Mental health homicide inquiries in England 2010-2023: review of methodology and findings.

Background: The methodology and impact of independent inquiries of homicides by people in care of mental health services have been questioned.

Aims: To analyse characteristics of patients who committed homicide, their victims and inquiries published in England between 2010 and 2023.

Method: Documentary and thematic analysis of 162 mental health homicide inquiries.

Alcohol use among populations with autism spectrum disorder: narrative systematic review.

Background: Alcohol use in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is under-researched. Previous reviews have explored substance use as a whole, but this neglects individual characteristics unique to different substances. Alcohol use in non-clinical samples is associated with diverse responses.

Raising awareness of alcohol as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of accessing an interactive website with a non-interactive website.

Background: Alcohol consumption is a potentially modifiable risk factor for breast cancer (BC). Reducing alcohol consumption within the daily amount at low-risk for alcohol-related consequences (daily alcohol threshold) may contribute to preventing BC new cases. However, most women are unaware of risk factors for BC, the daily alcohol threshold, and how to measure alcohol use.

Placebo effects in randomized trials of pharmacological and neurostimulation interventions for mental disorders: An umbrella review.

There is a growing literature exploring the placebo response within specific mental disorders, but no overarching quantitative synthesis of this research has analyzed evidence across mental disorders. We carried out an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of biological treatments (pharmacotherapy or neurostimulation) for mental disorders. We explored whether placebo effect size differs across distinct disorders, and the correlates of increased placebo effects.

Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership.

Background: Autistic people are more likely to report problematic alcohol and other substance use when compared to the general population. Evidence suggests that up to one in three autistic adults may have an alcohol or other substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), although the evidence base for behavioural addictions is less clear. Autistic people may use substances or engage in potentially addictive behaviours as a means of coping with social anxiety, challenging life problems, or camouflaging in social contexts.

Validity of root cause analysis in investigating adverse events in psychiatry.

Root cause analysis (RCA), imported from high-reliability industries into health two decades ago, is the mandated methodology to investigate adverse events in most health systems. In this analysis, we argue that the validity of RCA in health and in psychiatry must be established, given the impact of these investigations on mental health policy and practice.

Alcohol-medication interactions: A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials.

Alcohol and other xenobiotics may limit the therapeutic effects of medications. We aimed at investigating alcohol-medication interactions (AMI) after the exclusion of confounding effects related to other xenobiotics. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies comparing the effects induced by alcohol versus placebo on pharmacodynamic and/or pharmacokinetic parameters of approved medications.

Alcohol Consumption Is a Modifiable Risk Factor for Breast Cancer: Are Women Aware of This Relationship?

Aims: Despite alcohol consumption being a dose-dependent risk factor for breast cancer, a recent study conducted in the UK found <20% of women attending breast screening programmes were aware of this relationship and proposed proper information campaigns need to be conducted. We aimed to investigate the awareness of this relationship among a related sample of Italian women to evaluate whether similar information campaigns should also be conducted in Italy.

Methods: The questionnaire used by the UK study was translated into Italian, slightly modified for the Italian context, validated and submitted to a sample of Italian women.

The influence of anxiety symptoms on clinical outcomes during baclofen treatment of alcohol use disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Given the high coexistence of anxiety symptoms in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD), we aimed to determine the influence of anxiety symptoms on outcomes in patients with AUD treated with the GABA receptor agonist baclofen. A meta-analysis of 13 comparisons (published 2010-2020) including baseline and outcome data on alcohol consumption and anxiety after 12 weeks was undertaken. There were significantly higher rates of abstinent days in patients treated with baclofen compared to placebo (p = 0.

Course and outcome of patients with alcohol use disorders following an alcohol intervention during hospital attendance: mixed method study.

Background: Alcohol-related presentations to acute hospitals in the UK are increasing, but little is known of the clinical characteristics or natural history of this patient group.

Aims: To describe the clinical characteristics, drinking profile and trajectory of a cohort of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) attending hospital, and explore participant perspectives of the impact of hospital attendance on their relationship with alcohol.

Method: We conducted a mixed method, prospective, observational cohort study of patients with AUD seen in an acute hospital.

Slow associative learning in alcohol dependence and the alcohol cue exposure treatment paradox.

Aims: To examine two explanations for the observation that cue-exposure treatment has not been clearly effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence: do alcohol-dependent individuals have either (1) slower extinction and/or (2) greater contextual specificity of extinction than non-dependent individuals?

