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Kiyoshi Wada

Publications and source records attributed to Kiyoshi Wada.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Role of the monoamine system in the brain on the development of psychological dependence on toluene].

Abuse of volatile organic solvents among youth remains a major social problem in Japan. Organic solvents are cheap and relatively easy to obtain, so they carry the risk of becoming a so-called "gate-way drug" for users. Psychological dependence assessment systems have been established for drug inhalation using the conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure. We found toluene produced the rewarding effect in this new CPP system. The mesolimbic dopamine pathway, which includes dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain and their targets in the limbic forebrain, especially the nucleus accumbens (NAC), is one of the most important substrates for the development of psychological dependence on drugs such as stimulants, cocaine, and heroin. Recently, it has indicated that the VTA-NAC pathway (monoamine system) may play an important role of the expression of psychological dependence on the volatile organic solvent toluene. Clarification of organic solvent's mechanism for the development of psychological dependence focusing on the monoamine system can be exploited for the new medicine and useful treatments for dependence on toluene.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Association between substance abuse problems and antisocial tendencies in male juvenile delinquents: A study using the Psychopathy Checklist, Youth Version].

AIMS: We examined an association between substance abuse problems and antisocial tendencies in male juvenile delinquents. METHODS: Subjects were 57 male adolescents consecutively incarcerated between December 2004 and February 2005 in a juvenile classification home. A self-reporting questionnaire was used to assess substance abuse problems in the subjects: Drug abuse problems were assessed by the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-20), and alcohol abuse problems were assessed by the Quantities-Frequencies Scale (QFS). A semi-structured interview was also preformed according to the Psychopathy Checklist, Youth Version (PCL: YV). Associations between questionnaire responses and interview findings were examined using Pearson's correlation or Spearman's rank correlation test. RESULTS: Of our subjects, the 17.5% were recognized as a problematic drug abuser, and the 52.6% as a problematic drinker. Neither of the total DAST-20 nor QFS score was significantly correlated with the total PCL: YV score, and also with each score of the four PCL: YV subfactors. However, significant correlations were found between some items on the PCL: YV and the DAST-20 or QFS score. The DAST score was significant correlated with the PCL: YV item, "impression management" (rs=0.35, p<0.001), and the QFS score was significant correlated with "serious violations of conditional release" (rs=0.33, p<0.05) and "criminal versatility" (rs=0.48, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: More than a half of male juvenile delinquents had alcohol abuse problems. Alcohol intake may be considered to promote repetition and diversification of their antisocial behaviors, although overall antisocial tendencies were not associated with drug and alcohol abuse problems in male juvenile delinquents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Characteristics of methylphenidate dependence syndrome in psychiatric hospital settings.

The characteristics of methylphenidate (MPD) cases reported in a nationwide mental hospital survey on substance-related psychiatric disorders are studied compared to methamphetamine cases. Although the two groups did not differ in terms of age and sex, the MPD group revealed longer educational histories and lower antisocial traits. About half of the MPD group had a history of methamphetamine use and 30% had used the substance as the initial substance of abuse. They exhibited a general tendency toward multiple substance use. These results indicate that a significant number of MPD cases exist who used MPD as a substance alternative to methamphetamine and also suggest that they may potentially have a tendency to develop abuse or dependence. The MPD cases most likely had a psychiatric diagnosis of "Dependence syndrome (F15.2)," according to the ICD-10 guidelines. The SDS scores also indicated a more severe dependence syndrome, particularly psychological dependence, which they may possibly develop more quickly. An abundance of information for MPD abusers to utilize is available through the internet, including the pharmacological properties, such as increased sensation or elation through MPD intake and how and where to easily acquire the substance. They may even forge a prescription to obtain MPD. This behavior can be recognized as "substance-seeking behavior" in behavioral pharmacology terms, accompanied by craving based on psychological dependence on the substance, and can be very difficult to control. Little evidence exists regarding the effectiveness and necessity of MPD as a treatment for depression, and thus MPD prescriptions must be carefully considered by psychiatrists or physicians. The application of MPD as an antidepressant in the health insurance system must be re-examined as well.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-J).

