Epidemiological analysis of alcohol and drug use as risk factors for psychotic experiences

Article Abstract:

Although clinical and laboratory evidence indicates that people who use alcohol and other psychoactive drugs are at risk for psychotic experiences (delusions, hallucinations), epidemiological studies of real populations have not been carried out. To address this issue, a prospective study of 4,994 adults (aged 18 to 49) was performed to identify subjects who reported at least one psychotic experience during the first year of the study. A positive response to one or more of the 12 questions on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule constituted a self-reported psychotic experience. Slightly more than 11 percent of the group (507 'cases') met this criterion, and they were matched to 'noncases' in the same census tract of the general population. Cases and noncases were then compared with respect to drug use habits. Results showed that habitual drug use was associated with psychotic experience, with different drugs having different risk factors. Thus, daily use of marijuana was associated with a 2.4-fold elevated risk (cases versus controls), while daily cocaine use (involving 11 people in the entire study) was associated with a 7-fold higher risk. Alcohol disorder (but not heavy use of alcohol) carried a risk for cases that was 2.6 times that for controls, with a much higher risk for men than women. Overall, the findings suggested that regular use of alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine is associated with a considerably elevated risk of psychotic experience, while occasional use of these substances is not. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Causes of, Risk factors, Demographic aspects, Alcohol, Ethanol, Drug abuse, Marijuana, Delusions, Cocaine, Psychoses, Psychotic disorders

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Technical supervision and turnover among engineers and technicians: influencing factors in the work environment

Article Abstract:

A study of scientific, engineering, and technical support personnel indicates that factors in the work environment influenced by the behavior of immediate supervisors are significant in determining the rate of personnel turnover. Management training can provide a cost-effective means of improving employee retention. Training should emphasize decentralizing responsibility and encourage superiors to grant greater autonomy to their subordinates. Training should should emphasize participative management and human relations skills that are essential to fostering teamwork among supervisors and subordinates.

Research, Management, Engineers, Supervision of employees, Employee supervision, Technicians

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Neurotrophic factors: ready to go?

Article Abstract:

The development of neurotrophic factors into drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, brain injuries and peripheral neuropathies was the theme of a conference in London, UK, in Apr. 1995. The event provided a venue for the discussion of clinical trials on the efficacy of treating diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease with neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived growth factor, nerve growth factor, neurotrophin three and ciliary neurotrophic factor. The latter have all demonstrated the ability to suppress neuronal decay.

Health aspects, Drug therapy, Nerve growth factor, Neurotrophic functions, Neurotrophins

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