[Impact of alcohol abuse on suicide risk in schizophrenic patients]

Suicide is one of the main causes of death among patients with mental illnesses. At the same time, alcohol consumption is associated with high risk of autoaggressive and suicidal behavior in population. On the other hand there is an opinion that alcohol may have an illusory-compensatory effect. In that case, alcohol consumption may be an attempt to decrease different symptoms such as depression, anxiety or hallucinations. An analysis of co-occurring schizophrenia and alcohol abuse is presented. Suicide statistics among patients with schizophrenia is studied. Different mechanisms contributing to suicide are highlighted. The correlations of other risk factors with suicide attempts with the assessment of the patient's social resources and environment were studied. The role of alcohol in the presence of other obvious risk factors has been assessed. Possible mechanisms of the protective role of alcohol in relation to suicides among patients with schizophrenia are presented. The authors outline topics of perspective research to clarify the risk of self-destructive behavior in patients with schizophrenia with comorbid alcohol dependence, to search for its predictors and to develop well-grounded complex preventive measures.

[Dynamics of personality characteristics in the process of psychocorrective intervention in drug addicts]

OBJECTIVE

To study the dynamics of personality features and features of self-release in drug addicts.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We examined 10 drug-dependent patients with whom psycho-correctional work was carried out, 10 drug-dependent patients with whom correctional work was not carried out, and 20 healthy young people. All participants were men aged 20 to 24 years. Personality characteristics were determined by Cattell's 16PF questionnaire and a set of psychological tests. Correction work was carried out by a psychologist (7 sessions, one hour each). In these cases, the patients were examined before and after psychocorrectional intervention.

RESULTS

The high levels of sociability, self-esteem and expressiveness combined with low intelligence were identified in drug addicts compared with healthy people. Drug addicts are willing to accept themselves and are interested in their own personality.

CONCLUSION

This study is of practical importance and can be used as a material for dealing with people with addictive behavior.

[Neurobiological effects of childhood abuse and neglect as a predisposing factor to substance use disorder]

The article presents data from research literature on the neurobiological consequences of abuse and neglect in childhood. It is shown that early life stress affects the trajectory of brain development, changes the patterns of cognitive behavioral control and reception of rewards, potentially increasing the risk of substance misuse. The combination of this factor with an immature prefrontal cortex can dramatically increase the liability to the development of substance dependence.

[The effect of the dopamine D2 receptor agonist cabergoline on the content of catecholamines and expression of BDNF mRNA in the rat midbrain and hypothalamus]

AIM

To study an effect of cabergoline on dopamine and noradrenaline concentration and BDNF mRNA level in the rat midbrain and hypothalamus.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty adult male Wistar rats were used in a single treatment paradigm: animals of the treatment group (n=10) received cabergoline (i.p., 0.5 mg/kg) and the control group (n=10) received an equivalent volume of the solvent. Quantitative analysis for the dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrochemical detection. BDNF mRNA levels were studied using quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Cabergoline significantly increases NA concentration in the midbrain 24 hours after injection: 639.2±64.5 ng/g in the treatment group versus 398.0±66.0 ng/g in the control group (p<0.05), while mean content of DA is not significantly changed (211.4±16.3 ng/g vs 169.7±54.6 ng/g, respectively). Cabergoline does not affect hypothalamic DA and NA levels. The drug increases BDNF mRNA levels by 2-times in the midbrain, but not in the hypothalamus, 24 hours after injection.