The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) is a frequently used clinical and research instrument that collects data from substance abusers in seven problem areas: medical, employment, alcohol, drug use, legal, family-social functioning, and psychiatric status. In each area, the ASI provides a composite score and severity rating that estimate the seriousness of the problem and the client's need for treatment. In the present study, we investigated the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the ASI (ASI-J). One hundred and eleven subjects with a history of drug abuse were interviewed with a test battery including the ASI with informed consent. This revealed that: (a) the problem areas were independent of each other, underscoring the need for multidimensional assessment, (b) the inter-rater correlation of severity ratings in each area ranged from 0.68 to 0.99, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the items used for the composite score in each area ranged from 0.57 to 0.86, indicating their reliability with the exception of the drug and employment areas, and (c) several composite scores were significantly correlated with the drug craving levels assessed by a visual analogue scale, the abstinence period, mental health, and/or relapse, supporting their concurrent and predictive validity. These results suggest that the ASI-J has acceptable reliability and validity.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Barium potentiates the conditioned aversion to, but not the somatic signs of, morphine withdrawal in mice.

The effect of barium, a putative blocker of G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels, on naltrexone-precipitated withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice was investigated. Mice were chronically treated with morphine (8-45 mg/kg) for 6 days. The morphine-dependent mice were then given naltrexone (1 and 3 mg/kg), after which they showed several somatic signs of withdrawal, as well as conditioned aversion, increased cortical noradrenaline turnover, and decreased dopamine turnover in the limbic forebrain. Pretreatment with barium (1.25 and 2.5 nmol) significantly potentiated the naltrexone-precipitated conditioned aversion and augmented the decrease in dopamine turnover in the limbic forebrain. However, barium pretreatment did not affect the naltrexone-precipitated somatic signs of withdrawal and increased cortical noradrenaline turnover. These findings suggest that modification of GIRK channels may be involved in the expression of aversion to morphine withdrawal mediated through the dopaminergic system but it is not involved in the somatic signs of morphine withdrawal mediated through the noradrenergic system.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Drug preferences in illicit drug abusers with a childhood tendency of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a study using the Wender Utah Rating Scale in a Japanese prison.

The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between childhood tendencies of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) and illicit drug abuse in Japanese prisoners, and to clarify whether drug abusers with AD/HD prefer methamphetamine (MAP) more than other illicit drugs. The Japanese version of the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), which is a self-reporting instrument to retrospectively identify childhood tendencies of AD/HD tendencies, was carried given to 413 prisoners without a drug addiction and 282 prisoners with a drug addiction (192, MAP; 53, toluene; and 37, cannabis). WURS scores were compared between prisoners with and without a drug addiction, and between MAP, toluene, and cannabis abusers. Consequently, prisoners with a drug addiction showed significantly higher WURS scores than those without the addiction (P < 0.001). Toluene abusers showed significantly higher WURS scores than cannabis abusers (P < 0.001), and included a higher proportion with scores over cut-off than MAP or cannabis abusers (P = 0.005). In conclusion, a close relationship existed between illicit drug abuse and childhood AD/HD tendencies. Drug-abusing prisoners with AD/HD tendencies were not prone to choose MAP over other illicit drugs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Neuroadaptive mechanisms form development of psychological dependence on volatile organic solvents].

