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Biomedical subjects

M L Formigoni

Publications and source records attributed to M L Formigoni.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Comparison of individual and group cognitive-behavioral therapy for alcohol and/or drug-dependent patients.

AIMS AND DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial was performed to evaluate the influence of two formats of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (individual vs. group) in the treatment of alcohol and/or drug dependent patients. SETTING: Public outpatient drug dependence service. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and fifty-five alcohol and/or drug-dependent patients. INTERVENTION: The patients were randomly assigned to individual (n = 77) or group (n = 78) treatment formats. The treatment was developed into two phases: acquisition (eight sessions) and maintenance (nine sessions), distributed over an 8-month period. MEASUREMENTS: Alcohol and drug use, severity of dependence, and alcohol- and drug-related problems were evaluated at pre-treatment and 15 months after admission to treatment. FINDINGS: At follow-up evaluation both groups of patients presented similar levels of drug consumption, dependence and associated problems. Although group-treated patients reported slightly higher levels of alcohol consumption (both at baseline and follow-up) differences between the formats disappear if baseline levels are included as covariates. Compliance with treatment and a measure of drug severity were predictors of success for the drug dependents. The number of sessions attended and high GGT levels at admission were positively correlated with success for the alcohol dependents. CONCLUSIONS: The two modalities presented similar outcomes and, as the group format could present a better cost-benefit ratio, it may be used without decreasing compliance with treatment or treatment effectiveness.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Crack cocaine: an increase in use among patients attending clinics in São Paulo: 1990-1993.

Unsubstantiated reports suggest that the availability and use of crack are increasing in São Paulo. To investigate this claim we used the databases from two outpatient clinics for drug users at a public hospital and examined the changes in the reported routes of administration of cocaine among 245 patients who had attended between 1990 and 1993. The proportion reporting crack use increased from 17% in 1990 to 64% in 1993 (p < .01). It does not seem that this increase was simply due to changes in demographic variables. Treatment policies need to be reviewed and HIV harm-reduction programs should focus more on the risks of sexual transmission.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Alcohol dependence criteria in DSM-III-R: presence of symptoms according to degree of severity.

According to DSM-III-R a positive diagnosis of alcohol dependence requires the presence of at least three of nine symptoms of a core dependence syndrome. In this study the presence of the nine symptoms according to degree of the severity of dependence is examined in 99 patients (mild, n = 23; moderate, n = 26; and severe, n = 50). It is shown that although the cut-off point for a positive diagnosis of dependence is the presence of "any three" out of nine DSM-III-R criteria, specific symptoms ("excessive drinking", "desire or efforts to control drinking", and "drinking despite major problems") have a high probability of occurrence across the dependence severity range (mild, moderate or severe). Conversely, other symptoms appear prominently only in the more severe cases ("much time devoted to alcohol", "important activities given up", and "drinking to relieve withdrawal"). The results suggest that in the DSM-III-R criteria for alcohol dependence some symptoms are more frequently associated with the diagnosis, while other symptoms are associated with severity of the alcohol dependence disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Amygdaloid kindling and kindled seizures in rats receiving chronic ethanol administration.

The effects of chronic ethanol administration were studied in rats receiving amygdaloid kindling. Daily ethanol administration 10 min prior to kindling stimulation delayed acquisition of kindling without affecting the electrical afterdischarge. For the lowest tested dose of ethanol (0.5 g/kg), this delay was restricted to kindling stages 1 and 2. For the higher doses of ethanol (1.0 and 1.5 g/kg) this delay became more severe and stages 3 and 4 were blocked. Ethanol produced a clear dose-related anticonvulsant effect upon kindled seizures. After repeated exposure to kindling stimulation and ethanol this anticonvulsant effect vanished. After a 15-day interval without stimulation or ethanol application kindled animals were insensitive to ethanol's anticonvulsant effect. In conclusion, it is suggested that the anticonvulsant effects of low ethanol doses are restricted to kindling stages 1 and 2 and that anticonvulsant effects of high ethanol doses are limited by tolerance and by the level of consolidation of the kindled seizure. Finally, we suggest that the anticonvulsant properties of ethanol are not due to its general depressant effect but to some rather specific action.

Amygdala↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Screening of drug use in a teenage Brazilian sample using the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI).

The Brazilian translation of the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI) was applied to 213 Brazilian teenagers who were classified according to their alcohol and/or drug dependence level (DSM-III-R) as: 71 nondrug users (Group 1), 71 with light/moderate dependence (Group 2) and 71 with severe dependence (Group 3). The DUSI was applied and the absolute density in each of 10 areas was calculated. The three groups presented statistically significant differences (p < .001) in the "substance use" area, with the following values (medians +/- interquartile range): Group 1: 0+/-7; Group 2: 20+/-33 and Group 3: 80+/-33. The groups also presented significant differences in behavior pattern, social competency, family system, work adjustment, peer relationships and leisure/recreation. Other differences detected among the groups indicated an important relationship between drug use and school delay. A good Spearman rank correlation (0.86, p < .0001) was observed between Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) diagnosis and DUSI, indicating that this instrument can be useful in the screening of substance use among Brazilian teenagers.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Concepts of dependence among Brazilian alcohol- and drug-dependent patients.

Studies suggest that the concepts that drug dependent persons have about their problems could influence adherence to treatment and outcome. The objective of this study was to compare these concepts in different groups of patients. Three groups of drug-dependent patients (diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria) were compared: 64 dependent on alcohol only, 56 dependent only on other drugs and 39 dependent on both alcohol and drugs. They were asked: "What do you think about your problem?" and the responses were qualitatively analyzed and classified into themes. For the whole sample, the main themes mentioned were: the function of alcohol and drugs in their lives (50%), the etiology of dependence (32%) and reasons for initial use (21%). Patients dependent on alcohol associated their use with coping, while patients dependent on other drugs reported pleasure seeking. In regard to etiology, most patients classified their dependence as a habit. Patients dependent on alcohol tended to attribute an organic etiology to their problem, while those dependent on other drugs most frequently considered moral aspects as important. This study suggests that there are differences between these three groups in the appraisal of their problem. Professionals interested in treatment matching need to take these findings into account, as they may influence compliance and treatment outcome.

Alcoholism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Increase in the search for treatment by crack users in 2 outpatient clinics at the city of Sao Paulo from 1990 to 1993].

UNLABELLED: An increase in crack use epidemiological research and police data. Currently, in Brazil, no data are available linking the route of administration and attendance to treatment for cocaine dependence. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper was to analyze the changes in cocaine routes of administration in a cocaine dependent population treatment in two outpatient public services (PROAD and UDED). METHOD: Standardized interview data, collected at admission to treatment were compared from 1990 to 1993. The prevalence rates of smoked ("crack"), injected and snorted cocaine were compared. RESULTS: The percentage of patients who reported "crack" cocaine use increased from 17% in 1990 to 64% in 1993 (p < 0.01) The prevalence of snorted cocaine remained stable in the period of time analyzed, being the most frequent route reported. The intravenous route tended to decrease from 40% in 1990 to 28% in 1993. CONCLUSION: The implications of the increase of "crack" cocaine users who sought treatment are discussed. These data are important in planning prevention and treatment strategies, mainly in AIDS prevention.

Adolescent↗