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Introduction and Aims. Although psychiatric symptoms are frequently observed in methamphetamine (MA) users, little is known about the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in MA-dependent individuals. This is the first study to examine the association of psychiatric disorders with substance use and psychosocial functioning in a large sample of MA users 3 years after treatment. We predicted that psychiatric diagnoses and severity would be associated with substance use and poorer overall functioning over the 3 year post-treatment course. Design and Methods. Participants (N = 526) received psychosocial treatment for MA dependence as part of the Methamphetamine Treatment Project and were reassessed for psychosocial functioning and substance use at a mean of 3 years after treatment initiation. DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses were assessed at follow-up using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Psychosocial functioning was assessed using the Addiction Severity Index. Results. Overall, 48.1% of the sample met criteria for a current or past psychiatric disorder other than a substance use disorder. Consistent with prior reports from clinical samples of cocaine users, this rate was largely accounted for by mood disorders, anxiety disorders and antisocial personality. Those with an Axis I psychiatric disorder evidenced increased MA use and greater functional impairment over time relative to those without a psychiatric disorder. Discussion and Conclusions. This initial investigation of psychiatric diagnoses in MA users after treatment indicates elevated rates of Axis I and II disorders in this population and underscores the need for integrated psychiatric assessment and intervention in drug abuse treatment settings.[Glasner-Edwards S, Mooney LJ, Marinelli-Casey P, Hillhouse M, Ang A, Rawson RA, The Methamphetamine Treatment Project Corporate Authors. Psychopathology in methamphetamine-dependent adults 3 years after treatment. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009]

© 2015 Elsevier Inc.Background: This paper reports data from a study designed to determine the impact of an 8-week exercise program on depression and anxiety symptoms among newly abstinent methamphetamine (MA)-dependent individuals in residential treatment. Methods: One hundred thirty-five MA-dependent individuals, newly enrolled in residential treatment, were randomly assigned to receive either a 3-times-per-week, 60-minute structured exercise program for 8. weeks (24 sessions) or an equivalent number of health education sessions. Using mixed-modeling repeated-measures regression, we examined changes in weekly total depression and anxiety scores as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory over the 8-week study period. Results: Mean age of participants was 31.7 (SD = 6.9); 70.4% were male and 48% Latino. Analyses indicate a significant effect of exercise on reducing depression (β = - 0.63, P= 0.001) and anxiety (β = - 0.95, P= 0.001) symptoms (total scores) over the 8-week period compared to a health education control group. A significant dose interaction effect between session attendance and exercise was found as well on reducing depression (β = - 0.61, P< 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (β = - 0.22, P= 0.009) over time compared to the control group. Conclusions: Results support the role of a structured exercise program as an effective intervention for improving symptoms of depression and anxiety associated with MA abstinence.

We examined the efficacy of an 8-week exercise intervention on posttreatment methamphetamine (MA) use among MA-dependent individuals following residential treatment.135 individuals newly enrolled in treatment were randomly assigned to a structured 8-week exercise intervention or health education control group. Approximately 1 week after completion of the intervention, participants were discharged to the community. Interview data and urine samples were collected at 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-residential care. Of the sample, 54.8% were classified as higher severity users (using MA more than 18 days in the month before admission) and 45.2% as lower severity users (using MA for up to 18 days in the month before admission). Group differences in MA use outcomes were examined over the 3 timepoints using mixed-multivariate modeling.While fewer exercise participants returned to MA use compared to education participants at 1-, 3- and 6-months post-discharge, differences were not statistically significant. A significant interaction for self-reported MA use and MA urine drug test results by condition and MA severity was found: lower severity users in the exercise group reported using MA significantly fewer days at the three post-discharge timepoints than lower severity users in the education group. Lower severity users in the exercise group also had a lower percentage of positive urine results at the three timepoints than lower severity users in the education group. These relationships were not present in the comparison of the higher severity conditions.Results support the value of exercise as a treatment component for individuals using MA 18 or fewer days/month.

