Disruptive Behaviors Among Physicians Journal of the American Medical Association Concerns regarding the “disruptive physician” have been reported in the medical literature for at least the past 30 years. The purpose of this “Viewpoint” is to enhance the understanding of physicians and physician leaders regarding the problem of disruptive behavior, to provide guidance about how best to address physicians with behavioral problems, and to discuss the importance of physician leaders developing a medical culture of safety with clear expectations and standards.
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The Feasibility and Acceptability of Groups for Pain Management in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Journal of Addiction Medicine (free ASAM member resource) The authors of this study examined the feasibility (ie, single-session attendance) and acceptability (ie, patient satisfaction and booster session attendance) of cognitive-behavioral therapy-informed groups for pain management-Coping with Pain, Relaxation Training, Group Singing, and Mindful Walking. Pre- and postsession measures were collected. A total of 349 (out of a census of approximately 800) methadone-maintained patients attended at least 1 of the groups. Group satisfaction was high...
Performance Measures for Substance Use Disorders – What Research is Needed? Addiction Science & Clinical Practice New measures will need to be developed and current measures will need to be refined to take into account new treatment approaches, such as the use of electronic communication between providers and clients using new technologies such as tablet computers and smart phones that were not available even a few years ago. However, dissemination of these innovations is not universal. For example, electronic health records hold promise for breakthroughs in performance measurement and quality improvement...
Interstate Medical Licensure: Major Reform of Licensing to Encourage Medical Practice in Multiple States Journal of the American Medical Association The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact is a streamlined process that would allow physicians to rapidly become licensed to practice medicine in multiple states. The potential benefits include easing the physician shortage in rural and other underserved areas and speeding the growth of telemedicine. The compact could also facilitate specialist consultations for patients with complicated or rare illnesses.
September is the 25th Annual Recovery Month! SAMHSA In its 25th year, Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders. This year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out,” encourages people to openly speak up about mental and substance use disorders and the reality of recovery, and promotes ways individuals can use to recognize behavioral health issues and reach out for help. Addiction specialists are encouraged to disseminate this information to their patients.
The Development and Maintenance of Drug Addiction Neuropsychopharmacology What is the defining property of addiction? The authors dust off a several-decades-long debate about the relative importance of two forms of reinforcement—positive reinforcement, subjectively linked to drug-induced euphoria, and negative reinforcement, subjectively linked to the alleviation of pain—both of which figure importantly in addiction theory; each of these forms has dominated addiction theory in its time.
Patient Registries for Substance Use Disorders Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation This commentary discusses the need for developing patient registries of substance use disorders (SUD) in general medical settings. The establishment of computer-based SUD patient registries can be assisted by wide adoption of electronic health record systems. The linkage of SUD patient registries with electronic health record systems can facilitate the advancement of SUD treatment research efforts and improve patient care.
Tennessee's Welfare Drug Testing Program Fails Miserably The Fix Applicants must answer three questions related to their drug history and are required to be urine tested if they answer yes to any of them. A positive sample results in being required to complete a treatment plan in order to continue receiving benefits and a second positive test means the user is stripped of their welfare aid for six months. Anyone who refuses to answer the questions or submit to testing is denied benefits.
Areas of the Brain Modulated by Single-Dose Methylphenidate Treatment in Youth with ADHD During Task-Based fMRI: A Systematic Review Harvard Review of Psychiatry Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder affecting 5% of children. Methylphenidate (MPH) is a common medication for ADHD. According to this review, in ADHD patients the middle and inferior frontal gyri, basal ganglia, and cerebellum were most often affected by MPH. The middle and inferior frontal gyri were frequently affected by MPH during inhibitory control tasks. Correlation between brain regions and clinical improvement was not possible due to the lack of symptom improvement measures within the included studies.
Drug Czar Approaches Challenge from a Different Angle: As a Recovering Alcoholic Washington Post Botticelli, 56, is an alcoholic who has been sober for a quarter-century. He quit drinking after a series of events, including waking up handcuffed to a hospital bed after a drunken-driving accident and a financial collapse that left him facing eviction. Decades later, he is tasked with spearheading the Obama administration’s drug policy, which is largely predicated on the idea of shifting people with addiction into treatment and support programs and away from the criminal justice system...
Apple Working with Healthcare Providers to Leverage Healthkit App Reuters Apple is working with health and electronic record providers on how its Healthkit application, which may be available on the upcoming iPhone 6, can provide a single repository for health information for both consumers and healthcare professionals. Apple has been in talks with Mount Sinai, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Kaiser Permanente and Allscripts, while users of Epic Systems will be able to incorporate Healthkit data...
The CB1 Receptor as an Important Mediator of Hedonic Reward Processing Neuropsychopharmacology The endocannabinoid (ECB) system has emerged recently as a key mediator for reward processing. However, the involvement of the ECB system in hedonic aspects of reward-related behavior is not completely understood. This study investigated the modulatory role of the ECB system on hedonic perception, measured by the pleasure attenuated startle (PAS) paradigm for a palatable food reward.
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The views and positions of any content published in ASAM Weekly are not necessarily endorsed by ASAM nor a reflection of ASAM's beliefs and policies. The features are presented as a summary of the contemporary issues being represented and expressed in scientific, governmental, commercial, and media sources across the specialty field of addiction medicine. Contact ASAM Weekly with any comments or feedback.