Posttraumatic stress disorder among female street-based sex workers in the greater Sydney area, Australia

BACKGROUND: This paper examines rates of exposure to work-related violence and other trauma, and the prevalence of lifetime and current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among female street-based sex workers. It also investigates associations between current PTSD symptoms and: demographic characteristics, psychiatric comorbidity, injecting and sex risk behaviours, and trauma history. METHODS: Cross sectional data collected from 72 women via face to face structured interviews. The interview included structured diagnostic assessment of DSM-IV PTSD; drug dependence; depression; experience of childhood trauma; and an assessment of sex working history. RESULTS: All but one of the women interviewed reported experiencing trauma, with the majority reporting multiple traumas that typically began in early childhood. Child sexual abuse, adult sexual assault and work related violence were commonly reported. Just under half of the women met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD and approximately one-third reported current PTSD symptoms. Adult sexual assault was associated with current PTSD symptoms. Depression and drug dependence were also highly prevalent; cocaine dependence in particular was associated with elevated rates of injecting risk and sexual risk behaviours. CONCLUSION: These women reported complex trauma histories and despite ongoing opportunities for clinical intervention, they continued to experience problems, suggesting that current models of treatment may not be appropriate. More targeted interventions, and integrated mental health and drug treatment services are needed to address the problems these women are experiencing. Outreach services to these women remain a priority. Education strategies to reduce risky injecting and sexual behaviours among sex workers should also remain a priority

Changes in Phospholipid Composition Studied by HPLC and Electric Properties of Liver Cell Membrane of Ethanol-Poisoned Rats

Ethanol introduced into the organism undergoes rapid metabolism to acetaldehyde and then to acetic acid. The process is accompanied by formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage mainly lipids of membrane cells. The effects of ROS can be neutralized by administering preparations with antioxidant properties. The natural preparations of this kind are teas

The effects of ethanol, phenobarbital, and baclofen on ethanol withdrawal in the rhesus monkey

Physical dependence on ethanol was produced in four rhesus monkeys by IV ethanol administration every 8 h. Ethanol was administered on each occasion until the eyeblink reflex was lost. Evidence of physical dependence development, in the form of tremoring 8 h after an infusion, appeared on day 8 of chronic administration. Abrupt cessation of ethanol administration following 16 days of chronic administration was accompanied by moderate to severe tremoring, retching, vomiting, and one or more convulsions. Peak withdrawal occurred between 12 and 32 h after abrupt discontinuation of ethanol administration, and decreased over a period of 64–204 h. Ethanol dependence was then reinstated. Once every 3–4 days, ethanol was withheld for 16 h. Withdrawal signs were scored for the first 12 h of this period, and then a test dose of ethanol, phenobarbital, or baclofen was administered. Withdrawal or intoxication signs were scored over the next 4 h, at which time ethanol administration was resumed. Both ethanol and phenobarbital suppressed ethanol withdrawal sign in a dose-related manner, and produced dose-related intoxication. Baclofen was largely ineffective in reducing withdrawal-induced tremors, although it was capable of producing sedation of a different type than that produced by phenobarbital and ethanol.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46414/1/213_2004_Article_BF00435315.pd

A short history of the 5-HT2C receptor: from the choroid plexus to depression, obesity and addiction treatment

This paper is a personal account on the discovery and characterization of the 5-HT2C receptor (first known as the 5- HT1C receptor) over 30 years ago and how it translated into a number of unsuspected features for a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and a diversity of clinical applications. The 5-HT2C receptor is one of the most intriguing members of the GPCR superfamily. Initially referred to as 5-HT1CR, the 5-HT2CR was discovered while studying the pharmacological features and the distribution of [3H]mesulergine-labelled sites, primarily in the brain using radioligand binding and slice autoradiography. Mesulergine (SDZ CU-085), was, at the time, best defined as a ligand with serotonergic and dopaminergic properties. Autoradiographic studies showed remarkably strong [3H]mesulergine-labelling to the rat choroid plexus. [3H]mesulergine-labelled sites had pharmacological properties different from, at the time, known or purported 5-HT receptors. In spite of similarities with 5-HT2 binding, the new binding site was called 5-HT1C because of its very high affinity for 5-HT itself. Within the following 10 years, the 5-HT1CR (later named 5- HT2C) was extensively characterised pharmacologically, anatomically and functionally: it was one of the first 5-HT receptors to be sequenced and cloned. The 5-HT2CR is a GPCR, with a very complex gene structure. It constitutes a rarity in theGPCR family: many 5-HT2CR variants exist, especially in humans, due to RNA editing, in addition to a few 5-HT2CR splice variants. Intense research led to therapeutically active 5-HT2C receptor ligands, both antagonists (or inverse agonists) and agonists: keeping in mind that a number of antidepressants and antipsychotics are 5- HT2CR antagonists/inverse agonists. Agomelatine, a 5-HT2CR antagonist is registered for the treatment of major depression. The agonist Lorcaserin is registered for the treatment of aspects of obesity and has further potential in addiction, especially nicotine/ smoking. There is good evidence that the 5-HT2CR is involved in spinal cord injury-induced spasms of the lower limbs, which can be treated with 5-HT2CR antagonists/inverse agonists such as cyproheptadine or SB206553. The 5-HT2CR may play a role in schizophrenia and epilepsy. Vabicaserin, a 5-HT2CR agonist has been in development for the treatment of schizophrenia and obesity, but was stopped. As is common, there is potential for further indications for 5-HT2CR ligands, as suggested by a number of preclinical and/or genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on depression, suicide, sexual dysfunction, addictions and obesity. The 5-HT2CR is clearly affected by a number of established antidepressants/antipsychotics and may be one of the culprits in antipsychotic-induced weight gain

Simultaneous study of 24-hour patterns of melatonin and cortisol secretion in depressed patients.

The temporal organization of melatonin and cortisol secretion were studied in depressed patients in order to investigate a possible relationship between the secretory patterns of the two hormones. Women who suffered from a primary affective disorder were studied twice as inpatients, the first time during the depressive episode and the second time after amitriptyline treatment and clinical recovery. During both 24-hour studies blood was collected at 1-hour intervals during the day and at 30-min intervals at night. A dissociation of melatonin and cortisol secretory patterns was observed in the 3 patients in whom the two hormones were determined simultaneously. 2 patients exhibited alterations in the circadian rhythm of both hormones during illness. After recovery, however, the melatonin rhythm remained altered but the cortisol rhythm was normalized. Another patient showed a nocturnal melatonin rise and day-night melatonin differences closer to those seen in normal subjects, but she had altered cortisol secretory patterns during depression which normalized after recovery. These results suggest that the melatonin and cortisol rhythms are controlled by different mechanisms.Journal ArticleSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The 24 hour pattern of plasma melatonin in depressed patients before and after treatment.

Journal Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Abnormal 24 hour pattern of melatonin secretion in depression.

Comparative StudyLetterSCOPUS: le.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe