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OBJECTIVES: To examine the frequency and distribution of depressive symptoms among subjects with binge eating disorder (BED), bulimia nervosa (BN), and major depression. METHODS: This study examined depressive symptoms from the Hamilton Depression Scale in 122 BED, 142 BN, and 200 major depression subjects using discriminant function analysis. RESULTS: All three groups differed significantly on the Hamilton Depression Scale totals with major depressive disorder (MDD) subjects having the highest and BED subjects the lowest totals. Eighteen items differentiated MDD from the eating disorder groups. Three items-gastrointestinal (GI) somatic symptoms, paranoid symptoms, and obsessional symptoms-distinguished BED and BN. In each case these symptoms were more common in BN subjects. DISCUSSION: This study attempted to differentiate BN from BED on a basis other than eating behavior. The results provide limited support for the hypothesis that BN and BED can be distinguished on the basis of depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While effective policies exist to reduce alcohol-related harm, political will to enact them is low in many jurisdictions. We aimed to identify key barriers and strategies for strengthening political priority for alcohol policy reform., Methods: A framework synthesis was conducted, incorporating relevant theory, key informant interviews (n = 37) and a scoping review. Thematic analysis informed the development of a framework for understanding and influencing political priority for alcohol policy., Results: Twelve barriers and 14 strategies were identified at multiple levels (global, national and local). Major barriers included neoliberal or free trade ideology, the globalised alcohol industry, limited advocate capacity and the normalisation of alcohol harms. Strategies fell into two categories: sector-specific and system change initiatives. Sector-specific strategies primarily focus on influencing policymakers and mobilising civil society. Examples include developing a clear, unified solution, coalition building and effective framing. System change initiatives target structural change to reduce the power imbalance between industry and civil society, such as restricting industry involvement in policymaking and securing sustainable funding for advocacy. A key example is establishing an international treaty, similar to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to support domestic policymaking., Discussion and Conclusions: Our findings provide a framework for understanding and advancing political priority for alcohol policy. The framework highlights that progress can be achieved at various levels and through diverse groups of actors. The importance of upstream drivers of policymaking was a key finding, presenting challenges for time-poor advocates, but offering potential facilitation through effective global leadership., (© 2023 The Authors. Drug and Alcohol Review published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.)

Objective: This research evaluated the South Carolina Alcohol Enforcement Team impact for reducing retail alcohol access to underage persons to decrease drinking and driving crashes among that population. Methods: The natural research experiment used interrupted time‐series (ITS) analyses of drinking and driving crashes involving under 21‐year‐old drivers from July 2006 through December 2016 (126‐month period = 4,782 Driving Under Influence [DUI] crashes for under 21‐year‐old drivers, µ = 38 crashes per month). Additional data analyzed included the monthly total number of retail compliance checks (total during 126‐month period = 64,954 compliance checks completed, µ = 515.5 checks per month), the average percentage of underage alcohol purchases (total completed during 126‐month period = 8,814 purchases, µ = 70 purchases per month), and a calculated measure of the percent of the population under 21 years old exposed to compliance checks each month. We used drinking and driving crashes for 21‐year‐old and over drivers as a control time series (total number over a 126‐month period = 52,180 DUI crashes for 21 and older drivers, µ = 414.1 crashes per month). Results: The results show a decline in drinking and driving crashes for drivers under 21 when compliance checks increase, and when compliance checks decline, traffic crashes increase. Stable Alcohol Enforcement Team implementation over 78 months produced an overall 18 to 29% decline in such crashes. A visual examination of the crash time series demonstrated that under‐21‐age‐driver crashes declined during the first wave of implementation and increased following a lag when enforcement declined, which provided additional empirical support for a South Carolina Alcohol Enforcement Team impact on retail alcohol availability. An ITS analysis of the prestable period compared to the stable period was statistically significant (T = −3.78, p < 0.001). A cross‐check of these results using single‐vehicle nighttime crashes using identical Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models was also statistically significant (T = −8.18, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This longitudinal study provides strong evidence of sustained reductions in alcohol availability to underage youth can subsequently reduce alcohol‐related traffic crashes. Reductions found in this study continued over several years, considerably longer than any previous equivalent research has shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims. This study describes levels and predictors of community attitudes towards alcohol, support for structural alterations to the drinking context, and intention to increase participation in community sports clubs. Design and Methods. Cross-sectional data were obtained from the VicHealth Community Attitudes Survey on Healthy Sporting Environments, administered to a random sample of Victorian adults. