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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric... Apr 2021To determine the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in patients with schizophrenia in a sample from South Africa and compare the clinical and demographic...
PURPOSE
To determine the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in patients with schizophrenia in a sample from South Africa and compare the clinical and demographic correlates in those with and without co-occurring SUDs.
METHODS
Patients with schizophrenia were interviewed using the Xhosa version SCID-I for DSM-IV. We used logistic regression to determine the predictors of SUDs.
RESULTS
In the total sample of 1420 participants, SUDs occurred in 47.8%, with the most prevalent SUD being cannabis use disorders (39.6%), followed by alcohol (20.5%), methaqualone (6.2%), methamphetamine (4.8%) and other SUDs (cocaine, ecstasy, opioids, 0.6%). Polydrug use occurred in 40%, abuse occurred in 13.5%, and 39.6% had at least one substance dependence diagnosis. Significant predictors of any SUD were younger age (41-55 vs. 21-30: OR = 0.7, 95% CI = 0.5-0.9), male sex (OR = 8.6, 95% CI = 5.1-14.6), inpatient status (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.3-2.1), post-traumatic stress symptoms (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 1.6-13.3), legal (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 2.0-5.5) and economic problems (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0-2.0). Methamphetamine use disorders occurred significantly less often in the Eastern compared to the Western Cape provinces. Inpatient status and higher levels of prior admissions were significantly associated with cannabis and methamphetamine use disorders. Post-traumatic stress symptoms were significantly associated with alcohol use disorders. Anxiety disorders were associated with other SUDs.
CONCLUSION
SUDs occurred in almost half of the sample. It is important for clinicians to identify the presence of SUDs as their presence is associated with characteristics, such as male sex, younger age, inpatient status, more prior hospitalisations, legal and economic problems, PTSD symptoms and anxiety.
Topics: Alcoholism; Comorbidity; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Schizophrenia; South Africa; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 32797244
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-020-01942-5 -
Journal of Analytical Toxicology Mar 2021Mebroqualone is an analogue of methaqualone, and there is a very little published information regarding the toxicity of this designer drug. We describe two cases with...
Mebroqualone is an analogue of methaqualone, and there is a very little published information regarding the toxicity of this designer drug. We describe two cases with non-lethal levels of mebroqualone in blood collected at autopsy. Case 1 was an accidental death that involved a house fire, and the decedent was found to have a blood mebroqualone concentration of 10,228 ng/mL. Case 2 was a completed suicide by train, and the decedent was found to have a blood concentration of 115 ng/mL. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the scientific literature to compare two postmortem blood concentrations of mebroqualone. Mebroqualone was extracted from postmortem blood using a simple liquid-liquid extraction procedure and analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Topics: Autopsy; Designer Drugs; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans
PubMed: 32789477
DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa077 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2020Sensitive real-time detection of vapors produced by the precursors, reagents and solvents used in the illegal drugs manufacture represents a priority nowadays. Acetic...
Sensitive real-time detection of vapors produced by the precursors, reagents and solvents used in the illegal drugs manufacture represents a priority nowadays. Acetic anhydride (AA) is the key chemical used as acetylation agent in producing the illegal drugs heroin and methaqualone. This study was directed towards quick detection and quantification of AA in air, using two fast and very sensitive analytical techniques: photoionization detection (PID) and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). Results obtained indicated that both PID and IMS can sense AA at ultra-trace levels in air, but while PID produces a non-selective response, IMS offers richer information. Ion mobility spectrometric response in the positive ion mode presented one product ion, at reduced ion mobility K of 1.89 cm V s (almost overlapped with positive reactant ion peak), while in the negative ion mode two well separated product ions, with K of 1.90 and 1.71 cm V s, were noticed. Our study showed that by using a portable, commercial IMS system (model Mini IMS, I.U.T. GmbH Berlin) AA can be easily measured at concentrations of 0.05 ppm (0.2 mg m) in negative ion mode. Best selectivity and sensitivity of the IMS response were therefore achieved in the negative operation mode.
