in the analysis for patients who received services from the SUD treatment programs from 1/1/2015 to 31/12/2021. Before the pandemic, there was a consistent increase in the admission rates for patients with substance use disorder. The highest proportion of increase were among unemployed, young, newly admitted patients. During lockdown, there was nearly a 70% reduction in SUDs-related admission rate. The age group 18-25 was seven-times more likely to be admitted for SUD after the lockdown. Amphetamine-related admissions were two times more likely to be admitted after the lockdown (Odds ratio (OR) 2.04; confidence interval (CI) 95%[1.64, 2.54]). There was nearly 70% reduction in SUDs admission rates during the lockdown. After the lockdown, a significant proportional increase in amphetamine use disorder admissions was observed mostly among the patients age group 18-24 with a history of a previous admissions. Determining populations at risk for high health care utilization is crucial in building a comprehensive and effective prevention strategy. Therefore, the need to adopt coordinated strategies and innovative, comprehensive approaches to benefit individuals with SUD is imperative to face the increased rate of SUD related admissions.

This systematic review describes studies focussed on co-occurring mental health and substance use (MH/SU) conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including the: characteristics; co-occurring conditions examined; cultural methodological quality; traditional scientific methodological quality of studies; and study outcomes. A systematic review examined the literature on co-occurring MH/SU conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Four databases were searched, with data from relevant studies extracted for narrative synthesis. Twelve articles (11 studies) were included. Nine studies used cross-sectional designs; one was a qualitative study and one a mixed methods study with a nested randomized controlled trial. Cultural methodological quality was low across the studies, with a maximum of 7 out of 14 criteria met. Thirty-three combinations of co-occurring conditions were examined. Most research to date has been cross-sectional with limited research exploring the effectiveness of treatments for co-occurring MH/SU conditions. Further Indigenous-led research is needed to find culturally safe, responsive and effective solutions in reducing the burden associated with MH/SU conditions and improving wellbeing.

People may consume alcohol to cope with the stressors and anxieties of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study applied the self-medication hypothesis, tension reduction hypothesis, and alcohol myopia theory to understand COVID-19 alcohol coping as a mediator of the pathways from COVID-19 anxiety to alcohol use and alcohol consequences.

Co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents a prevalent and problematic comorbidity. Functional health literacy (FHL) may play a role in this comorbidity based on its previously documented role in hazardous drinking. The current study examined functional health literacy (FHL) regarding hazardous drinking among a sample with probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The current study is a secondary analysis of data from a project studying the transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factors of PTSD and hazardous alcohol use among people with probable PTSD and AUD. Participants were 565 nationally recruited adults with probable PTSD and hazardous alcohol use (52.2% female, 68.8% non-Hispanic White, average age = 39.2 years ± 10.9 years). Linear regression models were conducted regressing hazardous alcohol use onto PTSD symptoms and FHL scores. An interaction term between FHL and PTSD symptoms was included in the regression models with age, biological sex, race, and income included as covariates. Low FHL maintained a statistically significant role in predicting greater hazardous drinking ( < .001) even in the context of posttraumatic stress. High posttraumatic stress also emerged as a statistically significant predictor of hazardous alcohol use ( < .001). The interaction term between FHL and PTSD was not found to be a significant predictor of hazardous alcohol use ( = .222). FHL may be a relevant variable for better understand hazardous drinking among persons with comorbid PTSD and AUD.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) commonly co-occur with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding PTSD clinics that serve higher percentages of patients with PTSD/SUD is crucial for improving SUD care in clinics with lower percentages of such patients. This study examined the differences between Veterans Affairs (VA) PTSD treatment sites with higher percentages ("High%") and lower percentages ("Low%") of patients with PTSD/SUD as well as exploring the roles of the PTSD/SUD specialists.