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analysis was undertaken. Results. Very high support for removing alcohol sponsorship of community sport and for a levy on alcohol advertising was found. The groups most supportive of breaking the nexus between alcohol and community sport were female, older-aged and non-English-speaking citizens and those not involved in sport clubs. If alcohol sales at community sports clubs were reduced, participation may increase among population groups currently identified as least engaged with community sport. Discussion and Conclusions. An optimal climate exists for policy reforms to make community sporting environments healthier by reducing the ties with alcohol. If implemented, these reforms may lead to an increase and diversification of participants in community sport.[Tobin CL, Fitzgerald JL, Livingstone C, Thomson L, Harper TA. Support for breaking the nexus between alcohol and community sports settings: Findings from the VicHealth Community Attitudes Survey in Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:413-421] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims. The provision of smoking cessation care to surgical patients before admission can reduce post-operative complications and encourage long-term smoking cessation. Our aim was to show how a comprehensive computer-based smoking cessation intervention, developed to enhance smoking cessation care to surgical patients, addresses barriers to care provision. Design and Methods. Consultations with preoperative clinic staff and reviews of the scientific literature were conducted and identified the following barriers to the provision of effective smoking cessation care: a lack of organisational support, perceived patient objection, a lack of systems to identify smokers, a lack of staff time and skill, perceived inability to change care practices, a perceived lack of efficacy of cessation care and the cost of providing care. Based on positive findings of a pilot trial, a comprehensive computer-based smoking cessation intervention was implemented in a preoperative clinic. Data from previous evaluations of the intervention were used to assess the extent to which the intervention addressed clinician barriers to care. Results. The computer-based intervention was found to provide a means to accurately and systematically identify smokers; it required little clinical staff time or skill; it was considered an acceptable form of care by staff and patients; it was effective in encouraging patient cessation and it was inexpensive to deliver relative to other surgical costs. Furthermore, the computer-based intervention continues to operate in the preoperative clinic in the absence of ongoing research support. Discussion and Conclusions. The implementation of such a model of care should be considered by clinical services interested in reducing the smoking related morbidity and mortality of patients.[Wolfenden L, Wiggers J, Campbell E, Knight J, Kerridge R & Spigelman A. Providing comprehensive smoking cessation care to surgical patients: The case for computers. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009;28:60–65] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the participation and knowledge of Icelandic nurses in smoking cessation counselling and to find barriers to smoking interventions by nurses. BACKGROUND: Research has shown that clinical intervention as brief as three minutes can substantially increase smoking cessation success. Several studies have revealed that majority of nurses agree that smoking cessation counselling is within their duties. However, the percentage of nurses who report advising and/or counselling patients remains low. DESIGN AND METHODS: An anonymous mail survey of all practicing nurses in Iceland was conducted in September 2004. A self-administered questionnaire was used, consisting of 74 questions in six sections: asking about smoking behaviour, to advise, to assess/assist/arrange, children and passive smoking, other questions and demographic questions. RESULTS: Of 2453 questionnaires, 868 complete questionnaires were returned, giving a 36% response rate. While the majority of nurses 'asked' about smoking behaviour, a minority 'advised' or 'assisted' their clients with smoking cessation. However, if the clients had no smoking-related symptoms, less than half of the nurses asked about smoking behaviour. Failure to ask and advise clients about the importance of smoking cessation and assisting with smoking cessation correlated (p < 0.001) with several factors, including: lack of time, insufficient knowledge or training and not considered as a part of daily duty. Nurses who smoked were less likely to advise against smoking (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses frequently neglect to counsel clients about smoking cessation. Common barriers to the delivery of smoking cessation interventions by nurses include insufficient education and training in smoking cessation therapy. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The number of patients with tobacco-related illnesses is increasing worldwide. Effective smoking cessation interventions by nurses have the enormous potential of reducing smoking prevalence and improve health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the degree of smoking cessation advice given by health professionals, before and after their participation in a smoking cessation study using bupropion-sustained release (bupropion SR, Zyban®). A total of 690 physicians and nurses who had smoked an average of 10 cigarettes/day over the previous year and were motivated to quit smoking, were randomised in a double-blind manner to receive bupropion SR (days 1–3, 150 mg/day; days 4–49, 150 mg twice daily) or placebo for 7 weeks, with follow-up to week 52. All subjects received regular follow-up and brief motivational support throughout the study. Questions regarding their smoking cessation advice formed part of the study, with the aim of determining whether study participants became more proactive with their smoking cessation advice. A positive shift from baseline to end of study was observed with respect to the advice and support they gave to their smoking patients. These changes were not related to study treatment or current smoking status. An increase in advising patients to quit smoking and in offering cessation counselling was observed. Participation in a smoking-cessation study by physicians and nurses who smoke has a positive effect, regardless of study medication, in smoking cessation advice and counselling given to their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the proceedings of a symposium at the 2001 Research Society on Alcoholism meeting in Montreal, Canada. The symposium was organized and chaired by Joel W. Grube. The presentations and presenters were (1) Introduction and background, by Susan E. Martin; (2) The effect of alcohol ads on youth 15-26 years old, by Leslie Snyder, Mark Hamilton, Fran Fleming-Milici, and Michael D. Slater; (3) A comparison of exposure to alcohol advertising and drinking behavior in elementary versus middle school children, by Phyllis L. Ellickson and Rebecca L. Collins; (4) USC health and advertising project: assessment study on alcohol advertisement memory and exposure, by Alan Stacy; and (5) TV beer and soft drink advertising: what young people like and what effects? by Meng-Jinn Chen and Joel W. Grube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual dysfunction is a well-known symptom of depression. However, it has received little, if any, attention from clinicians and researchers. A review of published literature suggests that sexual dysfunction occurs in the majority of depressed patients. It has a major impact on the quality of life of the patients. The pathophysiology of sexual dysfunction in depression involves a complex interplay of various neurotransmitters and hormones. Clinicians need to be more proactive in enquiring about sexual dysfunction in depressed patients. More information is needed about the nature, prevalence and pathophysiology of sexual dysfunction in depression. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims: South Africa is considering a range of alcohol policy reforms. This study aims to determine the magnitude of public support for 13 alcohol policies in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and whether this varies by demographic factors and heavy drinking status.Design and Methods: Data are from the South African arm of the International Alcohol Control study, a household survey of adult drinkers using a multistage stratified cluster random sampling design. The sample included 1920 drinkers aged 18-65 years (62% men), with complete drinking data for 16 drinking locations on 955 persons (510 heavy and 445 not heavy drinkers).Results: Over half (53%) of the sample were found to be heavy drinkers. Support varied by alcohol policy, ranging from 31% to 77%, with support above 50% for 11 of the 13 policies. Policy support was higher for policies increasing the purchase age to 21 years (77%), addressing drink driving (58-76%) and restricting physical availability (60-66%). There was slightly less support for policies restricting alcohol marketing (59%) or for policies increasing the price of alcohol (34-58%), especially if no justification was given or the funds were not earmarked. Policy support differed by age, gender, heavy drinking status and income.Discussion and Conclusions: Public support from adult drinkers for a range of alcohol policies is extensive and, as found elsewhere, was strongest for raising the minimum drinking age and lowest for increasing prices. The support from drinkers to increasing controls on alcohol could be one lever to getting control measures implemented. [Parry CDH, Trangenstein P, Lombard C, Jernigan DH, Morojele NK. Support for alcohol policies from drinkers in the City of Tshwane, South Africa: Data from the International Alcohol Control study. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;00:000-000]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]