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High Risk Behaviors & Addiction - Volume:5 Issue: 3, Sep 2016

International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction
Volume:5 Issue: 3, Sep 2016

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1395/07/05
  • تعداد عناوین: 10
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  • Ankur Sachdeva*, Mina Chandra, Mona Choudhary, Prabhoo Dayal, Kuljeet Singh Anand Page 1
    Context: Alcohol consumption has escalated rapidly in many countries over the past decade. Evidence suggests a correlation between alcohol use and cognitive decline. We have systematically reviewed the concept and controversies, epidemiology, nosology, neuropathology and neurobiology, neuropsychology and management updates of alcohol-related dementia (ARD) in this paper..
    Evidence Acquisition: We retrieved papers for this review by searching the PubMed database for terms “alcohol and dementia”, “alcohol and cognitive impairment”, and “alcohol and wernicke-korsakoff” mentioned in the title of the published papers. A total of 131 studies showed up. Appropriate studies were shortlisted and included (n = 72). Cross-references if relevant were considered from the selected studies. Eligible articles were fully read by the authors and the results were compiled..
    Results
    The prolonged and excessive use of alcohol may lead to structural and functional brain damage, leading to ARD. The cognitive deficits are most frequently observed in domains of visuospatial functions, memory and executive tasks, with a potential of partial recovery if abstinence is maintained. However, there are doubts regarding the etiopathogenesis, nosological status, prevalence and diagnostic criteria for ARD, due to difficulty in assessment and various confounding factors..
    Conclusions
    With growing cohort of young and middle-aged people, there is a probable risk of upsurge of ARD. Presently, there are dilemmas over the diagnosis of independent ARD. Thus, there is a need to develop evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and management of ARD through further systematic studies..
    Keywords: Alcohols, Dementia, Cognition, Wernicke Encephalopathy, Thiamine
  • Mohammad Rafi Bazrafshan, Farkhondeh Sharif*, Zahra Molazem, Arash Mani Page 2
    Background
    Research shows that parents have an immense influence over their children’s behavior during adolescence. Adolescents who grow up with parents who are addicted to drugs and alcohol are more likely to turn to self-destructive behaviors such as suicide attempts. Because addiction in Iran is a primarily masculine phenomenon and in traditional Iranian culture, the father is responsible for family affairs and is recognized as the family provider, paternal addiction affects adolescent children. However, the impact of this type of parental addiction on adolescent suicide attempts has received little attention..
    Objectives
    This study was conducted to assess the impact of paternal addiction on adolescent suicide attempts..
    Patients and
    Methods
    This was a qualitative study that used a grounded theory approach. Thirteen participants, from two hospitals in Shiraz (southern Iran), were interviewed. We used purposeful sampling, followed by theoretical sampling. Data were collected from in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was done using Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) approach, followed by the constant comparative method..
    Results
    The mean age of the adolescents was 15.75 ± 1.83, and all of them were single. Five main themes were extracted from the data: mental health problems, relationship problems, financial problems, family problems, and imitation of risky behaviors..
    Conclusions
    The findings suggest that in addition to the need to consider paternal addiction in health care plans, it is also necessary to pay attention to other family members, including the adolescents themselves. Health care providers, including nurses, can use the findings from this study for the purposes of prevention and education..
    Keywords: Adolescent, Behavior, Addictive, Qualitative Research, Suicide, Attempted
  • Yasan Kazemzadeh, Mostafa Shokoohi, Mohammad Reza Baneshi, Ali Akbar Haghdoost* Page 3
    Background
    Since the direct questions usually underestimate the frequency of sensitive behaviors, indirect methods can be used to estimate the frequency of some risky behaviors such as illicit drug use, sexual behaviors especially where these behaviors are highly stigmatized..
    Objectives
    In the current study, we indirectly estimated the prevalence of some risky behaviors among college students using two indirect
    Methods
    network scale-up (NSU) and crosswise model (CM)..
    Patients and
    Methods
    Having recruited 563 students from one of Iran’s major medical universities, the prevalence of opium and drug use, alcohol consumption, relationships with the opposite sex (RWOS),and extra/pre-marital sex (EPMS) were estimated using two indirect methods..
    Results
    The estimated prevalence using the CM and NSU were alcohol consumption (16.8% vs. 8.1%), opium use (2.2% both), methamphetamine use (7.2% vs. 1.2%), taking tramadol without medical indications (14.8% vs. 4.8%), RWOS (42.3% vs. 31.9%), and EPMS (12.4% vs. 7.1%)..
    Conclusions
    Lower estimations in the NSU method might be due to the transmission barrier, which means that students were not fully aware of the high-risk behaviors of their close friends. Nonetheless, it seems that these risky behaviors were more or less common among Iranian college students..
    Keywords: Dangerous Behavior, Drug Abuse, Sexual Behavior, College Student
  • Alireza Ansari, Moghaddam, Hossein Ansari*, Mahdi Mohammadi, Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, Mohammadreza Pishevare, Mofrad, Mahmodreza Miri, Bonjar Page 4
    Background
    Although smoking and drug use are the major causes of accidents and death of drivers, few studies have been conducted on the prevalence of smoking and its associated factors in this occupational group..