Design: In two exploratory laboratory experiments we used mixed factorial designs with two-group between-subjects factors and within-subjects factors corresponding to performance in different parts of a computer-based learning task.

Setting: University of Southampton psychology research laboratories and two addiction treatment services in the city of Southampton, UK.

Participants: Experiment 1: 74 (54 female) undergraduates from the University of Southampton (age mean = 20.

Alcohol use disorder and the liver.

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) cause a range of physical harms, but the major cause of alcohol-related mortality is alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), in some countries accounting for almost 90% of alcohol-related deaths. The risk of ALD has an exponential relationship with increasing alcohol consumption, but is also associated with genetic factors, other life-style factors and social deprivation. ALD includes a spectrum of progressive pathology, from liver steatosis to fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.

A Context-Specific Digital Alcohol Brief Intervention in Symptomatic Breast Clinics (Abreast of Health): Development and Usability Study.

Background: Potentially modifiable risk factors account for approximately 23% of breast cancer cases. In the United Kingdom, alcohol consumption alone is held responsible for 8% to 10% of cases diagnosed every year. Symptomatic breast clinics focus on early detection and treatment, but they also offer scope for delivery of low-cost lifestyle interventions to encourage a cancer prevention culture within the cancer care system.

Alcohol use and breast cancer risk: A qualitative study of women's perspectives to inform the development of a preventative intervention in breast clinics.

Objective: This study aimed to explore women's views about breast cancer risk and alcohol use, to inform the design of a prototype for an intervention in breast clinics about alcohol as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer.

Methods: Women recruited in NHS breast screening and symptomatic clinics in Southampton, UK, were invited to take part in semi-structured telephone interviews or a focus group to discuss their perspectives of breast cancer risk, alcohol consumption and their information needs about these topics. Data were analysed thematically.

The Use of Baclofen as a Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Clinical Practice Perspective.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a brain disorder associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Baclofen, a selective gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABA-B) receptor agonist, has emerged as a promising drug for AUD. The use of this drug remains controversial, in part due to uncertainty regarding dosing and efficacy, alongside concerns about safety.

Identity in recovery from problematic alcohol use: A qualitative study of online mutual aid.

Aim: To explore how engagement with online mutual aid facilitates recovery from problematic alcohol use, focusing on identity construction processes.

Design: Qualitative in-depth interview study of a maximum variation sample.

Setting: Telephone interviews with UK-based users of Soberistas, an online mutual aid group for people who are trying to resolve their problematic alcohol use.

Internet Support for Dealing with Problematic Alcohol Use: A Survey of the Soberistas Online Community.

Aims: Advances in technology have led to an increased range of possibilities for forms of mutual aid in addictions, and patient empowerment in the management of long-term conditions. However, the effective processes involved may be different online than for those that meet in person. is a ‘social network site for people who are trying to resolve their problematic drinking patterns’.

Attentional biases in patients with alcohol dependence: influence of coexisting psychopathology.

Objective: The effects of coexisting psychopathology on disorder-specific attentional biases in patients with alcohol dependence are uncertain. We undertook a cross-sectional study assessing attentional biases to alcohol-, depression-, and anxiety- related stimuli using the visual probe task in patients with alcohol dependence, attending a community alcohol service.

Methods: Using the visual probe task, we presented disorder-specific words (relating to alcohol, anxiety, and depression) for 500 ms and measured reaction times.

Safety and Tolerability of Pharmacological Treatment of Alcohol Dependence: Comprehensive Review of Evidence.

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, but pharmacological treatments for them are underused, despite evidence of efficacy. Acamprosate, naltrexone, nalmefene and disulfiram are all approved in one or more region for the treatment of AUD. Baclofen currently has a temporary indication in France.

The use of leverage in community mental health: ethical guidance for practitioners.

Background: Leverage is a particular type of treatment pressure that is used within community mental health services to increase patients' adherence to treatment. Because leverage involves practitioners making proposals that attempt to influence patients' behaviours and choices, the use of leverage raises ethical issues.

Aim: To provide guidance that can assist practitioners in making judgements about whether it is ethically acceptable to use leverage in a particular clinical context.

"Craving": exploring the components of the Desires for Alcohol Questionnaire (DAQ) and the relation to the severity of alcohol problems.

Objective: The aims of this study were (a) to explore the components of craving, as measured by the Desires for Alcohol Questionnaire (DAQ), and (b) to examine how craving may relate to the severity of alcohol problems.

Method: A total of 106 patients seeking treatment for an alcohol use disorder (AUD) completed the DAQ and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The overall sample was predominantly male (63%) with a mean age of 44 years.