Abuse of volatile organic solvents among youth remains a major social problem. Organic solvents are cheap and relatively easy to obtain, so they carry the risk of becoming a so-called "gateway drug" for users. Most research regarding organic solvents has until now focused on their neurotoxicity, specifically examining the mechanism of neuron death in terms of the involvement of substances such as nerve growth factor. However, systems to assess psychological dependence on volatile organic solvents that take into account the mechanism involved in the development of this dependence have not been established due to the difficulty of creating animal models. The conditioned place preference procedure, which can easily assess whether psychological dependence has been formed, has been phased in in recent years, and dependence assessment systems have been established for drug inhalation. There have also been new research developments regarding dependence on volatile organic solvents. The importance of mesolimbic dopamine neurons has been indicated in the expression of CNS stimulant action and the development of psychological dependence on drugs such as stimulants, cocaine, and heroin, which are typical abused drugs. It has recently become apparent that the increase in dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens accompanying activation of mesolimbic dopamine neurons, as has conventionally been proposed, is important to the expression of CNS stimulant action and the formation of psychological dependence in response to inhalation of toluene, a volatile organic solvent. Furthermore, research with regard to organic solvents' site of action is also proceeding based on studies using molecular biological techniques. Research regarding toluene is progressing, and the importance of receptors that gate ion channels such as N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and y-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors as candidates for toluene's site of action has been indicated. Clarification of organic solvents' mechanism for the development of psychological dependence is expected to progress, thanks to analysis focusing on such new sites of action.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[A validation of the applicability of the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) in a nationwide mental hospital survey on substance-related psychiatric disorders].

We studied the applicability of the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) in a nationwide mental hospital survey on substance-related psychiatric disorders in 2002. The SDS is an easily administered five-item scale used to assess psychological dependence, especially the compulsive use of a wide range of substances. The SDS was translated into Japanese (SDS-J) and administered as a part of a questionnaire to 114 patients with substance-dependence syndrome in the survey. The SDS-J had a good internal consistency as demonstrated by the high Cronbach's alpha (0.76). Principal component analyses (PCA) with varimax rotation on the five items revealed a single-factor solution that accounted for 50.8% of the variance. Pearson's correlation coefficient between each item and total score ranged from 0.68 to 0.76, all of which were significant (p<.01). The total score of the SDS-J and the total number of items and psychological dependence-related items in the diagnostic guideline of dependence syndrome of the ICD-10 had rather low Pearson's correlation coefficients (0.17 and 0.23), but those correlations were significant (p < .05 and p < .01). The PCA for the patients with methamphetamine dependence also revealed a single-factor solution that accounted for 55.0% of the total variance. The results indicate that the SDS-J has satisfactory internal and structural reliability and external criteria validity. It also suggests that the SDS-J might be useful for assessing dependence syndrome in clinical settings in Japan, where those substances having properties of causing particularly severe psychological dependence, such as methamphetamine and solvents, are the most common substances of abuse.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Symptomatological structure of volatile solvent-induced psychosis: is "solvent psychosis" a discernible syndrome?

Solvent-induced psychosis has been clinically identified among patients suffering from dependence on volatile solvents and those in psychotic state due to chronic solvent use. To clarify the symptomatological difference between solvent-induced psychosis and schizophrenia, the principal component analysis with VARIMAX rotation was applied to the point and duration estimates of symptoms observed among the solvent group and among the schizophrenic group. There were no significant group differences in age and family history of any psychosis. The study findings are as follows: (1) It is difficult to distinguish two groups based on the prevalence rates of symptoms alone. (2) However, the principal component VARIMAX rotation analysis of the prevalence and duration observing among the solvent group revealed seven factors consisting of "amotivation", "intoxication", "emotional instability", "delusion", "hallucination", "disinhibition" and "memory". The seven factors explained 75.4% of the variance of the symptoms in this group. (3) The same analysis applied to the data from the schizophrenic group showed six factors consisting of "thought progression", "emotional instability", "amotivation (or negative symptoms)", "delusion", "hallucination" and "anxiety". These factors explained 62.9% of the variance in the data of the schizophrenic group. These results support clinical observations the "amotivational syndrome" may be a characteristic feature of patients suffering from solvent-induced psychosis. The results also suggest "solvent psychosis" is a discernible syndrome, and is distinctive from psychotic symptoms of typical schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