    Objectives
    The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of smoking and its relationship with blood parameters among drivers in Zahedan city, Iran..
    Patients and
    Methods
    In this study, 1836 inner and intercity drivers were investigated in 2013 in terms of smoking and drug use and blood parameters. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews and necessary examinations and tests, and were analyzed by Stata.12 software using Chi-square, independent t-test, and multiple regression analysis at significance level of 0.05..
    Results
    Generally, four drivers were addicted to drugs and smoked as well. Two-hundred and eighty eight drivers (15.8%) reported daily smoking. Variables of age, education, and type of vehicle showed a significant relationship with smoking. No significant difference was found in blood parameters between the smokers and non-smokers..
    Conclusions
    Despite relatively high prevalence of smoking than drug use in Zahedan drivers, there are few reports of these behaviors. Laboratory tests cannot suitably measure substance use due to their interference with other substances. Considering adverse effects of smoking on health and driving, it is necessary to train drivers to reduce or stop smoking during driving..
    Keywords: Smoking, Beaviors, Addictive, Drivers
  • Seyed Mohammad Hashemi, Shahri, Batool Sharifi, Mood, Hamid, Reza Kouhpayeh, Javad Moazen, Mohsen Farrokhian, Masoud Salehi* Page 5
    Background
    Studies show that nearly 40 million people are living with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) around the world and since the beginning of the epidemic, about 35 million have died from AIDS. Heterosexual intercourse is the most common route for transmission of HIV infection (85%). People with a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as syphilis, genital herpes, chancroid, or bacterial vaginosis, are more likely to obtain HIV infection during sex. On the other hand, a patient with HIV can acquire other infections such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and also STIs. Co-infections and co-morbidities can affect the treatment route of patients with HIV/AIDs. Sometimes, physicians should treat these infections before treating the HIV infection. Therefore, it is important to identify co-infection or comorbidity in patients with HIV/AIDS..
    Objectives
    This study was conducted in order to understand the prevalence of HIV/AIDS/STI co-infection..
    Patients and
    Methods
    In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated all HIV/AIDS patients who were admitted to the infectious wards of Boo-Ali hospital (Southeastern Iran) between March 2000 and January 2015. All HIV/AIDS patients were studied for sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and genital herpes. A questionnaire including data on age, sex, job, history of vaccination against HBV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), HCV-Ab, venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test, fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-Abs) test, and urine culture was designed. Data was analyzed by the Chi square test and P values of
    Results
    Among the 41 patients with HIV/AIDS (11 females and 30 males; with age range of 18 to 69 years) five cases (12.1%) had a positive test (1:8 or more) for VDRL. The FTA-Abs was positive for all patients who were positive for VDRL. Gonorrhea was found in seven patients (17%) and three cases had genital herpes in clinical examinations. All patients who had positive test results for these STIs were male. Eleven patients (26.8%) had HBV infection (three females and eight males). hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found in 13 cases (31%). Eighty percent of patients were unemployed. Seventy-eight percent of patients with HIV/STI were aged between 18 and 38 years. There was a significant difference between sex and becoming infected with HIV and also STI (P
    Conclusions
    Patients with HIV/AIDS are more likely to acquire other STIs, because the same behaviors that increase the risk of becoming HIV infected can also increase the risk of acquiring STIs. Having a sore on the skin due to an STI can make the transmission of HIV to the sex partner more likely than people who don’t have such sore in their genital area..
    Keywords: AIDS, HBV, HIV, Syphilis, Co, infection
  • Mahmood Sheikh Fathollahi, Fateme Torkashvand, Hamid Najmeddin, Mohsen Rezaeian* Page 6
    Background
    Retention in treatment is a key factor to the success of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and considered an important measure in evaluation of treatment effectiveness..
    Objectives
    This study aimed to investigate the retention rate and predictors of retention in MMT in Rafsanjan..
    Patients and
    Methods
    This was a historical cohort study. A total of 1396 patients admitted between March 2011 and March 2012 in 16 MMT clinics (13 private and 3 state clinics) in Rafsanjan, entered the study and their retention rate was examined for one year. The patients’ data abstracted from their medical records using checklists and collected by clinics’ staff. Data analyses were performed using SPSS 15.0 and SAS 9.1. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used to determine the retention rate and identify predictors of retention, respectively..
    Results
    The mean age of 1396 patients was 37.65 ± 10.77 years and most patients were men (93.8%). The mean and median of retention duration were 193.22 ± 3.83 and 153 ± 9.54 days, respectively. Three-month and one-year retention rates were 66.0% and 34.4%, respectively. Predictor variables of one-year retention in Cox proportional hazards model were high methadone dosage, polysubstance abuse and treatment under state clinics..
