Are researchers getting the terms used to denote different types of recreational cannabis right?-a user perspective

BACKGROUND: While current cannabis research has advanced our understanding into the effects of its individual components, there is a pressing need to identify simple terminology that is understood in the same way by researchers and users of cannabis. Current categorisation in research focuses on the two main cannabinoids: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD); and two different species of cannabis: indica and sativa. Recreational cannabis has also been categorised by researchers as 'skunk' or 'hash'. Focusing on individuals who use cannabis frequently, this study aimed to identify views on current terms used to denote different types of cannabis and to identify terms validated by participants. These views were extracted from responses of the Cannabis Experiences Questionnaire (CEQ), a widely used instrument in the literature. METHODS: We qualitatively analysed 236 free-text responses from Question 23 of the CEQ survey (using Iterative Categorisation) relating to categorization and consumption methods. Data was used from a previous study (Sami et al., Psychol Med 49:103-12, 2019), which recruited a convenience sample of 1231 participants aged 18 years and above who had previously used cannabis. RESULTS: Regarding type of cannabis used, specific strain names (n = 130), concentrates (n = 37), indica/sativa (n = 22) and THC/CBD terms (n = 22) were mentioned. Other terms used were hybrids (n = 10), origins of specific strains (n = 17), edibles (n = 8), and herbal cannabis (n = 7). Regarding problems with specific terms, participants were skeptical about terms such as skunk and super skunk (n = 78) preferring terms like THC/CBD, indica/sativa, specific marketed strains and references to preparation methods. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a disparity between the common terms used by researchers in academia and those used by cannabis consumers. While there are advantages and limitations of using these terms to bridge views of researchers and individuals who use cannabis, this study underscores the importance of formally assessing chemical constituents rather than relying on self-report data and of incorporating cannabis user views on current terms used in research, potentially also incorporating descriptors of preparation and consumption methods

The Grizzly, February 3, 2022

Remembering Terrence Williams • Shots, Shots, Shots, (Almost) Everybody! • A Note From the Editor-in-Chief • The Master Barista: Alexis Kimbel • Dress to Success • Opinions: Dunkin\u27 vs. Starbucks; A Dining Dollars Idea • Bear Down: Men\u27s Basketball Edition • Pinning Inequalityhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1977/thumbnail.jp

A qualitative exploration of older people’s lived experiences of homelessness and memory problems – stakeholder perspectives

Background: The numbers of older people experiencing both homelessness and memory problems are growing, yet their complex health, housing and care needs remain undelineated and unmet. There is a critical gap in understanding what can improve the care, support and experiences of this group. In this qualitative study we explore how stakeholders understand memory problems among older people in the context of homelessness and consider what they judge gets in the way of achieving positive outcomes. Method: We conducted reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative interviews (n = 49) using a semi-structured topic guide, with 17 older people (aged ≥ 50 years) experiencing memory problems and homelessness, 15 hostel staff and managers, and 17 health, housing and social care practitioners. We recruited participants from six homelessness hostels, one specialist care home and National Health and Local Authority Services in England. Results: We identified four overarching themes. The population is not taken seriously; multiple causes are hard to disentangle; risk of exploitation and vulnerability; and (dis)connection and social isolation. The transience and lack of stability associated with homelessness intensified the disorienting nature of memory and cognitive impairment, and those providing direct and indirect support required flexibility and persistence, with staff moving beyond traditional roles to advocate, provide care and safeguard individuals. Memory problems were perceived by frontline staff and older people to be overlooked, misinterpreted, and misattributed as being caused by alcohol use, resulting in pervasive barriers to achieving positive and desired outcomes. Conclusions: Efforts to meet the needs of older people living with memory problems and experiencing homelessness and future interventions must reflect the complexity of their lives, often in the context of long-term alcohol use and current service provision and we make suggestions as to what could be done to improve the situation

A qualitative exploration of older people's lived experiences of homelessness and memory problems - stakeholder perspectives

BACKGROUND: The numbers of older people experiencing both homelessness and memory problems are growing, yet their complex health, housing and care needs remain undelineated and unmet. There is a critical gap in understanding what can improve the care, support and experiences of this group. In this qualitative study we explore how stakeholders understand memory problems among older people in the context of homelessness and consider what they judge gets in the way of achieving positive outcomes. METHOD: We conducted reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative interviews (n = 49) using a semi-structured topic guide, with 17 older people (aged ≥ 50 years) experiencing memory problems and homelessness, 15 hostel staff and managers, and 17 health, housing and social care practitioners. We recruited participants from six homelessness hostels, one specialist care home and National Health and Local Authority Services in England. RESULTS: We identified four overarching themes. The population is not taken seriously; multiple causes are hard to disentangle; risk of exploitation and vulnerability; and (dis)connection and social isolation. The transience and lack of stability associated with homelessness intensified the disorienting nature of memory and cognitive impairment, and those providing direct and indirect support required flexibility and persistence, with staff moving beyond traditional roles to advocate, provide care and safeguard individuals. Memory problems were perceived by frontline staff and older people to be overlooked, misinterpreted, and misattributed as being caused by alcohol use, resulting in pervasive barriers to achieving positive and desired outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to meet the needs of older people living with memory problems and experiencing homelessness and future interventions must reflect the complexity of their lives, often in the context of long-term alcohol use and current service provision and we make suggestions as to what could be done to improve the situation

The Grizzly, September 23, 2021

Jalen Everette, Two Term Student Body President • Yellowjackets Have Made Ursinus Their Home • Hurricane Ida Leads to Flooding • New Club Feature: UC Possibilities • Inside Rush Week with Tri Sigma • Opinions: Students\u27 Favorite Foods at the Collegeville Bakery • Sculpture Parade Around Campus • The Hidden Opponent Club • Minding Your Mindhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1967/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 28, 2022