To examine the safety and effectiveness of buprenorphine + naloxone sublingual tablets (BUP, as Suboxone(®) ) provided after administration of extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX, as Vivitrol(®) ) to reduce cocaine use in participants who met DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence and past or current opioid dependence or abuse.This multi-centered, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted under the auspices of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, randomly assigned 302 participants at sites in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, New York and Washington DC, USA to one of three conditions provided with XR-NTX: 4 mg/day BUP (BUP4, n = 100), 16 mg/day BUP (BUP16, n = 100, or no buprenorphine (placebo; PLB, n = 102). Participants received pharmacotherapy for 8 weeks, with three clinic visits per week. Cognitive behavioral therapy was provided weekly. Follow-up assessments occurred at 1 and 3 months post-intervention. The planned primary outcome was urine drug screen (UDS)-corrected, self-reported cocaine use during the last 4 weeks of treatment. Planned secondary analyses assessed cocaine use by UDS, medication adherence, retention and adverse events.No group differences were found between groups for the primary outcome (BUP4 versus PLB, P = 0.262; BUP16 versus PLB, P = 0.185). Longitudinal analysis of UDS data during the evaluation period using generalized linear mixed equations found a statistically significant difference between BUP16 and PLB [P = 0.022, odds ratio (OR) = 1.71] but not for BUP4 (P = 0.105, OR = 1.05). No secondary outcome differences across groups were found for adherence, retention or adverse events.Buprenorphine + naloxone, used in combination with naltrexone, may be associated with reductions in cocaine use among people who meet DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence and past or current opioid dependence or abuse.

Induction is a crucial period of opioid addiction treatment. This study aimed to identify buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP) induction patterns and examine their association with outcomes (opioid use, retention, and related adverse events [AEs]).The secondary analysis of a study of opioid-dependent adults seeking treatment in eight treatment settings included 740 participants inducted on BUP with flexible dosing.Latent class analysis models detected six distinctive induction trajectories: bup1-started and remained on low; bup2-started low, shifted slowly to moderate; bup3-started low, shifted quickly to moderate; bup4-started high, shifted to low; bup5-started and remained on moderate; bup6-started moderate, shifted to high dose (Fig. 1). Baseline characteristics, including Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS), were important predictors of retention. When controlled for the baseline characteristics, bup6 participants were three times less likely to drop out the first 7 days than bup1 participants (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = .28, p = .03). Opioid use and AEs were similar across trajectories. Participants on ≥16 mg BUP compared to those on16 mg at Day 28 were less likely to drop out (aHR = .013, p = .001) and less likely to have AEs during the first 28 days (aOR = .57, p = .03).BUP induction dosing was guided by an objective measure of opioid withdrawal. Participants with higher baseline COWS whose BUP doses were raised more quickly were less likely to drop out in the first 7 days than those whose doses were raised slower.This study supports the use of an objective measure of opioid withdrawal (COWS) during BUP induction to improve retention early in treatment.

Psychotic symptoms and syndromes are frequently experienced among individuals who use methamphetamine, with recent estimates of up to approximately 40% of users affected. Though transient in a large proportion of users, acute symptoms can include agitation, violence, and delusions, and may require management in an inpatient psychiatric or other crisis intervention setting. In a subset of individuals, psychosis can recur and persist and may be difficult to distinguish from a primary psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia. Differential diagnosis of primary versus substance-induced psychotic disorders among methamphetamine users is challenging; nevertheless, with careful assessment of the temporal relationship of symptoms to methamphetamine use, aided by state-of-the art psychodiagnostic assessment instruments and use of objective indicators of recent substance use (i.e., urine toxicology assays), coupled with collateral clinical data gathered from the family or others close to the individual, diagnostic accuracy can be optimized and the individual can be appropriately matched to a plan of treatment. The pharmacological treatment of acute methamphetamine-induced psychosis may include the use of antipsychotic medications as well as benzodiazepines, although symptoms may resolve without pharmacological treatment if the user is able to achieve a period of abstinence from methamphetamine. Importantly, psychosocial treatment for methamphetamine dependence has a strong evidence base and is the optimal first-line treatment approach to reducing rates of psychosis among individuals who use methamphetamines. Prevention of methamphetamine relapse is the most direct means of preventing recurrence of psychotic symptoms and syndromes. Long-term management of individuals who present with recurrent and persistent psychosis, even in the absence of methamphetamine use, may include both behavioral treatment to prevent resumption of methamphetamine use and pharmacological treatment targeting psychotic symptoms. In addition, treatment of co-occurring psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety is important as a means of preventing relapse to methamphetamine use, which is often triggered by associated symptoms.

