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Background: Areca nut (AN) is one of the world’s most widely used drugs, especially in Asia-Pacific, causing dependence and multiple adverse health impacts. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified it as a type-1 carcinogen. Despite evidence of harms, its use is culturally ingrained in many regions worldwide; harm perception is low; and the availability of intervention strategies is limited. Methods: To identify the range and efficacy of interventional studies on AN use cessation, a narrative review of studies published between 1990 and 2021 was undertaken using selected electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Scopus). Results: Three types of interventions were identified: educational, psychological, and pharmacological. Overall, educational interventions significantly enhanced knowledge regarding harms related to AN use. Some psychological interventions reported enhancement of motivation to quit as well as helped in reduction/cessation of AN use. Two pharmacological studies on psychiatric patients with depressive disorders and AN use found that antidepressants helped in reducing/cessation of AN use. Conclusion: Overall, the number of interventional studies on AN cessation is limited, and most studies have measured the short-term effects of the intervention. The role of pharmacotherapeutic interventions needs to be evaluated for AN cessation, and evidence-based psychosocial interventions need to be developed for AN cessation. Furthermore, longitudinal research using adequate sample sizes and longer follow-up durations are needed to establish interventions in this important area.

Abstract Urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG), an alcohol biomarker, plays an essential role in monitoring alcohol abstinence and relapse during treatment for alcohol dependence. Detection of this biomarker has become a routine in many clinical and forensic laboratories over the last few years. Most previously published methods commonly use hyphenated chromatographic techniques along with extensive extraction procedure before analysis. This work aimed to develop and validate an electron impact ionization mode gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method to measure ethyl glucuronide levels in human urine. For its determination, urine samples were dried under a gentle stream of nitrogen, derivatized with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide, incubated, and injected into the instrument. The analysis was performed using single quadrupole gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technology and validation was performed according to the guidelines of the German Society of Toxicology and Forensic Chemistry (GTFCh). The linearity of urinary EtG was obtained in the range of 30–5000 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient (r) above 0.999. The extraction recoveries exceeded 80%, and the obtained inter-day and intra-day precisions were below 15%. The achieved limit of detection was 10 ng/ml and limit of quantification achieved was 30 ng/ml. The electron ionization gas chromatography–mass spectrometry technique proves to be a feasible option for determining EtG in human urine when other sophisticated techniques are unapproachable. This method provides a good sensitivity and proves to be cost-effective, robust, and advantageous for both clinical as well as forensic settings.

Aim: The study aimed to assess the efficacy of providing brief intervention (BI) for women tobacco users in a community-based setting. Methods: In this open-labeled randomized study, a representative sample of women (n = 100) from a community in East Delhi were screened using Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Eligible women were randomized to BI or simple advice (SA) arms. At baseline, they were assessed for tobacco use characteristics and severity of nicotine dependence using Fagerstrom's test for nicotine dependence. Intervention in the form of a single session of BI or SA to quit tobacco was provided at baseline. All participants were assessed at 1 week and 3 months following intervention. The principal outcome was self-reported abstinence from tobacco use at 3 months follow-up. Results: The mean age of the sample was 43 years (standard deviation = 13). Most women were married (80%), housewives (69%), illiterate (61%), socioeconomically disadvantaged and were smokeless tobacco users (94%). The subjects in the BI group were twice more likely to stop tobacco use as compared to individuals in the SA group (odds ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval: 0.962–5.197, P = 0.06). Conclusion: The study results are suggestive of beneficial effect of BI. A larger study might provide more significant results.

Background The World Health Organization's (WHO) Tobacco Free Initiative highlights the role of health care professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, counselors and related support staff, in implementing smoking-cessation services. However, to be competent in providing smoking-cessation interventions, they need to establish and demonstrate knowledge, skills, and confidence in this field. Methods Pre-Post quasi-experimental design was used in this study to test the effectiveness of the educational training program. A total of 90 healthcare professionals, including nurses, nursing trainees, psychology trainees, social workers and trainees attended the workshop. Seventy six completed the pre-post assessment as a part of the one day workshop at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The tool developed by the researchers included twenty questions evaluating the knowledge, attitude and skills related to Tobacco cessation activities. Each item in the questionnaire had a score of one for correct and zero for incorrect responses. Paired sample t-test was performed to compare the scores on above parameters. Ethical approval was obtained from Institute Ethics Committee. Results The participants were predominantly females (80.26%) with professional experience of up to 3 years (Mean = 1.68; SD ± 0.84) in various healthcare related activities. There was a statistically significant improvement in total scores after the workshop as compared to before (Mean change: 2.86; t = 8.71, p< 0.001). The improvement was statistically significant in both knowledge related (t = 7.46, p< 0.001) and attitude/ skills related scores (t = 2.94, p=0.004). The level of professional experience and previous attending workshops could not statistically predict change in scores. Conclusions The workshop proved to be an effective approach in enhancing knowledge and imparting attitudinal changes in the healthcare professionals. Continued educational programs should be organized for capacity building in Tobacco cessation activities.

