Does Psychopathology in Childhood Predict Internet Addiction in Male Adolescents?

Does Psychopathology in Childhood Predict Internet Addiction in Male Adolescents?

Filed under: Addiction Rehab

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2012 Dec 15;
Cho SM, Sung MJ, Shin KM, Lim KY, Shin YM

This study investigated childhood psychopathology and Internet addiction in adolescents. Initial assessment data were obtained from 1998 to 1999, and a follow-up assessment was performed in 2006, when the original subjects entered middle school. Personal information for the 524 male subjects was obtained from the original data. The subjects were evaluated with the Korean version of the child behavior checklist, which was administered to the children’s parents. Demographic and psychosocial factors were also evaluated. Children were reassessed with the self-reported Korea Internet Addiction Scale. Our results indicated that 3.6 % of the subjects had Internet addiction, and revealed a significant relationship between withdrawal and anxiety/depression and future Internet addiction. The results suggest that withdrawal and anxiety/depression during childhood should be considered in the etiology of problematic Internet use in boys. Accordingly, clinicians should consider anxiety/depression and withdrawal during childhood to prevent Internet addiction.
HubMed – addiction

Nicotine Addiction Reduces the Large-Conductance Ca(2+)-activated Potassium Channels Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens.

Filed under: Addiction Rehab

Neuromolecular Med. 2012 Dec 16;
Ma L, Wu YM, Guo YY, Yang Q, Feng B, Song Q, Liu SB, Zhao DQ, Zhao MG

Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (BKCa) are widely expressed in the central nervous system and play important roles in neural activities. Nicotine exposure leads to long-lasting changes in behavioral and neuronal plasticity. However, little is known the roles of BKCa in the development of nicotine addiction. In the present study, a significant reduction in BKCa channel expression was found in nucleus accumbens (NAc) from nicotine addiction mice. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from NAc neurons of the addicted animals revealed a pronounced reduction in the fast after-hyperpolarization of action potentials mediated by BKCa channels that led to hyperexcitability of the NAc neurons. Activation of BKCa channels in the NAc reversed drug-seeking behaviors which were detected by conditioned place preference test. Furthermore, knockdown of BKCa channels using short hairpin RNAs significantly increased the drug-seeking behavior. These findings provide direct evidence that alterations of BKCa channels in the NAc play critical roles in the development of nicotine addiction and that modulation of the BKCa channels may be potential therapeutics for drug addiction.
HubMed – addiction

Dopamine dysregulation syndrome in Parkinson’s disease patients with unsatisfactory switching from immediate to extended release pramipexole: A further clue to incentive sensitization mechanisms?

Filed under: Addiction Rehab

Behav Neurol. 2012 Dec 14;
Solla P, Cannas A, Corona M, Marrosu MG, Marrosu F

A small proportion of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), chronically under dopamine replacement therapy, may undergo an addiction-like behavioral disturbance, named dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS). This behavioral disorder is characterized by the increase of doses beyond those required for motor control, and its management remains difficult; thus, early recognition and careful monitoring of at-risk individuals are crucial. We report the cases of two PD patients with a previous unsatisfactory switching from an immediate release (IR) to an extended release (ER) pramipexole formulation who developed DDS. PD patients unsatisfactorily switched from an IR to an ER formulation of dopamine agonists should be considered as at-risk individuals for DDS development.
HubMed – addiction

Hookah’s new popularity among US college students: a pilot study of the characteristics of hookah smokers and their Facebook displays.

Filed under: Addiction Rehab

BMJ Open. 2012; 2(6):
Brockman LN, Pumper MA, Christakis DA, Moreno MA

(1) To confirm the prevalence of hookah use among US college students. (2) To identify substances commonly smoked in hookahs and other substance use characteristics of hookah smokers. (3) Given the powerful influence of Facebook and its potential role in promoting behaviours, to assess the prevalence of hookah references on Facebook profiles.Cross-sectional study.Two large US universities; www.Facebook.com.307 Facebook profiles were coded and 216 of these profile owners completed an online survey. On average, participants were 18.8 years old (SD=0.7), women (54%), Caucasian (70.4%) and approximately half were from each university.Lifetime and frequency of hookah use, substance smoked in hookah, cigarette and marijuana use, hookah references displayed on Facebook.27.8% of participants endorsed hookah use; there were no significant differences between age, gender, race or university for hookah use. Hookah users reported smoking tobacco (78%), hash (12%) and both tobacco and marijuana/hash (10%) in their hookah. Compared with non-hookah smokers, hookah smokers were more likely to report using cigarettes (OR=3.41, 95%CI=1.2 to 9.64) and marijuana (OR=15.01, 95%CI=6.5 to 34.65). Hookah references were present on 5% of Facebook profiles.More than one quarter of college students smoke hookah. Most smoke tobacco in their hookah, and hookah smoking is associated with polysubstance use. Hookah may present new risks for nicotine addiction in this population.
HubMed – addiction

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