2011

Background: Epidemiological studies have consistently established high comorbidity between psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders (SUD). This comorbidity is even more prominent when psychiatric populations are studied. Previous studies have focused on inpatient populations dominated by psychotic disorders, whereas this paper presents findings on patients in Community Mental Health Centres (CMHCs) where affective and anxiety disorders are most prominent. The purpose of this study is to compare patients in CMHCs with and without SUD in regard to differences in socio-demographic characteristics, level of morbidity, prevalence of different diagnostic categories, health services provided and the level of improvement in psychiatric symptoms.

The Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research (SERAF) at the University of Oslo is a newly established, clinical addiction research centre.

Background: Alcohol use is increasing among women in Africa, and comparable information about women's current alcohol use is needed to inform national and international health policies relevant to the entire population. This study aimed to provide a comparative description of alcohol use among women across 20 African countries.

Aims: To investigate whether exposure to methadone affects the risk of motor vehicle accident with personal injury. 

GABAB-agonisten baklofen, som hovedsakelig benyttes som spasmolytikum, er i de senere årene også brukt ved alkoholabstinens og til forebygging av tilbakefall ved alkoholavhengighet. Hva er dokumentasjonsgrunnlaget for slik behandling?

Objectives: To examine the effect of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) on somatic morbidity in a cohort of OMT patients.

This study investigates frequency and types of criminal convictions among a national sample of heroin users during a 3-year period prior to opioid maintenance treatment (OMT).

Aims: This study investigates changes in criminal involvement among patients in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) over a 7-year period prior to, during and after treatment, particularly in relation to differences in treatment engagement.

Objective: To investigate whether substance abuse (alcohol or illegal drugs) in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) influenced treatment outcomes such as involuntary hospitalization during follow-up.

Gammahydroksybutyrat (GHB) er en kroppsegen substans som kan brukes som rusmiddel. Informasjon fra flere kilder tyder både økende tilgjengelighet og bruk i Norge. Det er også rapportert tiltakende bruk av den kjemiske forløperen gammabutyrolakton (GBL).

Commentary on: Cornish R, Macleod J, Strang J, et al . Risk of death during and after opiate substitution treatment in primary care: prospective observational study in UK General Practice Research Database. BMJ 2010;341:c5475.

Oral fluid is an alternative biological matrix that might have advantages over urine for drug analysis in treatment programs.

AIMS: The primary aim of the present study is to determine the one year periodic prevalence of dispension of different analgesics to patients in long term opioid maintenance therapy (OMT). The secondary aim is to determine to which extent non-opioid analgesics are used as first line analgesics.

The aim of the present study was to describe aspects of prescription of antidepresant drug therapy among patients on OMT.

A number of studies point to methadone exposure in utero as a possible risk factor in the developing mother–infant relationship in the first year of life. This study is part of a larger, national follow-up of 38 infants prenatally exposed to methadone or buprenorphine and 36 comparison, low-risk infants.

The aim of the study was to identify this co-occurrence as a reason for involuntary admission and if specific substance use-related diagnoses were associated with such admissions.

Background: Most individuals in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) have had serious polydrug problems in addition to opiate addiction. Prospective studies on substance use among pregnant women in OMT and their male partners on a national level have been scarce and therefore deserve attention.

The aim of this study was to describe these basic pharmacoepidemiological parameters of benzodiazepine use.

From a health services perspective, peer-based resources merit special attention. Participation in self-help fellowships, like the Twelve Step Groups (TSGs), have been shown to improve outcomes of patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and they represent a valuable adjunct to the SUD treatment system. This study investigated the relationship between patient perceptions of TSGs and the intent to participate in TSGs after receiving detoxification treatment.

Background: Reduced criminal activity is an important outcome for opioid maintenance treatment (OMT).

When opioid therapy is initiated for a new pain condition, it may be unknown whether the pain will persist beyond the time of tissue healing. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of prescription patterns indicating persistent and/or problematic opioid use in a cohort of opioid-naive patients starting therapy with weak opioids. 

The aim of this study was to assess possible differences in treatment organisation, practices and outcomes between 14 regional centres within the Norwegian Opioid Maintenance Treatment programme, which were subject to the same government standards.