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Biomedical subjects

M Auriacombe

Publications and source records attributed to M Auriacombe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Sensation seeking as a common factor in opioid dependent subjects and high risk sport practicing subjects. A cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Animal research has outlined a vulnerability trait to drug dependence like behavior. The behavioral characteristic of this vulnerability is hyperactivity in response to a novel environment of which sensation seeking (SS) has been suggested as a possible equivalent in humans. If this is the case, SS should be more frequent in drug dependent and risky sports practicing subjects then controls. The objective of this study was to determine if opioid dependent subjects (ODS) and regular paragliders (RP) would be more SS then normal controls. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Three groups of 34 individuals (total 102) matched for age and sex were selected from ODS seeking treatment, a paragliding club, and a college staff. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Global and sub-scores of the Zuckerman sensation seeking scale (SSS). RESULTS: Non parametric statistics (Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon 2-Sample Tests) were used given the non-normal distribution of SSS scores in the ODS and RP groups. Significant differences were found across the three groups for the Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS) (P = 0.001), dishinibition (Dis) (P = 0.0003) and total score (P = 0.001). ODS and RP scored significantly higher than controls on two (Dis and the TAS scales). RP also scored significantly higher on the Boredom Susceptibility (BS) scale (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Our results show that RP and ODS differ from controls and have some similarities based on the SSS. In this study, the ODS and the RP could express different forms of a general tendency to seek intense and abrupt sensations through various behaviors. Our results in humans are in favor of the hypothesis that the behavioral trait of vulnerability to drug dependence behavior is expressed through SS.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Sports, use of performance enhancing drugs and addiction. A conceptual and epidemiological review].

BACKGROUND: Both the general public and non-sports medicine health professionals have recently been made aware of a large use of performance enhancing drugs among sports practicing subjects. It has been suggested that this behavior is similar to that of substance dependence. Also some have reported that practice of a sport could be in itself an addictive behavior. OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to address the following question: is performance enhancing drug use in sports an addictive behavior? Methodology. We first reviewed the definition of performance enhancing drug use in sports and the diagnostic criteria of substance dependence as they are currently accepted and attempted to determine a possible common factor. Secondly we reviewed epidemiological data from the literature according to three approaches: RESULTS: Use of performance enhancing drugs is an important and increasing phenomenon among adolescents. It is sometimes associated to risk taking behaviors for health (syringe use and sharing). Competition participants are at increased risk (up to 20% according to some authors) and some substances (anabolic steroids) are also used by non-sports practicing individuals. It has not been shown that sports practicing subjects were more at risk of using addictive substances compared to non-sports practicing subjects. It is not established that practice of a sport is by itself a risk factor for substance use. However, it could be that a sub-group of individuals that practice certain types of sports in an intensive way, that use both performance enhancing drugs and addictive substances and that engage in health risk taking behaviors have an increased risk for developing a dependence syndrome to both addictive and performance enhancing drugs. This sub-group is even more at risk because some performance enhancing drugs (anabolic steroids) could increase the risk for occurrence of a substance dependence syndrome through neurobiological actions. Yet, the few available clinical studies show that at most only half of regular users actually meet criteria for dependence. Also, one study has reported an overrepresentation of sports professionals among patients seeking treatment for heroin addiction. CONCLUSION: The large majority of sports practicing subjects have no dependence to either performance enhancing or addictive drugs. However, a subgroup of individuals that practice sports intensely and makes use of both addictive and performance enhancing drugs appear to be at increased risk for developing a substance dependence syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Post-ECT agitation and plasma lactate concentrations.

This prospective study evaluated the hypothesis that emergence agitation after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) could be caused by lactate-induced panic secondary to insufficient neuromuscular blockade. Plasma lactate levels were measured before and after 245 consecutive ECT sessions in 37 patients monitored for evidence of post-ECT agitation. ECT was administered using a brief-pulse, rectangular, constant-current device through bilaterally placed electrodes under general anesthesia and neuromuscular blockade. Agitation was observed in 7% of all ECT sessions. No significant difference could be found in pre-ECT lactate levels. However, mean post-ECT lactate levels in agitated sessions were significantly greater than those in nonagitated sessions (4.77 versus 2.54 mmol/l, p < 0.05). An increase (+27%) in the pre-ECT succinylcholine dose for those patients who previously had repeated post-ECT agitation resulted in cessation of post-ECT agitation and return of the formerly high post-ECT lactate levels to normal (1.61 versus 2.07 mmol/l). Although the number of patients who had post-ECT agitation was small, the data support the hypothesis that post-ECT agitation might be a manifestation of lactate-induced panic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Evaluation of the use of psychotropic drugs from urine samples from subjects attending for the first time a clinic specializing in opium addiction].