An epidemiologic study of self-reported sleep problems among Japanese adolescents.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and correlates of sleep problems in Japanese adolescents. DESIGN AND SETTING: The survey was designed as a cross-sectional sampling. The targets of the survey were junior and senior high schools throughout Japan. Sample schools were selected by stratified cluster sampling. Self-reported anonymous questionnaires were sent to sample schools for all students to fill out. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 107,907 adolescents responded, and 106,297 questionnaires were subjected to analysis. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The overall prevalences of sleep problems in the month preceding the questionnaire were difficulty initiating sleep (boys: 15.3%, girls: 16.0%); nocturnal sleep duration less than 6 hours (boys: 28.7%, girls: 32.6%); excessive daytime sleepiness (boys: 33.3%, girls: 39.2%), and subjectively insufficient sleep (boys: 38.1%, girls: 39.0%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that female sex, being a senior high-school student, and having an unhealthy lifestyle (psychological stress, smoking, and drinking alcohol) were risk factors for sleep problems. CONCLUSION: Self-reported sleep problems in Japanese adolescents were common and were associated with multiple factors. There is a need for health education directed at solving sleep problems in Japanese adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[A study on effectiveness of recovery from drug dependence by participates with "DARC"].

The purpose of this study is to make clear changes to participate in "DARC". For this purpose, we made research to use the same measure of previous study for DARC members at fifteen sites in Japan. As a result we found characteristic changes of drug dependents those who participate in DARC. Between terms of drug abuse and terms of participate in DARC, we can find weak positive correlation coefficient (R=.387**). People, whose terms of drug abuse are long, have tendencies to DARC participation for a long time. But there is also a tendency that the longer a person DARC participation, the longer he or she quit drugs. On the other hand, there is no correlation coefficient between terms of drug free and those of drug abuse. From this fact, we find that it is not only the short term drug dependent who quit drugs. The recovery of drug dependents in DARC is caused through life experiences on trust in fellow members. It is not a straight path but it is suggested that the drug free dose not change dramatically in one or two years. The changes in these years are the crossroad of re-abuse later, or the turning point to recover and to continue the drug free. The anxieties about life in these years make questions for meanings of life, and this is a chance to make possibilities for choices of new life not to have drugs. In dependents those who are recovering to DRAC participation, they make fails over again, however, we think the changes of spirituality through DARC participation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Psychotic symptoms in methamphetamine psychotic in-patients.

The present study was aimed at exploring the prevalence and factor structure of methamphetamine (MA) psychotic symptoms. The data were obtained from a cross-country evaluation of substance use, health, and treatment in MA psychotic in-patients. The prevalence rates of lifetime and current psychotic symptoms were determined by using Mini-International Neurospychiatric Interview-Plus, Module M. The Manchester scale was used to assess the severity of psychotic symptoms during the week prior to assessment. All eight items of the Manchester scale were subjected to principal-component analysis, eigenvalue one test, and varimax rotation. The data of 168 patients (127 male and 41 female) included in the analyses were obtained from Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand. Persecutory delusion was the most common lifetime psychotic symptom found in 130 participants (77.4%), followed by auditory hallucinations, strange or unusual beliefs, and thought reading. Auditory hallucinations were the most common current symptom found in 75 participants (44.6%), followed by strange or unusual beliefs and visual hallucinations. Current negative symptoms were also found in 36 patients (21.4%). Apart from a factor of anxiety and depression, the results yielded a two-factor model of MA psychotic symptoms, which were negative and positive/disorganized syndromes. The negative syndrome comprised poverty of speech, psychomotor retardation, and flattened/incongruous affects. The positive syndrome consisted of delusions, hallucinations, and incoherent speech. Both positive/disorganized and negative syndromes should be taken into account in assessing MA psychotic symptoms. The clinical findings do not support the shortcomings of amphetamine-induced psychosis in modelling the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Factors associated with volatile solvent use among junior high school students in Kanto, Japan.

