Biomedical subjects

Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin

Publications and source records attributed to Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Training the transdisciplinary scientist: a general framework applied to tobacco use behavior.

The complexity of public health problems, including the problem of tobacco use behaviors, calls for formal efforts to train transdisciplinary scientists. These scientists can approach problems by using new conceptual frameworks and methodological tools that integrate different disciplinary perspectives. Transdisciplinary training focuses on developing strong scientists with superb core skills while protecting against creating scientists who are "jack of all trades, master of none." Transdisciplinary training is relatively new, with no accepted training model in place. In this paper, we provide a general framework for transdisciplinary training at the advanced graduate and postgraduate levels, with particular reference to tobacco use behaviors. We identify the core attitude, knowledge, and skills competencies that are essential to conducting tobacco use research with a transdisciplinary approach. We outline the structural components of transdisciplinary training that allow for the development of the competencies and discuss what facilitates the transdisciplinary training process. We also discuss the numerous challenges and obstacles to transdisciplinary training. These include the readiness of early-career trainees to undergo transdisciplinary training, professional development risks taken by trainees, administrative and budgetary obstacles inherent in traditional academic institutional structures, and the limited opportunities established scientists have for transitioning their research programs in a transdisciplinary direction. If these obstacles can be overcome, the potential exists for a new generation of transdisciplinary scientists to be trained and be well positioned to make important and unique advances in our understanding of tobacco use and other public health problems.

Career Mobility↗

PubMed2003

Tobacco use across the formative years: a road map to developmental vulnerabilities.

Different vulnerabilities are launched or play a more active role at different developmental stages and different ages. Furthermore, the interplay between developmental and biological, psychosocial, and environmental vulnerabilities is expected to differ across stages of smoking. This article focuses on the intersection of vulnerability associated with adolescence with tobacco-use vulnerability resulting from biological, psychological, and environmental characteristics of an adolescent. Recommendations include the following: (a) Effectively treat childhood and adolescent behavioral and emotional disorders that place adolescents at risk; (b) target programs toward specific high-risk subgroups; (c) incorporate training in self-control, affect regulation, and healthy coping strategies into educational programs and extracurricular activities; (d) encourage youth to develop healthy sources of success and satisfaction; (e) encourage communities and states to launch environmental, policy, and regulatory initiatives to protect youth from tobacco; (f) consider bold initiatives that will require fundamental changes in public attitudes, including monetary rewards for nonsmoking, heightened penalties for facilitating and engaging in underage smoking, and government subsidies for substitute pharmacological agents.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

Naltrexone decreases craving and alcohol self-administration in alcohol-dependent subjects and activates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.

BACKGROUND: This laboratory study investigated the mechanisms by which the opioid antagonist, naltrexone, reduces the risk of relapse to heavy drinking in individuals with alcohol dependence. METHODS: Eighteen alcohol-dependent, non-treatment-seeking volunteers were randomized to 50 mg naltrexone or placebo for 6 days and participated in an alcohol self-administration experiment on the sixth day. Following baseline assessments of craving and endocrine levels, subjects were first administered a priming drink designed to raise blood alcohol levels to 0.03 g/dl and then had the opportunity to drink up to eight additional drinks or to receive US $3 for each drink not consumed over a 2-h period. Each additional drink was designed to raise blood alcohol levels by 0.015 g/dl. RESULTS: At baseline, naltrexone treatment resulted in higher cortisol levels and lower levels of craving than placebo treatment. Although there were no significant differences in response to the priming dose, naltrexone-treated subjects drank fewer drinks, consumed them more slowly, and reported lower levels of alcohol craving during the alcohol self-administration portion of the experiment. Naltrexone also resulted in higher levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol than placebo treatment, and levels of cortisol were negatively correlated with intensity of alcohol craving. The number of drinks chosen was positively correlated with level of alcohol craving. Ratings of nausea were low and did not differ between the naltrexone and placebo groups at any point in the study. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the hypothesis that naltrexone reduces desire to drink and the amount of alcohol consumed in alcohol-dependent subjects. It is hypothesized that naltrexone may reduce drinking via suppressing craving for alcohol and that this effect may be related in part to naltrexone's ability to activate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characteristics of tobacco-smoking problem gamblers calling a gambling helpline.

Few studies have examined the smoking behaviors of problem gamblers. A high proportion of problem gamblers calling a gambling helpline reported daily tobacco smoking (43.1%). Problem gamblers reporting daily tobacco smoking more frequently acknowledged depression and suicidality secondary to gambling, gambling-related arrests, alcohol and drug use problems, mental health treatment, and problems with casino slot machine gambling. The findings substantiate the relationship in problem gamblers between tobacco smoking and psychiatric symptomatology, particularly other substance use problems. The high proportion of callers reporting daily tobacco smoking highlights the need for enhanced smoking cessation efforts in problem gamblers.

Adult↗