
Bilateral Prefrontal Modulation in Crack-cocaine Addiction
Drug AddictionExecutive DysfunctionIn this study, eligible crack-cocaine addicted inpatients recruited from specialized clinics for substance abuse disorder treatment, filling inclusion criteria and not showing any exclusion criteria, were randomized to receive the repetitive (10 sessions, every other day) bilateral dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (dlPFC: cathodal left / anodal right) tDCS (2 milliamperes, 3x7 cm2, for 20 min) or placebo (sham-tDCS). Craving to the use of crack-cocaine was examined before (baseline), during and after the end of the tDCS treatment. Based in our previous data, our hypothesis was that repetitive bilateral tDCS over dlPFC would favorably change clinical, cognitive and brain function in crack-cocaine addiction and these would be long-lasting effects.

International Latino Research Partnership
Substance Use (DrugsAlcohol)Through a grant funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) the Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research at Cambridge Health Alliance is testing a screening and intervention project designed to improve the quality of care for Latino patients with comorbid mental health and substance use problems. We will first test a screening of comorbid problems with patients identified in mental health as well as primary health care. Building on that work, we will test the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of the "Integrated Intervention for Dual Problems and Early Action" (IIDEA) intervention addressing mental health, substance use, and prevention of HIV, as well as a smoking cessation supplement. The project is being conducted in Massachusetts as well as at two sites in Spain. As such, the proposed ILRP multi-site international project is a critical step towards developing models of integrated care for the large and diverse Latino migrant population and more broadly towards understanding how best to integrate evidence-based assessment and treatments for co-occurring substance and mental health problems and HIV risks.

The Effect of Aerobic Endurance Training in Patients With Drug Addiction
Substance-Related DisordersPhysical health does not have a high priority in today's treatment of patients with substance use disorder (SUD) patients have a poor physical health not only due to injuries related to the substance abuse, but also because of the lifestyle that addiction causes. There are today few studies that provide information about SUD patients' physical health. One of the project's aims is to document the physical health of SUD patients in treatment, using objective measures. After completion of various physical tests, an 8 week period of high intensity aerobic training intervention will follow. It will be investigated if the SUD patients are able to engage and participate throughout the whole training intervention, to what degree the participants improve their physical health and the effect of physical health improvement on substance abuse treatment.

Clinical Trial of Smoking Cessation Mobile Phone Program
Nicotine AddictionDrug Addiction3 moreThe Sponsor is doing a research study to assess the effects of a smartphone program designed to help users smoke less and eventually quit. When participants join, their involvement in the core study will last 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, they will have the option to continue using the program to guide their quit journey or participate in follow-up research.

How to Ease the Withdrawal of Tranquilizers Among Older Consumers?
Drug DependenceBenzodiazepines (BZD) are widely used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and depression. These drugs can have very serious side effects if they are taken over a long period of time. In addition to stability, memory, concentration, vigilance, and attention impairments, long-term use of BZD is also associated with an increased in hypertension incidence, urinary incontinence, coronary artery disease, and renal complications. There are growing evidences that long-term BZD use causes physical and psychological dependence as evidenced by the withdrawal syndrome. The recommended strategy by physicians to facilitate the withdrawal of BZD is to gradually reduce the medication, either by replacing the BZD by another with a longer half-life, or by the gradual dose reduction. Unfortunately, the success of such a procedure is low as up to 80% of people who try to quit, relapse due to the intolerance of withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, it is important to find new strategies to overcome the withdrawal difficulties. The aim of this study is to test the effectiveness of a novel psychosocial intervention called PASSE-65+ to facilitate the benzodiazepine withdrawal in the older users, thus providing a new therapeutic tool to physician.

The Men's Domestic Abuse Check-Up Engages Adult Men Concerned About Their Abusive Behavior and Alcohol...
Domestic ViolenceSubstance AbuseThis research is a stage 1b developmental trial evaluating an intervention called "The Men's Domestic Abuse Check-Up" with adult men abusing their intimate partners and also struggling with alcohol or drug use.

Automated Recovery Line for Medication Assisted Treatment
Drug DependenceSubstance Use DisordersIf shown to be effective, the Recovery Line would provide an inexpensive, transportable, and easy to use treatment to improve substance abuse outcomes for medication assisted treatment. Given the high costs of relapse and continued drug use, improvement of treatment outcomes would provide substantial health, economic, and societal benefits.