Background and Objectives This paper expands on a study investigating depression outcomes in response to an 8-week exercise intervention among methamphetamine (MA) dependent individuals in early recovery. Methods A total of 135 MA-dependent individuals enrolled in residential treatment were randomly assigned to either a structured exercise intervention or a structured health education control group. Both groups were similar in format: 60-minute sessions, offered three times a week over an 8-week study period. Results Results showed that at the 8-week trial endpoint, participants randomized to the exercise intervention showed significantly greater reduction in depression symptom scores than participants randomized to the health education group, and that participants who attended the greatest number of exercise sessions derived the greatest benefit. This paper further analyzes study data to uncover individual predictors of depression response to exercise and finds that among participants randomized to exercise treatment, individuals with the most severe medical, psychiatric, and addiction disease burden at baseline showed the most significant improvement in depressive symptoms by study endpoint. Conclusions Our findings suggest that exercise in moderate dose is effective at treating depressive symptoms in individuals in early recovery from addiction, and furthermore, that treatment with exercise appears to be particularly beneficial to individuals who suffer from severe medical, psychiatric, and addictive disorders. (Am J Addict 2015;24:246–251)

Despite recent advances in behavioral interventions for cannabis use disorders, effect sizes remain modest, and few individuals achieve long-term abstinence. One strategy to enhance outcomes is the addition of pharmacotherapy to complement behavioral treatment, but to date no efficacious medications targeting cannabis use disorders in adults through large, randomized controlled trials have been identified. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network (NIDA CTN) is currently conducting a study to test the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) versus placebo (PBO), added to contingency management, for cannabis cessation in adults (ages 18-50). This study was designed to replicate positive findings from a study in cannabis-dependent adolescents that found greater odds of abstinence with NAC compared to PBO. This paper describes the design and implementation of an ongoing 12-week, intent-to-treat, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study with one follow-up visit four weeks post-treatment. Approximately 300 treatment-seeking cannabis-dependent adults will be randomized to NAC or PBO across six study sites in the United States. The primary objective of this 12-week study is to evaluate the efficacy of twice-daily orally-administered NAC (1200 mg) versus matched PBO, added to contingency management, on cannabis abstinence. NAC is among the first medications to demonstrate increased odds of abstinence in a randomized controlled study among cannabis users in any age group. The current study will assess the cannabis cessation efficacy of NAC combined with a behavioral intervention in adults, providing a novel and timely contribution to the evidence base for the treatment of cannabis use disorders.

PURPOSE: Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects a healthy autonomic nervous system and is increased with physical training. Methamphetamine dependence (MD) causes autonomic dysfunction and diminished HRV. We compared recently abstinent methamphetamine-dependent participants with age-matched, drug-free controls (DF) and also investigated whether HRV can be improved with exercise training in the methamphetamine-dependent participants. METHODS: In 50 participants (MD = 28; DF = 22), resting heart rate (HR; R-R intervals) was recorded over 5 min while seated using a monitor affixed to a chest strap. Previously reported time domain (SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50) and frequency domain (LFnu, HFnu, LF/HF) parameters of HRV were calculated with customized software. MD were randomized to thrice-weekly exercise training (ME = 14) or equal attention without training (MC = 14) over 8 wk. Groups were compared using paired and unpaired t-tests. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Participant characteristics were matched between groups (mean ± SD): age = 33 ± 6 yr; body mass = 82.7 ± 12 kg, body mass index = 26.8 ± 4.1 kg·min. Compared with DF, the MD group had significantly higher resting HR (P < 0.05), LFnu, and LF/HF (P < 0.001) as well as lower SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, and HFnu (all P < 0.001). At randomization, HRV indices were similar between ME and MC groups. However, after training, the ME group significantly (all P < 0.001) increased SDNN (+14.7 ± 2.0 ms, +34%), RMSSD (+19.6 ± 4.2 ms, +63%), pNN50 (+22.6% ± 2.7%, +173%), HFnu (+14.2 ± 1.9, +60%), and decreased HR (-5.2 ± 1.1 bpm, -7%), LFnu (-9.6 ± 1.5, -16%), and LF/HF (-0.7 ± 0.3, -19%). These measures did not change from baseline in the MC group. CONCLUSIONS: HRV, based on several conventional indices, was diminished in recently abstinent, methamphetamine-dependent individuals. Moreover, physical training yielded a marked increase in HRV, representing increased vagal modulation or improved autonomic balance. © 2014 by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Background: Effective pharmacotherapies to treat methamphetamine (MA) dependence have not been identified, and behavioral therapies are marginally effective. Based on behavioral studies demonstrating the potential efficacy of aerobic exercise for improving depressive symptoms, anxiety, cognitive deficits, and substance use outcomes, the study described here is examining exercise as a potential treatment for MA-dependent individuals. Methods: This study is randomizing 150 participants with MA dependence at a residential treatment facility for addictive disorders to receive either a thrice-weekly structured aerobic and resistance exercise intervention or a health education condition. Recruitment commenced in March, 2010. Enrollment and follow-up phases are ongoing, and recruitment is exceeding targeted enrollment rates. Conclusions: Seeking evidence for a possibly effective adjunct to traditional behavioral approaches for treatment of MA dependence, this study is assessing the ability of an 8-week aerobic and resistance exercise protocol to reduce relapse to MA use during a 12-week follow-up period after discharge from residential-based treatment. The study also is evaluating improvements in health and functional outcomes during and after the protocol. This paper describes the design and methods of the study. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