    Conclusions
    In this study, retention rate was lower compared to previous studies from other countries. The results suggested that program related factors are better predictors of retention than individual related ones..
    Keywords: Retention, Methadone, Maintenance, Cox Models, Iran
  • Behrouz Dolatshahi, Ali Farhoudian*, Mozhgan Falahatdoost, Mahmoud Tavakoli, Ebrahim Rezaie Dogahe Page 7
    Background
    Increased prevalent use of methamphetamine is a global public challenge. Information on drug use can be helpful in preventing high-risk behavior related to drug abuse..
    Objectives
    This study aims to investigate the sexual function changes related to methamphetamine use in the male clients of public and private addiction treatment centers..
    Patients and
    Methods
    In this qualitative study, 45 men (35 methamphetamine users, 5 family members of the users, and 5 psychiatrists or physicians who were famous for treating or researching addiction) are involved. An in-depth interview was done with therapists and key individuals..
    Results
    The results show that the effects of methamphetamine on sexual function are not identical. The first usage is concomitant with the increased duration of sex, an increase in the quality and quantity of sexual pleasure, a delighted orgasm, and feeling more control of the sex act. These effects gradually decrease. A decreased libido and various sexual dysfunctions such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and losing control during the sex act will appear over time..
    Conclusions
    There are differences in the libido and sexual functions of methamphetamine users. Personal perceptions of one’s sexual function may be affected by cognitive changes resultant from the drug. Drug-use prevention, addiction treatments, appropriate sexual behavior education, and harm reduction are priorities..
    Keywords: Qualitative Research, Sexual Dysfunction, Amphetamine
  • Yatan Pal Singh Balhara*, Sathya Prakash, Rishab Gupta Page 8
    Background
    No study from India has examined pathways to care in alcohol using population systematically..
    Objectives
    The present study aimed to understand the pathways to care among alcohol-dependent individuals seeking help at a tertiary care center..
    Patients and
    Methods
    It was a cross-sectional, observational study. A total of 58 subjects diagnosed with alcohol- dependence syndrome as per DSM-IV-TR were included in the study. Pathways to care were assessed using the world health organization encounter form..
    Results
    For 56.9% of the subjects, first point of contact was with a tertiary care addiction psychiatrist. Traditional healers were consulted by about 5.2% of the patients seeking help for the first time. The mean duration of main problems due to alcohol use was 5.82 ± 4.95 years. The first contact tended to be at place nearer to the patient’s residence while further contacts tended to be farther away. Family, friends and neighbours together constituted the single largest group suggesting patients to seek care..
    Conclusions
    There is a long time lag between the onset of alcohol use related problems and the first help seeking attempt. Of those who do decide to seek help, the proportion of those obtaining specialist help is higher than commonly believed..
    Keywords: Alcohol Related Disorders, Help, Seeking Behavior, India
  • Abolghasem Yaghoobi*, Serwa Mohammadzade, Ali Asghar Chegini, Mosaeib Yarmohammadi Vasel, Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paidar Page 9
    Background
    The anonymity in the cyberspace environment, as well as the rapid advent of and improvements to online activities has increased cybercrime..
    Objectives
    The aim of this paper was to survey the relationship between attachment styles, self-monitoring and cybercrime in social network users..
    Patients and
    Methods
    The Collins and Read Adult Attachment Scale, and the Snyder self-monitoring and cybercrime scales were sent to 500 social network users. Of these, 203 users (103 men and 100 women) filled out the questionnaires..
    Results
    The results showed that women achieved higher scores in self-monitoring and the anxious attachment style, and men achieved higher scores in cybercrime and the anxious attachment style. There was a negative correlation between self-monitoring and cybercrime, and the anxious attachment style had a positive correlation with cybercrime and a negative correlation with self-monitoring. The secure attachment style had a positive correlation with self-monitoring and a negative correlation with cybercrime. The dependent attachment style had a positive correlation with self-monitoring and a negative correlation with cybercrime. All correlations were significant..
    Conclusions
    Attachment styles have significant relationships with both self-monitoring and cybercrime. Self-monitoring and attachment styles are significant predictors of cybercrimes.
    Keywords: Aattachment, Self, Monitoring, Crime, Internet
  • Mina Zarei, Behnam Shariati, Reza Bidaki* Page 10
    Introduction
    Ingestion of foreign bodies has been previously reported in some patients with schizophrenia. This behavior may be a manifestation of delusional beliefs or a response to command hallucinations and can lead to severe complications..
    Case Presentation
    This paper reports a patient with schizophrenia who, as a manifestation of his illness, ingested a metallic skewer to kill ademon inside his abdomen that he believed was controlling him. As a result, he developed an acute intestinal perforation and underwent surgery..
    Conclusions
    It is of a great importance to closely monitor the therapy compliance of patients suffering from mental illnesses. This will benefit them by preventing some of the serious complications of their disease, which may include life-threatening conditions such as intestinal perforation that needs surgical intervention..
    Keywords: Schizophrenia, Acute, Intestinal Perforation