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Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Alkermes, Inc., Cephalon, Inc., and Reckitt Benckiser.

Additional support provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.


TPRB

Treatment Practitioner's Research Bulletin
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Current Issue: April 2008

Read PDF of April 2008 issue (86 KB)

Limbic System Activated by Drug and Sexual Cues Even Before Conscious Recognition
The human brain responds to recognizable signals for sex and drugs of addiction by activating the limbic reward circuitry. Does the brain respond in similar way to such reward signals even when they are “unseen”, i.e., presented in a way that prevents their conscious recognition?

Referral to Mandated Alcohol Intervention with College Students Suggests Policy and Clinical Options
This study followed college students who were sanctioned for alcohol-related incidents and referred to a university-sponsored alcohol and drug assistance program. The aim of the study was to examine whether programs significantly reduced drinking in the time between the violation and the start of the program.

Relapse Risk in People with Remitted Alcohol Dependence
There is little information on the stability of abstinent and nonabstinent remission from alcohol dependence in the US population. This study examines alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms over 3 years among adults who had participated in a national alcohol survey and who were in remission from alcohol dependence.

Inpatient Medical Care Plus Substance Use Treatment Improves Health Services Utilization
During hospitalization for medical conditions related to substance use, the underlying substance use is rarely addressed, and post-discharge referral for substance use treatment often goes uncompleted. In this study researchers evaluated the impact of a special 12-bed unit in an inpatient day hospital that addressed patients' medical as well as substance-use treatment needs.

The Value of Screening for Pain in Patients with Opioid Dependence
Pain is prevalent among people with opioid dependence, and its association with psychosocial stressors may threaten clinical gains achieved through substance abuse treatment. Researchers examined the effectiveness of a brief pain screening instrument among people with opioid dependence seeking inpatient opioid detoxification.