Literature Collection

Background: The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis. Among initiatives surrounding treatment and prevention, opioid use disorder (OUD) stigma has emerged as a subject for intervention. Objectives: This study examines overall results and demographic differences of three subscales of a public stigma survey instrument: general attitudes, social distance, and treatment availability and effectiveness. Methods: A statewide sample of Pennsylvanian adults (N = 1033) completed an online survey about the opioid epidemic. Weighted percentage level of agreement was reported for each item. To determine significant differences in responding across demographic groups (gender, race, and urban/rural status), multiple one-way ANOVAs were analyzed. Significant differences in the level of agreement and disagreement (p < .05) were reported. Results: The majority of respondents agreed that the opioid epidemic is a problem and that anyone can become addicted to opioids; however, many Pennsylvanians still disagree that OUD is a medical disorder and continue to endorse social distance beliefs of people with OUD. Most participants agreed that there are effective treatments available, and that recovery was possible; however, a large portion of participants were unsure whether specific treatments are effective. Subscale mean differences were significant for gender and age. Conclusions/Importance: Findings highlight that stigmatized attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs about individuals who use opioids are still prevalent and that uncertainty remains about the effectiveness of OUD treatment. OUD interventions should use targeted messaging in order to impact the ongoing opioid crisis.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance is common among patients receiving long-term opioid therapies, such as methadone maintenance. However, little is known about sleep disturbances in patients receiving medication treatment with buprenorphine. We sought to determine the frequency of subjective sleep disturbance in a sample of patients receiving medication treatment and to examine clinical factors related to sleep disturbance. METHODS: Participants were 328 persons receiving buprenorphine at 3 primary care sites. Sleep difficulty was assessed 2 questions adapted from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) item assessing sleep. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD)-10 and PHQ-2. In addition, information was gathered on participant demographics and treatment characteristics. Demographics, buprenorphine treatment history, and depressive symptoms were compared for those with and without self-reported sleep difficulty. Logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted association of sleep disturbance with these correlates. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of persons receiving medication treatment with buprenorphine in the present study reported sleep difficulty. Persons reporting sleep disturbance reported shorter time in buprenorphine treatment and more depressed mood compared with those without sleep difficulty (p < .01). Men were significantly less likely to report disturbed sleep than women (odds ratio [OR] = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33, 0.98). Sleep disturbance was not associated significantly with age, ethnicity, educational attainment, or buprenorphine dose. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disturbance is common in patients receiving medication treatment with buprenorphine and is associated with more depressive symptoms as well as a shorter duration of medication treatment. Future research, using subjective and objective sleep measures, is warranted to understand whether sleep disturbance is mitigated by longer buprenorphine treatment and whether difficulty sleeping predicts buprenorphine discontinuation among patients seeking treatment for opioid dependence.

BACKGROUND: As the prevalence of multi-morbidity increases in ageing societies, health and social care systems face the challenge of providing adequate care to persons with complex needs. Approaches that integrate care across sectors and disciplines have been increasingly developed and implemented in European countries in order to tackle this challenge. The aim of the article is to identify success factors and crucial elements in the process of integrated care delivery for persons with complex needs as seen from the practical perspective of the involved stakeholders (patients, professionals, informal caregivers, managers, initiators, payers). METHODS: Seventeen integrated care programmes for persons with complex needs in 8 European countries were investigated using a qualitative approach, namely thick description, based on semi-structured interviews and document analysis. In total, 233 face-to-face interviews were conducted with stakeholders of the programmes between March and September 2016. Meta-analysis of the individual thick description reports was performed with a focus on the process of care delivery. RESULTS: Four categories that emerged from the overarching analysis are discussed in the article: (1) a holistic view of the patient, considering both mental health and the social situation in addition to physical health, (2) continuity of care in the form of single contact points, alignment of services and good relationships between patients and professionals, (3) relationships between professionals built on trust and facilitated by continuous communication, and (4) patient involvement in goal-setting and decision-making, allowing patients to adapt to reorganised service delivery. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to identify several key aspects for a well-functioning integrated care process for complex patients and how these are put into actual practice. The article sets itself apart from the existing literature by specifically focussing on the growing share of the population with complex care needs and by providing an analysis of actual processes and interpersonal relationships that shape integrated care in practice, incorporating evidence from a variety of programmes in several countries.