 Depressed youth exhibit higher rates of suicidal behavior compared to healthy controls, with problematic substance use potentially intensifying this risk. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the impact of comorbid depression and problematic substance use and its association with suicidality in youth populations.  We examined differences in clinical features and demographic characteristics between 797 depressed youth ages 8-20 years with and without problematic substance use from the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN). Additionally, to assess whether the effect of depression severity on suicidal ideation and suicide attempt history were influenced by problematic substance use, multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted.  Depressed youth with problematic substance use (versus those without) were significantly older, more likely to exhibit suicidal ideation and a history of suicide attempts and had significantly worse school functioning after controlling for age, sex, race, and ethnicity. Problematic substance use did not moderate the effect of depression severity on suicidal ideation or suicide attempt history.  Findings shed light on the impact of problematic substance use in depressed youth which may allow for earlier and more specified intervention efforts aimed at identifying and targeting youth suicidality.

The aim of the study was to identify groups of young adults with distinct longitudinal patterns of use of treatment for substance use disorders and mental health (MH) problems and to investigate potential explanatory factors for different patterns of treatment use over time, including sociodemographic factors.

Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) are associated with increased vulnerability for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but not everyone who experiences ACEs develops PTSD. Impulsivity has gained interest as a potential mediator between ACEs and PTSD, given that both PTSD and ACEs have been closely related to impulsivity. However, less is known about the relationship within the context of substance use disorder (SUD), a population highly vulnerable to co-occurring PTSD. This study examined whether impulsivity mediates the relationship between ACEs and PTSD symptoms in adults seeking residential treatment for substance use disorder (SUD).  = 134 consenting adults in residential treatment for SUD completed questionnaires measuring impulsivity (UPPS-P), ACEs (ACEs Scale), and PTSD symptoms (PCL-5). Regression models tested our hypotheses that ACEs would predict PTSD symptoms and that impulsivity would mediate this relationship. Two-thirds of participants met the PCL-5 score threshold for a provisional diagnosis of PTSD. ACEs score and impulsivity were significant direct predictors of PTSD symptoms (coeff = 2.23, < .001; coeff = 1.03, < .001). Among UPPS-P subconstructs, only lack of premeditation emerged as a partial mediator (z = 2.14,  = 0.032). Individuals with SUD experience adverse and traumatic events at alarming rates and are at increased risk for PTSD. Our mediation finding suggests that impulsivity and especially lack of premeditation may be clinically relevant in the development or maintenance of PTSD symptoms among individuals with SUD.

Women of Color (WoC) experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) have elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use and related harm (e.g., increased alcohol use and negative consequences). This secondary data analysis assessed the role of racial microaggressions in the association between PTSD and alcohol use and related harm among WoC experiencing IPV. Participants were 103 WoC currently experiencing IPV and using substances (=40.39, 51.5% Black) who were recruited from the community and completed assessments of PTSD, racial microaggressions, and alcohol use and related harm. Assumptions of Inferiority (e.g., intelligence;  = 1.44,  = 0.90, 95% CI [0.10, 3.54]) and Environmental Microaggressions (e.g., portrayal in media;  = 1.88,  = 1.03, 95% CI [0.28, 4.30]) explained the association between PTSD and alcohol use and related harm. Findings underscore the influence of specific microaggressions in the relation between PTSD and alcohol use and related harm among WoC experiencing IPV.

: Substance use is common among people with primary mental illness especially schizophrenia and bipolar disorder compared to the general population and complicates treatment outcomes. We enrolled 385 patients with primary mental illnesses in southwestern Uganda between June and August 2022. We collected information on alcohol and cannabis use, social support, religiosity, adherence to treatment and sociodemographic characteristics. We run a logistic regression model to determine the factors associated with substance use disorder. At multivariable analysis, being male (AOR = 13.61, 95% CI [3.66-50.63]: .001) and prior history of cannabis/alcohol use (AOR = 34.95, 95% CI [8.80-138.72]: .001) were significantly associated with substance use disorder while adherence to treatment was against substance use disorder (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI [0.09-0.83]: .03). Adherence to treatment is protective against substance use disorder among people with mental illness. Interventions aiming at preventing substance use disorder among people with mental illness should aim at promoting adherence to treatment.