OBJECTIVES: Determine how well drug abusers requesting care accept urine sampling and the reliability of this method for evaluating drug use. METHODS: Subjects attending a specialized drug abuse clinic for the first time were requested to provide a urine sample for semiquantitative analysis using an immunological technique to identify the following substances: barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis, and dextropropoxyphen. RESULTS: All 98 subjects included in the study accepted the urine sample. More than 80% of the samples were positive for 1, 2 or 3 substances. The most frequent were, in decreasing order, opiates, cannabis, benzodiazepines and dextropropoxyphen. Among the opiate-positive subjects (70%), 80% were positive for 2 other substances, usually cannabis and benzodiazepines. Two-thirds of the cocaine-positive cases were observed among the most recently seen subjects. Among the 27 opiate-negative subjects, 16 stated they used buprenorphine. CONCLUSION: Within the setting of this study, urine sampling appeared to be well accepted by drug abusers. Urinalysis gave an objective evaluation of drug use and can be useful on an individual level providing complementary information to the overall examination. Urine sampling can also provide indicators for studying the evolution of drug use practices in different populations, both in a clinical and non-clinical setting.

Female↗
PubMed1995

[Withdrawal and management of opiate addicts].

The first goal of addiction treatment is to enable the patient to withdraw in a medically controlled environment. Medically assisted withdrawal is a specific treatment of pharmacological dependence. Different methods of treatment are used, specific and non-specific. Clonidine and transcutaneous electrostimulation with Limoge current are the only relatively specific treatment modalities. However, whichever method is used, relapse is frequent and patients are not easily admitted for treatment. Noteworthy is the fact that anticipatory anxiety is a major predictor of treatment compliance and should be looked for. The goal for the best detoxification treatment should give way to opiate agonist maintenance treatment when relapse is too frequent.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

A randomized double-blind study of neuroelectric therapy in opiate and cocaine detoxification.

Prior research on the use of transcranial neuroelectric stimulation suggested that the application of low-amperage, low-frequency alternating current via surface electrodes placed in the mastoid region could relieve the physiological signs and subjective symptoms of withdrawal and craving during opiate detoxification. These effects were reported without gradual tapering of the opiate or the addition of other medications. To test the efficacy of one particular form of neuroelectric therapy (NET), a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted comparing active NET and placebo NET in the treatment of withdrawal and stabilization of 18 opiate-dependent and 25 cocaine-dependent subjects. Scores on scales for measuring substance withdrawal and craving for each abused substance, as well as the multiple dimensions of mood, were compared for degree of difference across the 10 days of treatment. There was an overall completion rate of 88%, with both cocaine and opiate groups reporting a comfortable detoxification and substantial improvement over the course of a 12-day hospitalization. There was no significant difference between the active or placebo groups, suggesting that placebo was as effective as active NET in reducing drug withdrawal or craving during cocaine and opiate detoxification. However, all placebo patients received 0.2 mA of current, which may have provided a degree of active current. Suggestions are offered for future research.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation with Limoge current potentiates morphine analgesia and attenuates opiate abstinence syndrome.

Transcutaneous electrostimulation is a somewhat controversial technique used in the management of the opiate withdrawal syndrome. We report an animal study of a particular transcutaneous electrostimulation called transcutaneous cranial electrostimulation, based on a technique used for many years on heroin addicts for the rapid severance of their addiction, which has been validated in a clinical setting by a double-blind trial. This technique involves the application of an intermittent high-frequency current (Limoge's current). Our experimental data show that this transcutaneous cranial electrostimulation increases morphine analgesia by threefold on the tail flick latency measure and produces a 48% attenuation of the abstinence syndrome observed after abrupt cessation of morphine administration. These results were obtained using a double-blind paradigm.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A naturalistic follow-up study of French-speaking opiate-maintained heroin-addicted patients: effect on biopsychosocial status.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of opiate maintenance pharmacotherapy (OMP) on the biopsychosocial status of opiate-addicted patients in a cultural environment (France) that is not favorable to OMP and where methadone is not available. Buprenorphine and laudanum (opium tincture), which, to our knowledge, has not been reported previously in the scientific literature for OMP, were used in this study of a group of 18 opioid-dependent subjects. At time of initiation of OMP, mean age was 33 years, sex ratio male: female was 14:4, average duration of drug use was 11.2 years. Six patients received laudanum p.o., 15 g daily; 12 patients received buprenorphine sublingual 2 to 4 mg daily. This group of patients was selected because of persistent relapse and impairment after an average of 5.7 drug-free-oriented treatments over a period of 6.8 years. Initial evaluation and follow-up were made by way of a 150-min semi-structured interview using the Lifetime Retrospective Evaluation Score Table (LREST) and the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Results showed that body weight and scores for physical and psychological health, socioprofessional status, and family relationships improved significantly after 14 months of OMP. These results show that highly impaired opiate-addicted patients doing poorly in drug-free treatment can respond to OMP even though methadone is not available and the idea of OMP is not favored.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group: the development of systematic reviews of treatment outcome.

- The aim of the Cochrane Collaboration is to promote review processes which address all aspects of health care and which can be viewed by clinicians to guide their day-to-day clinical practice. Recently, a Cochrane review group on drugs and alcohol has been developed. The Cochrane Review Group Editorial base is in Rome, Italy. There is an international editorial board with editors in the UK, Italy, France, Australia and the USA. So far, the group has published five reviews addressing treatment for opioid, cocaine and alcohol dependence. Additional reviews and protocols are in progress. A growing number of titles are registered with the group. Interested readers and potential reviewers and/or referees can contact the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group Coordinator in Rome at the e-mail address: dacochrane@asplazio.it

Alcoholism↗