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Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders
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The 2nd Asian Pacific Problem Gambling and Addictions Conference will use
the newest scientific research to look at problem gambling and addiction
from a new paradigm: the syndrome model. It is suggested that each outwardly
unique addiction disorder might be a distinctive expression of the same
underlying addiction syndrome. The syndrome model views addiction as a
syndrome with multiple opportunistic expressions resulting from
multidimensional susceptibility in neurobiological, psychosocial and
experiential spectrums. This conference will include presentations and
workshops on the syndrome model of addiction, treatments for addiction and
impulse disorders, cognitive behavioral and alternative treatment approaches
to treating problem gamblers, cultural specificity in problem gambling,
financial and debt counseling, working with families, responsible gaming
policy, treatment on co-morbidity and addictions such as mental illness,
suicide, alcohol and substance abuse, and other topics. For more
information and to register, please click here.
Substance and psychiatric disorders among men and women repeat driving under the influence offenders who accept a treatment-sentencing option
Driving under the influence (DUI) continues to be a serious health public health concern in the United States. Research suggests that the substance use/abuse and psychiatric histories of repeat offenders might contribute to the persistence of this phenomenon. This study examined psychiatric and substance-use histories of male and female DUI repeat offenders in treatment. The authors found that male and female repeat DUI offenders have extensive but different psychiatric and substance-use histories that might play a significant role in DUI recidivism. These differences in psychiatric and substance-use histories among men and women could have important implications for treatment and prevention of DUI. Click here to visit the Library & Archives page.
Stability and progression of disordered gambling: lessons from longitudinal studies
Very few studies have examined the progression of disordered gambling in an individual or the tendency for individuals to stay at one diagnostic level, as opposed to getting better or worse. Nonetheless, conventional wisdom states that disordered gambling is a condition that is both escalating and unmanageable. The objective of this study was to examine these assumptions. In analyses of available longitudinal studies from the peer reviewed literature, LaPlante, et al found no evidence to support the assumption that individuals cannot recover from disordered gambling, no evidence to support the assumption that individuals who have more severe gambling problems are less likely to improve than individuals who have less severe gambling problems, and no evidence to support the assumption that individuals who have some gambling problems are more likely to worsen than individuals who do not have gambling problems. This review demonstrates instability and multidirectional courses in disordered gambling. Click here to visit the Library & Archives page.
St. Francis House Moving Ahead Program (MAP) Evaluation
The
Division on Addictions has partnered with St. Francis House, a service
center for people struggling with homelessness in the greater Boston area,
to evaluate the instruments used to collect information from participants in
its job- and life-skills training program, the Moving Ahead Program (MAP).
The current evaluation project includes a descriptive and psychometric
analysis of approximately 10 years of data on participants in MAP. Findings
from these analyses will inform recommendations for both revising the
intake, graduation, and follow-up tools used at MAP, and creating a complete
computerized intake and assessment system for St. Francis House and its
programs.
The Opioid Addiction and Family Project
The Opioid Addiction and Family Project is a new research study being conducted at Cambridge Health Alliance. The goal of this effort is to find out if adding family counseling to individual counseling and Naltrexone medication leads to better treatment outcomes for people struggling with opioid addiction. This study is funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Patients in the study are randomly assigned to receive either (a) naltrexone plus individual drug counseling without family counseling, or (b) naltrexone plus individual drug counseling with family counseling. Counseling and medication received as part of this study are free of charge. Each patient takes part in the study for 16 months - 4 months of treatment and 12 months follow-up. Study participants are needed. For more information, please visit our webpage at www.cha.harvard.edu/opioid or call (617) 591-6055.
Joint research initiative on multiracial identity and health: Harvard Medical School faculty at the Division on Addictions, Cambridge Health Alliance, University of Michigan, and University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The Division on Addictions is a founding member of a multi-university research initiative dedicated to examining the distribution and determinants of important addiction-related health behaviors among multi-racial/ethnic populations. Compared to monoracial majority and monoracial minority individuals, research shows that multiracial individuals are in greater danger of developing a number of risky health behaviors (e.g., underage drinking) and health disorders (e.g., depression) (Choi, et al.,2006; Shih & Sanchez, 2005). Two research projects addressing this issue will commence during the summer of 2007. First, we will collaborate with Dr. Margaret Shih of the University of Michigan on a secondary data analysis of the ADD Health longitudinal dataset to examine addiction-related behavior and social support among multiracial young adults. The Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholars program at University of Michigan will provide support for this study. Second, we will collaborate with Dr. Shih and Dr. Bo Bernhard of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on a study that will examine addiction-related behavior among multiracial individuals in the rural and urban Southwest. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas President’s Research Award will provide support for this study.
Joint research project: bwin Interactive Entertainment AG and Harvard Medical School Faculty at the Division on Addictions, Cambridge Health Alliance an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
The
science of Internet gaming is young. Consequently, there are many things we
do not know about Internet gaming and some of those things might help with
the prevention of gambling addiction. Because of this, bwin Interactive
Entertainment AG has entered
into a long-term research project in collaboration with the Division on
Addictions and its Harvard Medical School faculty. The first stage of this
project involves compiling and analyzing objective and bwin Interactive
Entertainment consumer
data with respect to the gaming habits of potential problem gamers. At the
second stage, preventive measures will be developed and evaluated in the
light of these results. The third phase will examine additional risk factors
that bwin Interactive Entertainment consumer data does not include, such as compulsivity,
impulsivity, learned associations, and cognitive ability.
This initial project with the Division on Addictions is funded by bwin Interactive Entertainment and the plan is for this 3-year grant to extend through 2008.
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