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Background: Comparative studies of the naturalistic course of patients of opioid dependence on naltrexone and buprenorphine are likely to be helpful for clinical decision-making. The article aimed to report on the three-months naturalistic outcomes of patients discharged on naltrexone or buprenorphine from the same center. Methods: Patients with opioid dependence who were discharged on either naltrexone (n = 86) or buprenorphine (n = 30) were followed up for three months for retention in treatment. The patients were also followed up telephonically, and the Maudsley Addiction Profile was applied. Results: The days of retention in treatment were significantly higher in the buprenorphine group (69.5 versus 48.7 days, P = 0.009). Heroin use, pharmaceutical opioid use, injection drug use, involvement in illegal activity, and percentage of contact days in conflict with friends in the last 30 days reduced over three months in both the groups, while the physical and psychological quality of life improved in both the groups. Additionally, in the naltrexone group, smoked tobacco use, cannabis use, and percentage of contact days in conflict with family within the last 30 days reduced at three months compared to baseline. Conclusion: With the possible limitations of choice of medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence being determined by the patient, and prescribing related factors and sample size constraints, the study suggests that retention outcomes may vary between naltrexone and buprenorphine, though both medications may improve several patient-related parameters. However, a true head-to-head comparison of the outcomes of buprenorphine and naltrexone in a naturalistic setting may be difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is causing widespread concern, fear, stress, anxiety, and depression throughout the population worldwide. Pregnant women, being a vulnerable group, are grossly affected by these changing environmental scenarios. The spread of Corona Virus infection itself and the subsequent nation-wide lockdown in India, just like many other countries, has caused a serious impact on antenatal patients. The objective of this study was to bring out the specific concerns of pregnant women during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and also to assess the prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Disorder owing to the pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional survey among antenatal patients was conducted in the outpatient department of a tertiary care obstetric center which is also a designated COVID hospital. Prevalidated questionnaires, Personal Health Questionnaire-9 & Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire-7 were used for data collection. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to evaluate pregnancy-specific concerns of the patients with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of moderate to severe depression in the survey was found to be 13.2% (n=66). The prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety disorder was found to be 9.8% (n=49). CONCLUSION: This study has brought out the need for urgent attention to the psychological impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women. Pregnant women being a vulnerable group, especially during this pandemic, need special attention to their psychological wellbeing as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to ascertain the reasons why patients with opioid dependence leave treatment., Design: Prospective follow-up observational study., Setting: This study was carried out at a tertiary care substance use treatment facility in north India with both outpatient and inpatient services. The facility is a public-funded institution., Participants: One hundred and twenty opioid-dependent male patients with age 18 years or more who were willing to provide a valid telephone number for followup and willing to consent for the study were included., Main Outcome Measure(s): Enquiries were made using the Reasons to Leave Treatment Questionnaire (RLTQ) and an open-ended question about why the patient left treatment., Results: As per the RLTQ, the most common reasons for patients with opioid dependence leaving treatment were in the domains of external influence, motivational inconsistencies, and problem severity. Logistic problem was another issue that was highlighted by the patients. On open-ended question, the most common reason for leaving treatment pertained to feeling that one has improved and does not need treatment. Baseline characteristics that predicted patients leaving treatment were not being prescribed buprenorphine at discharge, not being formally educated, and living alone or in a nuclear family., Conclusion: Several factors may lead to patients with opioid dependence leaving treatment prematurely after receiving inpatient care. Addressing these reasons might help to better retain patients in treatment and improve their outcomes.

Introduction: The sudden and extended lockdown imposed by the government as an attempt to break the transmission chain of COVID disrupted the lives and plans of many. The impact on mental health of people is variable depending on the appraisal of the situation and the resources and coping strategies., Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to know the impact on mental health and coping strategies used by internet users dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and involved difficulties in India., Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted using Google doc application. Tools included Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), and brief COPE questionnaire., Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to assess the sociodemographic characteristics, GAD-7, PHQ-2, and brief COPE scales. The group differences were analyzed using appropriate parametric or nonparametric tests for the quantitative variable and Chi-square/Mc-Nemar's test for categorical variables. The data were analyzed using SPSS software., Results: Three hundred and twenty six responses were analyzed. Nearly 35.3% screened positive for anxiety disorder and 12% for major depression. Respondents who were screened positive for anxiety disorder used active coping, denial, substance use, behavioral disengagement, planning, and self-blame more often than those screened negative. Those screened positive for major depression used all the coping strategies similar to anxiety disorder except for active coping more often than those who screened negative. While females used adaptive coping more frequently than males, respondents those engaged in essential services employed maladaptive coping less often., Conclusions: Acceptance, positive reframing, and positive coping were the most often employed strategies, while denial, self-blame, and substance use were least often employed., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Industrial Psychiatry Journal.)