The gp120 envelope glycoprotein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) promotes virus entry by sequentially binding CD4 and chemokine receptors on the target cell. Primary, clinical HIV-1 isolates require interaction with CD4 to allow gp120 to bind the CCR5 chemokine receptor efficiently. We adapted a primary HIV-1 isolate, ADA, to replicate in CD4-negative canine cells expressing human CCR5. The gp120 changes responsible for the adaptation were limited to alteration of glycosylation addition sites in the V2 loop–V1-V2 stem. The gp120 glycoproteins of the adapted viruses bound CCR5 directly, without prior interaction with CD4. Thus, a major function of CD4 binding in the entry of primary HIV-1 isolates can be bypassed by changes in the gp120 V1-V2 elements, which allow the envelope glycoproteins to assume a conformation competent for CCR5 binding.

OBJECTIVES Physical exercise has been shown to benefit diverse medical and behavioral conditions. This study assesses the feasibility and efficacy of an 8-week endurance and resistance training program on fitness measures in individuals undergoing residential treatment for methamphetamine (MA) dependence. METHODS A total of 39 MA-dependent individuals were randomized to 3 days/week of exercise training (ET, n = 15) or health education without training (equal attention [EA], n = 14) over 8 weeks. Aerobic performance ((Equation is included in full-text article.)VO2max) was measured by indirect calorimetry, body composition by skinfolds, muscle strength by 1-repetition maximum (1-RM), and endurance at 85% of 1-RM for both leg press (LP) and chest press (CP). RESULTS A total of 29 individuals completed the study for a 74% adherence rate. Baseline characteristics (mean ± SD) were balanced between groups: age 31 ± 7 years; height = 1.74 ± 0.07 m; weight 82.0 ± 15.0 kg. The ET group significantly improved (Equation is included in full-text article.)O2max by 0.63 ± 0.22 L/min (+21%), LP strength by 24.4 ± 5.6 kg (+40%), and CP strength by 20.6 ± 5.7 kg (+49%). The ET group increased LP and CP endurance by 120% and 96%, respectively and showed significant reductions in body weight of 1.7 ± 2.4 kg (-2%), % body fat of 2.8 ± 1.3% (-15%), and fat weight 2.8 ± 1.8 kg (-18%). All changes were significant (P < 0.001) for ET, and no changes were seen for the EA group. CONCLUSIONS Individuals recovering from MA dependence showed substantial improvements in aerobic exercise performance, muscle strength and endurance, and body composition with ET. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of an ET intervention in these participants and also show excellent responsiveness to the exercise stimulus resulting in physiological changes that might enhance recovery from drug dependency.

Effective medications to treat cocaine dependence have not been identified. Recent pharmacotherapy trials demonstrate the potential efficacy of buprenorphine (BUP) (alone or with naltrexone) for reducing cocaine use. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network (CTN) launched the Cocaine Use Reduction with Buprenorphine (CURB) investigation to examine the safety and efficacy of sublingual BUP (as Suboxone®) in the presence of extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX, as Vivitrol®) for the treatment of cocaine dependence. This paper describes the design and rationale for this study.This multi-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will randomize 300 participants across 11 sites. Participants must meet the DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence and past or current opioid dependence or abuse. Participants are inducted onto XR-NTX after self-reporting at least 7 days of abstinence from opioids and tolerating a naloxone challenge followed by oral naltrexone and are then randomly assigned to one of three medication conditions (4 mg BUP, 16 mg BUP, or placebo) for 8 weeks. Participants receive a second injection of XR-NTX 4 weeks after the initial injection, and follow-up visits are scheduled at 1 and 3 months post-treatment. Participants receive weekly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Recruitment commenced in September, 2011. Enrollment, active medication, and follow-up phases are ongoing, and recruitment is exceeding targeted enrollment rates.This research using 2 medications will demonstrate whether BUP, administered in the presence of XR-NTX, reduces cocaine use in adults with cocaine dependence and opioid use disorders and will demonstrate if XR-NTX prevents development of physiologic dependence on BUP.