BACKGROUND: Suicide rates in older men are higher than in the general population, yet their utilization of mental health services is lower. AIMS: This study aimed to describe: (a) what primary care providers (PCPs) can do to prevent late-life suicide, and (b) older men's attitudes toward discussing suicide with a PCP. METHOD: Thematic analysis of interviews focused on depression and suicide with 77 depressed, low-socioeconomic status, older men of Mexican origin, or US-born non-Hispanic whites recruited from primary care. RESULTS: Several themes inhibiting suicide emerged: it is a problematic solution, due to religious prohibition, conflicts with self-image, the impact on others; and, lack of means/capacity. Three approaches to preventing suicide emerged: talking with them about depression, talking about the impact of their suicide on others, and encouraging them to be active. The vast majority, 98%, were open to such conversations. An unexpected theme spontaneously arose: "What prevents men from acting on suicidal thoughts?" CONCLUSION: Suicide is rarely discussed in primary care encounters in the context of depression treatment. Our study suggests that older men are likely to be open to discussing suicide with their PCP. We have identified several pragmatic approaches to assist clinicians in reducing older men's distress and preventing suicide.

Ketum use is significantly prevalent amongst individuals in the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of Ketum use in individuals who are in the Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) Programme at the Hospital Taiping. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the methadone clinic at the Hospital Taiping. The study instruments used were Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS), Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) questionnaire, and Kratom Dependence Scale (KDS). A total of 215 subjects were recruited for this study. The prevalence of ketum users was 49.3% (n = 106). Chinese and Indian ethnicity had a lower tendency to use ketum compared to Malay ethnicity, with OR = 0.386 (95% CI 0.134, 1.113) and 0.119 (95% CI 0.035, 0.408), respectively. Individuals who used other illicit drugs had a higher tendency to use ketum with the adjusted OR = 9.914 (95% CI: 1.109, 88.602). Every one unit increase in SOWS increased the odds of being a ketum user by 1.340 (95% CI: 1.070, 1.677), whereas every one unit increase in duration in the MMT programme reduced the odds of being a ketum user by 0.990 (95% CI: 0.982, 0.998). Ketum use is prevalent amongst those in the MMT programme in this study. The high prevalence of ketum use is of concern and further interventions should be carried out to address this.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal depression, the most common pregnancy complication, is associated with negative maternal-offspring outcomes. Despite existence of effective treatments, it is under-recognized and under-treated. Professional organizations recommend universal screening, yet multi-level barriers exist to ensuring effective diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Integrating mental health and obstetric care holds significant promise for addressing perinatal depression. The overall study goal is to compare the effectiveness of two active interventions: (1) the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (MCPAP) for Moms, a state-wide, population-based program, and (2) the PRogram In Support of Moms (PRISM) which includes MCPAP for Moms plus a proactive, multifaceted, practice-level intervention with intensive implementation support. METHODS: This study is conducted in two phases: (1) a run-in phase which has been completed and involved practice and patient participant recruitment to demonstrate feasibility for the second phase, and (2) a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT), which is ongoing, and will compare two active interventions 1:1 with ten Ob/Gyn practices as the unit of randomization. In phase 1, rates of depressive symptoms and other demographic and clinical features among patients were examined to inform practice randomization. Patient participants to be recruited in phase 2 will be followed longitudinally until 13 months postpartum; they will have 3-5 total study visits depending on whether their initial recruitment and interview was at 4-24 or 32-40 weeks gestation, or 1-3 months postpartum. Sampling throughout pregnancy and postpartum will ensure participants with different depressive symptom onset times. Differences in depression symptomatology and treatment participation will be compared between patient participants by intervention arm. DISCUSSION: This manuscript describes the full two-phase study protocol. The study design is innovative because it combines effectiveness with implementation research designs and integrates critical components of participatory action research. Our approach assesses the feasibility, acceptance, efficacy, and sustainability of integrating a stepped-care approach to perinatal depression care into ambulatory obstetric settings; an approach that is flexible and can be tailored and adapted to fit unique workflows of real-world practices. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02760004, registered prospectively on May 3, 2016.