AMERSA, Author at AMERSA

The Authors’ Own Words: Potential Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: An Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy and Safety

Apr 26, 2020 by AMERSA

The Authors’ Own Words: We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Potential Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: An Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy and Safety

Raye Z. Litten, PhD; Bonnie B. Wilford, MS; Daniel E. Falk, PhD; Megan L. Ryan, MBA; & Joanne B. Fertig, PhD

Volume 37, 2016 – Issue 2

“Three medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat alcohol dependence (AD): disulfiram, oral and long-acting injectable naltrexone, and acamprosate. Though effective for some, because of the heterogeneity of AD, these medications do not work for all AD patients. A high priority for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is to develop more efficacious and safe medications, giving clinicians a larger menu of medications from which to choose. With a greater selection of medications, clinicians will be able to better target effective treatment for each individual patient. Over the past decade, several clinical studies have been conducted on a variety of promising medications. This article reviews the efficacy and side-effect profiles of these compounds, offering clinicians a clearer understanding of the current and future medication options available to them.”

The Authors’ Own Words: Admissions to Detoxification after Treatment: Does Engagement Make a Difference?

Apr 26, 2020 by AMERSA

Admissions to Detoxification after Treatment: Does Engagement Make a Difference?

Andrea Acevedo, PhD; Deborah Garnick, ScD; Grant Ritter, PhD; Lena Lundgren, PhD; & Constance Horgan, ScD

Volume 37, 2016 – Issue 2

“This study provides further evidence of the importance of treatment providers ensuring that all clients entering outpatient treatment receive prompt services to meet the treatment engagement criteria. Treatment providers could implement process improvement techniques to increase their treatment engagement rates, which may improve client treatment outcomes, including a reduction in the likelihood of a subsequent detoxification admission. Although other studies have also shown that engagement is associated with better treatment outcomes (e.g., reduction in arrest, better employment outcomes), our results suggest that treatment engagement also may provide benefits to the treatment system itself through potential savings if detoxifications admissions can be prevented.”

The Authors’ Own Words: Multispecialty SBIRT Training in an Academic Medical Center: Resident Training Experience across Specialties

Apr 25, 2020 by AMERSA

Multispecialty SBIRT Training in an Academic Medical Center: Resident Training Experience across Specialties

A. Jill Clemence, PhD; Victoria I. Balkoski, MD; Bianca M. Schaefer, PhD; Minsun Lee, PhD; Nicole Bromley, PsyD; Isabelle M. Maisonneuve, PhD; Christopher J. Hamilton, PhD; Mark R. Lukowitsky, PhD; John Poston, PhD; Schekeva Hall, PhD; Portia Pieterse, PhD; Angela Antonikowski, PhD; & Stanley D. Glick, PhD, MD

Volume 37, 2016 – Issue 2

“The current study found that residents appeared to be quite open to and eager for more training in the identification and management of patients with unhealthy substance use and were quite satisfied with the training they received. At the same time, satisfaction with training outcomes was not necessarily related to feelings of effectiveness in daily practice. Moreover, it was noted that the perceived usefulness of SBIRT as one method for achieving effectiveness varied by specialty. Thus, it is apparent that although residents are eager to learn techniques for helping their patients manage unhealthy substance use, the SBIRT model may not be equally well-received across residency programs, and specialization in the training model may be needed.”

The Authors’ Own Words: Substance Abuse Relapse in Oxford House Recovery Homes: A Survival Analysis Evaluation

Apr 25, 2020 by AMERSA

Substance Abuse Relapse in Oxford House Recovery Homes: A Survival Analysis Evaluation

Ronald Harvey, PhD; Leonard A. Jason, PhD; & Joseph R. Ferrari, PhD

Volume 37, 2016 – Issue 2

“The present study is noteworthy for being the first to use survival analysis statistical techniques to examine the risk for substance abuse relapse among a sample of 268 residents living in Oxford House over one year. It was a unique opportunity to assess relapse among a nationally representative population living in relatively uniform aftercare settings. Increases in alcohol (but not drug) abstinence self-efficacy across the one-year study significantly reduced hazard. Findings also indicated significantly higher risk of relapse for Oxford House participants with more severe substance use disorders and psychiatric problems. Treatment providers and aftercare residents should focus additional resources on vulnerable residents regardless of age or gender.”

The Authors’ Own Words: What Patients with Addiction Disorders Need from their Primary Care Providers: a Qualitative Study

Apr 24, 2020 by AMERSA

What Patients with Addiction Disorders Need from their Primary Care Providers: a Qualitative Study

Katharine R. Press, BA; Giselle Z. Zornberg; Gail Geller, ScD, MHS; Joseph Carrese, MD, MPH; & Michael I. Fingerhood, MD, FACP

Volume 37, 2016 – Issue 2

“In this study, we sought to gain insight from a diverse group of patients with a history of addiction and qualitatively explore their perspectives on their relationships with providers. What factors do patients with addictive disease feel impair or strengthen their relationships with physicians? We hope that a better understanding of these patients’ perspectives will aid in changing the impeding mindset of physicians by providing a unique patient perspective on characteristics that affect relationships between these groups. Our findings, particularly regarding how patients view their role in this relationship, may provide context for understanding their actions and better engaging these patients in care. We hope greater understanding may enable providers to strengthen their relationships and thus improve the health and quality of life of these marginalized patients. We also believe that more knowledge about the attitudes of these patients will facilitate the teaching of addiction medicine to undergraduate and graduate medical trainees. Further work to develop a management approach that accounts for these provider and patient characteristics may improve care for this population by helping providers more comfortably and effectively address the specific needs of patients with addictive disease.”