Background Rates of smokeless tobacco(ST) use in India are very high and associated with grave health consequences. Research on effective ST cessation approaches is a priority. In a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial of varenicline for ST dependence in AIIMS, India, biochemically confirmed end-of-treatment(EOT) abstinence was greater for varenicline versus placebo(25.2% vs. 19.5%), but this was not statistically different(AOR = 1.6, 95% CI = 0.84-3.1, p = .15). Here, we studied the correlates of successful abstinence in this trial as such an evidence-base is crucial to optimize treatment strategies. Methods 237 ST users who were randomized to receive either varenicline(12 weeks, 1 mg, twice per day) or placebo were included in this analysis. Socio-demographics, ST use parameters (age of initiation, duration, chews per day, and FTND-ST scores), abstinence related parameters, baseline urinary cotinine levels, and treatment adherence were analyzed. Multivariate analysis, using biochemically confirmed point prevalence abstinence as the dependent variable, was done to predict the odds of quitting at EOT. Results Participants were predominantly males(97%) and mean age was 34.2(SD± 9)yrs. Using logistic regression on the whole group, baseline urinary cotinine and number of 24 hour quit attempts in the past significantly(p < 0.05) predicted cessation at EOT. The odds of abstinence increased with unit decrease in urinary cotinine levels(Exp(B) = 0.86) and unit increase in number of 24 hour quit attempts (Exp(B) = 0.66). In the varenicline arm average chews per day(Exp(B) = 0.91) and baseline depression scores using HAM-D also significantly predicted successful quitting. Greater adherence increased EOT cessation rates for varenicline (39% vs. 18%, p = .003) but not for placebo (28% vs. 14%, p = .06). Conclusions This has implications for optimizing treatment planning at a program level, especially in resource poor countries. Strategies to enhance treatment adherence and address depression would be important.

Context: The prevalence of smoking in opioid agonist treatment programmes remains high, leading to significant tobacco related health hazards and mortality. This is the first study from India addressing tobacco cessation and related barriers among recipients of buprenorphine-naloxone maintenance treatment. Aims: The purpose of the study was to investigate Indian buprenorphine-naloxone maintained patients′ willingness to quit tobacco use, to determine its possible association with demographic, agonist maintenance treatment, tobacco use related variables and personal health and risk perceptions related to health hazards associated with tobacco use. Settings and Design: The study was cross-sectional, observational. It was conducted in the out-patient department of a national level de-addiction centre in India. Materials and Methods: Fifty-five males on buprenorphine-naloxone treatment were assessed using Tobacco Use Characteristics, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND and FTND-ST), Readiness to Change questionnaire (RCQ), Smoker′s Perceived Health Risk Evaluation (SPHERE), Importance of Intervention scale and a semi-structured questionnaire. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis Chi-square test, Spearman rank order correlation, paired-t test, ANOVA (STATA 9.2 statistical package). Results: Around 65.4% of the subjects were smokers, 9% were using smokeless tobacco only whereas 25.6% were using both. Mean duration of tobacco use was 20 ± 1.5 years. Only 20% had past quit attempts. Only 24% were in action phase of change. Personal health and risk perceptions were poor and only 61.62% considered intervention tobacco smoking cessation important. Conclusions: Higher severity of nicotine dependence, low perception of harm from tobacco warrant immediate attention and need for on-site treatment opportunity.

In recent years, there has been significant progress and expansion in the development of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for substance abuse and dependence. A literature review was undertaken using the several electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Database of systemic reviews and specific journals, which pertain to psychosocial issues in addictive disorders and guidelines on this topic). Overall psychosocial interventions have been found to be effective. Some interventions, such as cognitive behavior therapy, motivational interviewing and relapse prevention, appear to be effective across many drugs of abuse. Psychological treatment is more effective when prescribed with substitute prescribing than when medication or psychological treatment is used alone, particularly for opiate users. The evidence base for psychological treatment needs to be expanded and should also include research on optimal combinations of psychological therapies and any particular matching effects, if any. Psychological interventions are an essential part of the treatment regimen and efforts should be made to integrate evidence-based interventions in all substance use disorder treatment programs.

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a multi-system disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance, which can affect the brain, heart, skin, kidneys, lungs, and retina. We hereby report therapeutic challenges faced in a case of an adolescent male suffering from tuberous sclerosis.

Introduction: Concomitant multiple substance use by clients in drug abuse treatment settings has been recognized as an important treatment issue for many years, and remains under-researched in Indian context. Aim: To examine the patterns and prevalence of concomitant alcohol and illicit drug use among the patients seeking treatment for illicit drug use. Materials and Methods: A total of 110 patients attending the National drug dependence treatment centre having multiple drug use were included for the present study. Data was collected by face-to-face structured interview on a semi-structured proforma. Results: It was observed that overall 38.2% of the illicit drug users had concomitant alcohol use. Concomitant use of alcohol was found to be 37.1%, 45.5% and 44.4% among heroin, cannabis users and Doda (opium) users respectively. The maximum quantity of alcohol consumption was reported by patients who used opium (Doda) (mean = 703.13 ml/day). A multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that middle aged males and those with lower educational levels, were at greater risk for concomitant exposure to alcohol and illicit drugs. Conclusion: Many people use alcohol in combination with illicit drugs. Clinicians should warn every patient about alcohol-drug interactions, especially those at high risk for concomitant exposure. These findings have implications for prevention, as well as clinical risk for adverse consequences of concomitant alcohol and illicit drug consumption.

Background: Chikungunya fever is an acute illness caused by an arbovirus and has various complications like neurological, psychological, dermatological and even multi organ failure. Psychiatric co-morbidity is not very well studied till now. This is the first report from India. Aim: Aim of the study was to assess the psychiatric morbidity during or after the onset of Chikungunya fever. Materials and Methods: Patients referred from Medicine department with confirmed diagnosis of Chikungunya fever were recruited, after taking informed consent. Patient’s sociodemographic characteristics were noted and Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed by complete history taking and mental status examination, using WHO International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD -10) of Mental and Behavioural Disorders, Diagnostic criteria for research. Results: The age range of the study group was found to be 23-48 years. Fourteen (70%) were males and 6 (30%) were females. Five (25%) patients were diagnosed with depressive disorder, 3 (15%) patients had Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), 2 (10%) patients GAD with Panic attacks, 1(5%) patients phobic disorder (claustrophobia), 3 (15%) patients Somatoform Disorder, 3 (15%), Neurasthenia (Fatigue Syndrome), etc. Two (10%) patients presented with vague somatic complaints which did not fit into any of the diagnostic category. Conclusion: Chikungunya fever can result in significant psychiatric morbidity, mainly in the form of depressive episode, anxiety disorder and even long persisting illnesses like somatoform disorders. Further research is required to know about the phenomenology or the neurobiology of the psychiatric disorders occurring in the course of this illness.

Background: Stampede is described as a sudden movement of a mass of people in response to a particular circumstance or stimulus. Human stampedes are quite often reported from crowded places like places of worship, sporting events, political rallies, etc. There are reports of development of posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents subsequent to both natural and man-made disasters. The present tragedy struck in a Government Secondary School in Delhi on September 9, 2009. The study describes the long-term psychiatric morbidity in children following stampede. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted by the department of psychiatry of a tertiary care hospital. A total of 38 children (all adolescent girls) were registered at the casualty of the hospital and 1 absconded, 5 were brought dead. A total of 32 children were included in the study. After first assessment in the casualty, subsequent assessments at 8 weeks and 6 months were done using semi-structured performa, GHQ and Child′s reaction to traumatic event scale (CRTES-Revised). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results: The age-group of the children were 12-20 years(mean 14.3), all girls, studying in grades - VII to X Eight weeks follow up GHQ score was high in 27 (87%). On CRTESQ-R scale, 22 children were in high distress group (71%). Twenty-two children had symptoms of PTSD and five were in moderate distress group. Eleven children also had a comorbid diagnosis of depressive disorder, six had phobic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. There were statistically significant differences in mean GHQ scores at baseline and at 6 months follow up. There was also significant decrease in CRTESQ-R scale scores between baseline and 6 months. Conclusion: The children who were victims of stampede warrant the need for long-term intervention.

Dengue fever is considered to be one of the major health problems in south east Asia. In the recent past, epidemic outbreaks of Dengue have also been noticed in India. Initially, the neurological manifestations which were associated with Dengue received little attention, but now, there have been several reports of encephalitis and encephalopathy . However, nowhere in the literature has Dengue fever been mentioned as a cause of acute psychosis or mania. Here, we are reporting a 21-year-old male, a resident of Delhi, India who after the Dengue infection, developed an episode of classical mania.