Cognitive Processing Intervention for Trauma, HIV/STI Risks, and Substance Use Among Native Women...
Post Traumatic Stress DisordersUnsafe Sex1 moreMany American Indian (AI) women never receive services for serious mental health problems resulting from traumatic events, violence exposure and maltreatment. AI women suffer higher lifetime rates of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (20-23%), that often co-occur with excessive drinking and risky sexual behaviors. These factors magnify risk for human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted disease (HIV/STI). In full development with tribal partners, this application, proposes a 3-year project to culturally adapt and pilot an empirically supported trauma-focused treatment, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD, substance use and HIV/STI sexual risk behavior among 50 AI women. Additionally, the investigators will assess the feasibility, acceptability and treatment fidelity of delivering CPT via AI community health workers in a resource-limited tribal reservation. This project brings a culturally responsive intervention to an understudied and highly vulnerable population. Its significance lies in its potential to advance science in the area of PTSD, substance use treatment and HIV/STI prevention among AI women. Study data would benefit tribal and rural communities and the mental health field. Finally, it is geared toward developing the research infrastructure and mental health treatment capacity serving AI women living in rural settings, a group at risk for an expanding HIV/AIDS epidemic. If successful, findings from this pilot will provide evidence for a larger effectiveness trial. The AIMS are AIM I. Adapt the evidence-based CPT intervention in full collaboration with tribal partners. This will be done in accordance with the CDC's Map of Adaptation Process and involves formative research with tribal leaders, potential consumers, providers, and health care administrators using qualitative methodology. AIM 2. Assess this intervention delivered by Native American community health workers for feasibility and acceptability in a resource-limited rural reservation setting. AIM 3. Conduct a two-group, single-site waitlist randomized controlled pilot trial of a 12-session, 6-week CPT intervention among 56 (6 pilot) sexually active and substance using AI women with PTSD or sub-threshold PTSD. Determine preliminary efficacy and estimate an effect size in terms of three primary outcomes: (a) PTSD symptomatology; (b) substance use; (c) high risk sexual behavior.

Clinical Monitoring to Facilitate Continuous Care for Substance Abusing Clients
Substance-Related DisordersMental DisordersBuilding on the recent advances in telephone supported care, clinical monitoring, and outreach work, the specific aims of the study are to: Develop RecoveryTrack™- ExtendedCare (RT-E), a modified/new version of RecoveryTrack™. The investigators will adapt and finalize the original Web-based RT system, manual, and training to accommodate use by counselors for clients who are no longer attending Outpatient (OP) treatment. Conduct a pilot study to determine the preliminary efficacy of RT-E compared to treatment as usual (TAU) for clients entering Intensive Outpatient (IOP) substance abuse treatment (SAT). In this randomized clinical trial, it is hypothesized that RT-E will positively impact treatment attendance and substance use outcomes. In exploratory analyses, the investigators will also evaluate the comparative impact of RT-E versus TAU on HIV related client behaviors. Evaluate feasibility and counselor and client acceptability of RT-E. Conduct preliminary cost and cost effectiveness analyses comparing RT-E to TAU. Hypothesis 1: RT-E clients will attend more days of OP treatment than TAU clients. The investigators will compare the two groups on monthly treatment attendance for months 1 through 9. We expect a main effect of group with RT-E clients displaying more attendance than TAU clients. Hypothesis 2: RT-E clients will have higher rates of abstinence than TAU clients. The investigators will compare abstinence rates at months 3, 6, and 9. Abstinence is a binary variable based on both biological test results and self-reported substance use from the Addiction Severity Index, Version 6 (ASI6). We expect a main effect of group with RT-E clients displaying higher rates of abstinence than TAU clients. Secondary Analyses: HIV Risk Scores: The investigators will compare the two groups' Risk Assessment Battery (RAB) HIV risk scores (i.e., total, sex, drug) at month 9. Use of HIV specialist services: Client attendance charts will be reviewed to compare the two groups on the number of times clients met with a program HIV Specialist at month 9. Multidimensional Outcomes: The investigators will compare RT-E and TAU clients on multidimensional outcomes using ASI6 summary scores at months 3, 6, and 9.

Motivational Assessment Program to Initiate Treatment
Substance-Related DisordersSubstance abuse treatment in the criminal justice system can reduce drug use and related criminal behavior. Although drug and alcohol treatment are common mandates in criminal justice programs, only a minority of clients actually initiate treatment. This proposal will compare two intervention formats that target motivation to initiate and engage in treatment among a group of probationers who have drug or alcohol treatment conditions. Six hundred drug and alcohol offenders in two probation sites (Baltimore, MD and Dallas, TX) will be randomized to receive: 1) an in-person motivational interviewing session (MI), 2) a motivational computer program (MC), or 3) supervision intake and monitoring as usual (SAU). The MI condition will be structured along the lines of the "Check-Up" format which consists of an assessment and personalized feedback delivered in an MI style; the content of the MC condition will be drawn from previous literature on effective motivational computer programs. Both interventions will be delivered at the start of the probation process, with follow-up assessments at 2 and 6 months. Primary outcomes include engagement and participation in substance abuse treatment; secondary outcomes include drug and alcohol use, probation progress, criminal behavior, and HIV testing and care. This project will be the first to develop and test two interventions for encouraging criminal justice clients to follow through with treatment recommendations, with the goal of increasing treatment initiation, and reducing subsequent drug use and criminal behavior. It also contributes to ongoing partnerships with two large probation agencies-the Dallas County Supervision and Corrections Department and the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation.