Rehab Articles
Psilocybin, the substance in magic mushrooms which allow users to experience a distorted reality and “trip” as it is referred to, could help patients with certain mental health disorders experience less social rejection and the negative emotions and pain that this rejection can cause. Researchers have long known that people who have mental disorders tend to react much stronger to social rejection, and this can add even more stress on the patient which can have a negative impact on their treatment and the development of their mental disorder. These individuals could be at greater risk for even further withdrawal from social life and the support that these activities can provide. University of Zurich researchers have found that a small amount of psilocybin can affect the way that the brain processes social conflicts and allow the participants to feel socially included and to experience less stress when they are socially rejected.
First author of the study on social rejection and psilocybin, Dr. Katrin Preller, explained that “Increased activity in brain areas such as the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex is associated with an increased experience of social pain. This has been shown to be present in different psychiatric disorders. Psilocybin seems to influence these particular brain areas.” Neuropsychopharmacology and Brain Imaging Unit director Dr. Franz Vollenweider stated “These new results could be groundbreaking for the illumination of the neuropharmacological mechanisms of social interaction and may help to develop new treatments. On the other hand the reduction of psychological pain and fear can facilitate the therapist-patient relationship and therefore the psychotherapeutic treatment of formative negative social experiences.
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Two innovative new app based questionnaires could help identify the suicide risk for females when these tools are used along with a blood test designed to detect certain biomarkers. When the app based questionnaires were used along with the blood test the researchers were able to predict any future suicidal thoughts with an accuracy of 82%. In addition the researchers could accurately predict future hospitalizations associated with suicidal thoughts or actions at around 78%. In 2015 research was published that showed the suicide risk for males could be predicted with certain questionnaires and biomarker blood tests, and the latest research shows that these study findings could also be used for women as well. The Indiana University School of Medicine researchers determined that while women tend to successfully commit suicide less often than men women generally make more attempts to do so but they typically use means which are less violent and which may not be as lethal.
IU School of Medicine professor of psychiatry and medical neuroscience, Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center attending psychiatrist, and principal investigator for the latest study on suicide risk and app based questionnaires Alexander B. Niculescu III, M.D., Ph.D. Explained the findings. “Women have not been adequately studied in research about suicide, and we did not know how well we would be able to define objective predictors of suicide in women. It was important to determine whether biomarkers and app-based questionnaires could be used to make predictions among women, and whether such tests can be adjusted for gender to be more accurate. These results suggest that the best way to proceed would be to use gender-tailored approaches.”
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According to recent research and the latest medical study certain violence risk factors associated with mental illness can be predicted. The researchers identified 3 specific factors that could up the odds of violent behavior by an individual who has been diagnosed with mental illness. These risk factors are the use of alcohol, being the victim of violence and behavior that is violent, and engaging in violent behavior. Mental health professionals should pay close attention to these three risk factors in order to predict which mentally ill patients may become violent in the future. Early intervention by mental health professionals could minimize or even eliminate the risk of violence in this class of patients. The recent study utilized a database with information on more than 4,400 cases and patients who were diagnosed with some form of mental illness, and these mental disorders included bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression.
North Carolina State University associate professor of psychology Dr. Sarah Desmarais was one of the co-authors on the research study paper concerning the link between violence risk factors and mental illness. According to Desmarais “Our earlier work found that adults with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators —and that is especially relevant to this new study. One of the new findings is that people with mental illness who have been victims of violence in the past six months are more likely to engage in future violent behavior themselves. We found that these risk factors were predictive even when we accounted for age, sex, race, mental illness diagnosis and other clinical characteristics. This is useful information for anyone working in a clinical setting. But it also highlights the importance of creating policies that can help protect people with mental illness from being victimized. It’s not only the right thing to do, but it makes for safer communities.”
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DNA addiction testing sounds like science fiction but there is already an opioid risk genetic profile test called the Proove Opioid Risk genetic profile test that can be used by physicians and patients. Some medical and addiction experts have questioned whether the testing is legitimate or how accurate the test results truly are though. Roswell Pain Specialists physician and addiction treatment specialist Dr. Damon Christian Kimes believes in this genetic testing, so much so that he provides it to all of his new patients. Others point out that the research and data from this testing has been supplied by the company’s own scientists and this data has not been independently confirmed.
When discussing the opioid risk genetic profile testing and DNA addiction testing with Atlanta news media Fox 5 Dr. Kimes explained “People often do not know what their genetics hold. What we will be able to do is look at the opioid risk index, we are going to be able to look at specific medications and how your body metabolizes or breaks down those medications. When you have that genetic DNA test right there … you can say this is in your genetic makeup, [and] we can act on it or avoid certain things because we know that this is something that we may have a problem with later on.” According to Proove, the company that provides the genetic testing, the opioid risk genetic profile has an accuracy rate of 92%, and the test determines whether the opioid dependency risk for the individual is low, moderate, or high.
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Sober living facilities are residential centers designed for individuals who are in substance abuse recovery and who are ready to leave intensive inpatient rehab but who may not be ready or strong enough in their recovery to go back home yet. These facilities are typically group homes where all of the residents are expected to follow the same rules, undergo drug and alcohol testing, perform certain household chores, and stay clean and sober while they live at the facility. This environment promotes the recovery process and lowers the risk of relapse after the individual has left rehab. Adjusting to life without addictions can be a challenge and these facilities can help recovering addicts meet these challenges in a way that is less stressful. These facilities may be owned by private individuals, charitable organizations, and even businesses.
One of the biggest rules in sober living facilities is that every resident must stay clean and sober while they reside in the residence. Residents have greater freedom than they did while they were in rehab, and most facilities offer resources for substance abuse recovery such as group therapy sessions which may be mandatory. The goal is to transition from rehab to home without a big risk of relapsing, and to give the individual in recovery some space so that they can adjust to life without drugs or alcohol before they head home to the same environment that they used in. People who have substance abuse issues are typically irresponsible and make poor choices. Sober living facilities can help the individual make better choices, and the threat of being made to leave the facility if testing positive for drugs or alcohol may keep the individual from using while they are still trying to recover.