Disclosures: Dr Ling has served as a consultant to Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals and to Alkermes, Inc. Dr Mooney and Dr Wu report no relationships with commercial companies with any interest in the article’s subject matters. a UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, 1640 South Sepulveda, Suite 120, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA; b Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, PO 3419, Durham, NC 27710, USA * Corresponding author. E-mail address: lwalter@ucla.edu

Aims:Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable death, and addiction to nicotine produces long-lasting, stable changes in brain synaptic physiology thatmight contribute to thevulnerability to relapse. Existing smoking cessation treatments are insufficient as relapse rates remain high. Thus, we examined the ability of Nacetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, to inhibit relapse, restore glial glutamateuptake, and inhibit relapse-associatedsynapticplasticity in the nucleus accumbens core. Methods: We examined the ability of NAC to reduce reinstatement of cue-induced nicotine seeking in a preclinical model nicotine relapse. NAC (30mg/kg, i.p.) was given chronically for 5 days duringwithdrawalwith extinction training fromnicotine selfadministration (0.02mg/kg/infusion for 10days). Following the last injection, animals were either sacrificed for sodiumdependent (via the glial glutamate transporter, GLT-1) or independent (via the cystine-glutamate exchanger) glutamate uptake, or animals were given a 15min cue-induced reinstatement session and sacrificed for dendritic spine or electrophysiological analysis. Results: NAC given chronically during withdrawal with extinction training from nicotine self-administration inhibited both cue-induced nicotine seeking and relapse-associated rapid, transient synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens core measured via dendritic spine head diameter and AMPA/NMDA ratios in medium spiny neurons. In addition, we found reduced sodiumdependentglial glutamateuptake (viaGLT-1) followingwithdrawal from nicotine self-administration, and NAC restored nucleus accumbenscoreglutamateuptake innicotine-withdrawnrats compared to drug-naive controls. Conclusions: These results show that NACmay be an important pharmacotherapeutic avenue in restoring glutamate homeostasis and in reducing nicotine relapse vulnerability. Financial support: NIH grants K99 DA036569 (CDG) and DA015369 (PWK).

Aims: The observation that dual blockade of endogenous cannabinoid degradative enzymes monoacylglycerol (MAGL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) elicits THC-like psychotropic effects suggest FAAH & MAGL function as dual brakes in curtailing the pharmacological effects of endogenous cannabinoids. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether blockade of FAAH and MAGL would produce an interoceptive stimulus in mice, using the drugdiscriminationparadigm.Drugdiscrimination is an assayused to infer the subjective effects of drugs. Herewe testedwhether elevating levels of the naturally occurring endogenous cannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) via inhibition of both degradative enzymes would serve as an interoceptive stimulus in mice, N=7–8. Towards this end, we employed the dual FAAH & MAGL inhibitor SA-57 as the training drug. Methods:Micewere trainedusingadouble alternationbetween SA-57 and vehicle (DDVVDD) and acquired the task over 40 days. Results: The discriminative stimulus effects of 10mg/kg SA57 were dose-related (ED50 (95% CI) = 4.49 (3.77–5.35)mg/kg) and were antagonized by the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant (3mg/kg), but not the CB2 receptor antagonist SR144528 (3mg/kg). CP55, 940 as well as the dual FAAH/MAGL inhibitor JZL195 substituted for SA-57, and rimonabant blocked the substitution of both. Lowdoses of SA-57 (

Although weight loss is among the most commonly cited reasons for using methamphetamine (MA), little is known about the association between eating disorders and treatment outcomes in this population. This study examined psychiatric, substance use, and functional outcomes of MA users (N = 526) with bulimia nervosa 3 years after treatment for MA dependence. Bulimia nervosa was observed among 2.4% (N = 13) of the participants and was associated with poorer MA use outcomes, increased health service utilization, and higher levels of functional impairment. Addressing MA use among adults with eating disorders may be helpful as a means of improving treatment outcomes.

Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug abuse has become a focal point of public health policy, prevention, and control efforts. Adolescents represent one of the fastest growing segments of the general population abusing prescription and OTC drugs as represented by national surveys. This article reports on treatment admission data to the California addiction public system for prescription and OTC drugs among two age subgroups: adolescents 12–17 years and adults 18 years and older. Of the 6,841 admissions for primary abuse of prescription and OTC drugs in California (during 2006–2007), most adolescent admissions (12–17) were for stimulant prescription and OTC drugs (45.3% and 32.1%, respectively), whereas opioid prescription drugs (88.9%) were most common for adults 18 years and older. Differences in psychosocial, treatment, and substance use characteristics between these two age subgroups are described. Results from this study offer useful treatment admission information about prescription and OTC drug abuse within the California public addiction treatment system.

Although depression is highly comorbid with substance use disorders, little is known about the clinical course and outcomes of methamphetamine (MA) users with depressive symptoms and syndromes. In this study of MA-dependent individuals entering psychosocial treatment, we predicted that (1) depressive symptoms would decline during treatment, an effect that would vary as a function of MA use and (2) depression diagnoses post-treatment would be associated with poorer outcomes. Participants (N = 526) were assessed for depression, substance use, and psychosocial outcomes at baseline, treatment discharge, and 3-year follow-up. Depressive symptoms declined significantly during treatment, an effect that was greatest among those who abstained from MA. Major depression at follow-up was associated with poorer MA use outcomes and impairment across multiple domains of functioning. The findings highlight the relationship of depressive symptoms and diagnoses to treatment outcomes, and suggest a need for further studies of depression in populations using MA.

Little is known about risk factors for depression in methamphetamine users. Using data from 526 adults in the largest psychosocial clinical trial of methamphetamine users conducted to date, this study examined clinical, demographic, and substance use characteristics that predict the presence of a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) three years after treatment for methamphetamine dependence. The results indicate that two risk factors predict a diagnosis of MDD: a Beck Depression Inventory total score greater than 20, and one or more prior suicide attempts. These risk factors identify methamphetamine users who may benefit from early interventions for psychiatric symptoms.

Little is known about the association between psychosis and treatment outcomes in methamphetamine (MA) users. Using data from 526 adults in the largest psychosocial clinical trial of MA users conducted to date, this study examined psychiatric, substance use, and functional outcomes of MA users with concomitant psychotic illness 3 years after treatment. The presence of a psychotic disorder was associated with increased health service utilization and higher levels of psychiatric symptomatology across multiple domains over time. MA users with co-occurring psychotic illness may therefore benefit from early psychosocial and/or pharmacologic interventions to address psychiatric symptoms.

To examine how plant allelochemicals in prey affect foraging choices made by generalist predator paper wasps, Polistes dominulus (Vespidae), we compared predation on Pieris napi (Pieridae) caterpillars reared on host plants with different allelochemicals. In naturalistic behavioral choice experiments, free-flying wasps chose between living pierids reared on cabbage (Brassica oleracea), which lacks deterrent allelochemicals, or alternate host plants with potentially deterrent allelochemicals. The alternative host plants were: wormwood mustard, (Erysimum cheiranthoides: Brassicaceae), which contains cardenolides; nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus: Tropaeolaceae) with high concentrations of chlorogenic acid; and black mustard (Brassica nigra: Brassicaceae) with high concentrations of the aliphatic glucosinolate, sinigrin. Although wasps captured equal numbers of caterpillars reared on cabbage and each alternate host plant, they spent significantly longer handling prey from the alternate host plants as they selectively removed the caterpillar's gut, which contained the plant material. This was true even if the caterpillar did not sequester toxins in its tissues, as revealed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of Erysimum-reared pierids. Because handling time is longer, predators that capture pierids containing non-sequestered allelochemicals experience an overall reduction in foraging rate that may translate into a fitness cost.

Aims: Methamphetamine has been a popular recreational drug for decades. Diffusion tensor imaging studies in abstinentmethamphetamine users have found reductions in fractional anisotropy in frontal white matter, suggesting axonal injury and inflammation. To date, no tractography studies have been carried out in participants with methamphetamine addiction; therefore, this study aimed to investigate microstructural changes within 18 major white matter tracts of active and recently abstinent methamphetamine users. Methods: Imaging was undertaken using a 3.0 T Siemens Magnetom Skyra system and a diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging sequence with b=1500 s/mm2 and 64 directions. Data were acquired from 11 active methamphetamine users, 6 recently abstinent users aged 22–45, and compared with 9 healthy controls using the FDT toolbox within FSL 5.0, and TRACULA within FreeSurfer. One-way analysis of variance was carried out to determine differences between groups (p