Topics: Acetic Anhydrides; Biosensing Techniques; Illicit Drugs; Ion Mobility Spectrometry; Reproducibility of Results; Trace Elements
PubMed: 32316669
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25081852 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2020is a medicinal herb of Leguminosae family. It is distributed in the tropical and humid regions. The plant is traditionally used in the treatment of typhoid, diabetes,... (Review)
Review
is a medicinal herb of Leguminosae family. It is distributed in the tropical and humid regions. The plant is traditionally used in the treatment of typhoid, diabetes, malaria, asthma, ringworms, tinea infections, scabies, blotch, herpes, and eczema. The review is aimed at unveiling the ethnobotanical description and pharmacological activities of Different parts of the plant are reported in folk medicine as therapeutic substances for remediation of diverse diseases and infections. The extracts and isolated compounds displayed pronounced pharmacological activities. Display of antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, dermatophytic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antilipogenic, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antimalarial, anthelmintic, and antiviral activities could be due to the array of secondary metabolites such as tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, anthraquinone, saponins, phenolics, cannabinoid alkaloids, 1,8-cineole, caryophyllene, limonene, -selinene, -caryophyllene, germacrene D, cinnamic acid, pyrazol-5-ol, methaqualone, isoquinoline, quinones, reducing sugars, steroids, and volatile oils present in different parts of the plant. The review divulges the ethnobotanical and pharmacological activities of the plant and also justifies the ethnomedical claims. The significant medicinal value of this plant necessitates a scientific adventure into the bioactive metabolites which constitute various extracts.
PubMed: 32148534
DOI: 10.1155/2020/2580259 -
Journal of Dual Diagnosis 2020Extrapyramidal side-effects (EPSE) are frequent in patients treated with antipsychotics and comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs). Methamphetamine has been shown to...
Extrapyramidal side-effects (EPSE) are frequent in patients treated with antipsychotics and comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs). Methamphetamine has been shown to act as a dopaminergic neurotoxin. We aimed to determine whether EPSE occur more often in patients with psychotic disorders and co-occurring methamphetamine (MA) use disorders, and we examined the relationship between MA use, antipsychotic type, dose and EPSE. This study was a secondary analysis of data from three separate primary studies. Across all studies, psychiatric and SUD diagnoses were determined using the SCID-I for DSM-IV. EPSE were determined using the Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS) for Parkinsonism, the Barnes Akathisia Rating scale (BARS), and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) for tardive dyskinesia. Participants were classified as having any EPSE if they scored above the cutoff on any of the EPSE scales (SAS, BARS, AIMS). We analyzed data using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The sample included 102 patients with non-affective or affective psychotic disorders. Of the total sample, 65.7% were male, 54.9% had schizophrenia spectrum disorders, 20.5% bipolar type I disorder with psychotic features, 11.7% schizoaffective disorder and 12.7% had substance-induced psychosis. A diagnosis of a methamphetamine use disorder (abuse or dependence) was present in 25.5% of participants. EPSE occurred in 38.2% of patients and were significantly associated with MA use in the unadjusted and adjusted analysis, = 4.01, 95% CI [1.07, 14.98], = .039. Patients with MA dependence and MA use >3 years were significantly more likely to have EPSE. We found a significant interaction effect between MA use disorders and standardized antipsychotic dose on the occurrence of EPSE, = 1.01, 95% CI [1.00, 1.01], = .042, with MA users having a disproportionally higher likelihood of having EPSE compared to MA non-users as antipsychotic dosage increased. There were no significant associations of EPSE with comorbid alcohol, cannabis, or methaqualone use disorders. Patients with a MA use disorder were significantly more likely to have EPSE with evidence for a dose-response effect. Clinicians should carefully titrate antipsychotic dosage from lower to higher doses to avoid EPSE in patients with MA use disorders.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Affective Disorders, Psychotic; Aged; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Antipsychotic Agents; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Comorbidity; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced; Female; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia; Young Adult
PubMed: 31984872
DOI: 10.1080/15504263.2020.1714099 -
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry Sep 2019Biologically important quinazolinones have been synthesized from 2-aminobenzamides and DMSO. The key feature of the reaction is the utilization of DMSO as a methine...
Biologically important quinazolinones have been synthesized from 2-aminobenzamides and DMSO. The key feature of the reaction is the utilization of DMSO as a methine source for intramolecular oxidative annulation. The CNS depressant drug methaqualone has also been synthesized by our methodology. The present method involves the synthesis of quinazolinones with a broad substrate scope and a good yield.
PubMed: 31451812
DOI: 10.1039/c9ob01629e