AIMS: To estimate the relative association between life-time volatile solvent use and risk factors for usage. DESIGN: Cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire survey. SETTING: Junior high schools in Kanto, Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Junior high school students (n = 7744). MEASUREMENTS: Data on life-time and past-year solvent use, demographic variables, urbanization, regularity of waking patterns, school life, family life, peer relationships, prior alcohol and cigarette use and knowledge on harmful effects of solvent use. FINDINGS: Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios for each index. The primary findings were (1) 'smoking cigarettes nearly every day' (adjusted OR = 9.88, 95% Cl = 3.74, 26.12) and peer pressure measured by 'been tempted to use solvents' (adjusted OR = 9.53, 95% Cl = 4.84, 18.74) demonstrated the highest adjusted odds ratios; (2) being male (adjusted OR = 2.56, 95% Cl = 1.37, 4.76), seeing school life as 'not at all enjoyable' (adjusted OR = 2.69, 95% Cl = 1.03, 7.01) and family environment as 'neither good nor bad' (adjusted OR = 2.15, 95% Cl = 1.19, 3.88) also showed significant association; (3) life-time alcohol use did not show a significant association in the multivariate model (adjusted OR = 0.80, 95% Cl = 0.30, 2.12); and (4) solvent use appeared independent of knowledge regarding its effects ('death by acute intoxication', 'psychotic symptoms', 'amotivational syndrome', 'flashbacks' adjusted ORs all non-significant). CONCLUSION: Alcohol use may not function as a gateway to solvent use in Japan. The reasons may be culture-bound. A longitudinal study is required to test this hypothesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Japanese national survey of adolescent drinking behavior: comparison between 1996 and 2000 surveys].

This report shows Japanese adolescent drinking behavior from the national surveys conducted in 1996 and 2000. We randomly selected 120 junior high schools and 100 senior high schools nationwide. We requested the cooperation of the principals of these schools and sent questionnaires to each school. Students answered anonymously the questionnaires during school time, and sealed in envelopes by themselves; then teachers collected the envelopes. The questionnaire focused on adolescent drinking behavior. Valid responses numbered 42,798 (1996) and 47,246 (2000) from the junior high schools and 73,016 (1996) and 59,051 (2000) from the senior high schools. The number of students surveyed represented about 1% of all Japanese junior high school students, and about 2% of all senior high school students. This report covers only students who gave answers on both drinking frequency and drinking quantity. It compares adolescent drinking behavior between the 1996 and 2000 surveys, such as drinking frequency, drinking quantities, drinking occasions, methods of obtaining alcohol, kinds of alcohol drunk, alcohol-related problems, opinions on the law that prohibits minors under 20 years of age from drinking alcohol, and distribution of drinking status of the subjects by the Quantity-Frequency Scale (QF scale). In a comparison of adolescent drinking behavior between the 1996 survey and 2000 survey, non-drinkers among junior high school students increased from 45% to 55%, and those among senior high school students increased from 27% to 33%. On the other hand, ratios of female students in both junior and senior high schools who drank 1 or more times per week were higher in the 2000 survey than in the 1996 survey. Comparison of the 1996 survey and 2000 survey did not indicate that Japanese adolescent drinking has increased or decreased.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Study of therapeutic community for drug dependence in San Francisco (I)].

Therapeutic Communities (TC) have played an important role in the recovery from drug dependence around the world since the 1960s. They employ multiple and comprehensive methods which include community meeting, life training, psychoeducation, psychotherapy, medical care, and vocational coordination etc. In Japan, there is not such comprehensive rehabilitation programs for drug dependence. In order to learn the programs of TCs, we attend the programs of Walden house and Asian and American Recovery Services (AARS), which San Francisco and rehabilitation programs in Japan and how to introduce the TC methods into Japan.

Humans↗