The New Normal: A Spotlight on Women\u27s Wrestling • A Conversation with the New Division of Inclusion and Community • Note from the News Editor • Dancing the Night Away: UCDC\u27s Spring Concert • That\u27s All, Folks: Goodbye Dr. Throop! • The Man Behind the Grizzly: Doron Taussig • A Note from the Features Editor • Opinions: Bring Back the Old Jazzman\u27s • A Note from the Opinions Editor • A Note from the Sports Editor • D3 Baller to D1 Coach • Ballin\u27 in Europehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1987/thumbnail.jp

Association of Adverse Outcomes With Emotion Processing and Its Neural Substrate in Individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

Importance: The development of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with psychosis has been associated with behavioral and neuroanatomical deficits related to emotion processing. However, the association between alterations in brain regions subserving emotion processing and clinical outcomes remains unclear. Objective: To examine the association between alterations in emotion processing and regional gray matter volumes in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis, and the association with subsequent clinical outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This naturalistic case-control study with clinical follow-up at 12 months was conducted from July 1, 2010, to August 31, 2016, and collected data from 9 psychosis early detection centers (Amsterdam, Basel, Cologne, Copenhagen, London, Melbourne, Paris, The Hague, and Vienna). Participants (213 individuals at CHR and 52 healthy controls) were enrolled in the European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) project. Data were analyzed from October 1, 2018, to April 24, 2019. Main Measures and Outcomes: Emotion recognition was assessed with the Degraded Facial Affect Recognition Task. Three-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from all participants, and gray matter volume was measured in regions of interest (medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and insula). Clinical outcomes at 12 months were evaluated for transition to psychosis using the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States criteria, and the level of overall functioning was measured through the Global Assessment of Functioning [GAF] scale. Results: A total of 213 individuals at CHR (105 women [49.3%]; mean [SD] age, 22.9 [4.7] years) and 52 healthy controls (25 women [48.1%]; mean [SD] age, 23.3 [4.0] years) were included in the study at baseline. At the follow-up within 2 years of baseline, 44 individuals at CHR (20.7%) had developed psychosis and 169 (79.3%) had not. Of the individuals at CHR reinterviewed with the GAF, 39 (30.0%) showed good overall functioning (GAF score, ≥65), whereas 91 (70.0%) had poor overall functioning (GAF score, <65). Within the CHR sample, better anger recognition at baseline was associated with worse functional outcome (odds ratio [OR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.99; P =.03). In individuals at CHR with a good functional outcome, positive associations were found between anger recognition and hippocampal volume (ze = 3.91; familywise error [FWE] P =.02) and between fear recognition and medial prefrontal cortex volume (z = 3.60; FWE P =.02), compared with participants with a poor outcome. The onset of psychosis was not associated with baseline emotion recognition performance (neutral OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.79-1.09; P =.37; happy OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.84-1.25; P =.81; fear OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.85-1.13; P =.77; anger OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.89-1.12; P =.96). No difference was observed in the association between performance and regional gray matter volumes in individuals at CHR who developed or did not develop psychosis (FWE P <.05). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, poor functional outcome in individuals at CHR was found to be associated with baseline abnormalities in recognizing negative emotion. This finding has potential implications for the stratification of individuals at CHR and suggests that interventions that target socioemotional processing may improve functional outcomes.

Caregiver wellbeing during Covid-19: does being hopeful play a role?

Background Informal (unpaid) carers represent a core component of health and social care systems. However, their experiences, health impacts and care needs during Covid-19 have been largely overlooked. This study aimed to explore the health and wellbeing impacts of Covid-19 on carers and the contribution of hopefulness.Methods Data were collected from an online survey hosted on the Qualtrics platform.Results Three hundred and sixty-nine participants consented to the survey. Data are reported on 186 participants with an 80% or higher completion rate. Most participants (> 80%) reported poor sleep quality, while nearly half the sample met case threshold for anxiety (46.2%) and 29% for depression. Mood disturbance in carers was associated with higher levels of sleep disturbances. Positive wellbeing in carers was best predicted by having a more hopeful outlook and fewer symptoms of depression.Limitations A cross-sectional survey-based design that is unable to offer no definitive conclusions about the direction of the results. The study was also limited by having carer participants as the only informants.Conclusions Though informal carers are found in all areas of society, their experiences and health correlates during Covid-19 have not attracted much research attention. The additional and unique challenges of the pandemic for the health and wellbeing needs of carers must not be overlooked as is sadly so often the case. Instead, the experiences of carers and their needs should be prioritised, publicised, and matched by needs-led interventions. Identifying carers and enquiring about their wellbeing would be a laudable first step

Association between depressive symptoms and cognitive-behavioural therapy receipt within a psychosis sample:a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether depressive symptoms predict receipt of cognitive–behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp) in individuals with psychosis. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of electronic health records (EHRs) of a clinical cohort. SETTING: A secondary National Health Service mental healthcare service serving four boroughs of south London, UK. PARTICIPANTS: 20 078 patients diagnosed with an International Classification of Diseases, version 10 (ICD-10) code between F20 and 29 extracted from an EHR database. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: Whether recorded depressive symptoms predicted CBTp session receipt, defined as at least one session of CBTp identified from structured EHR fields supplemented by a natural language processing algorithm. Secondary: Whether age, gender, ethnicity, symptom profiles (positive, negative, manic and disorganisation symptoms), a comorbid diagnosis of depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder, general CBT receipt prior to the primary psychosis diagnosis date or type of psychosis diagnosis predicted CBTp receipt. RESULTS: Of patients with a psychotic disorder, only 8.2% received CBTp. Individuals with at least one depressive symptom recorded, depression symptom severity and 12 out of 15 of the individual depressive symptoms independently predicted CBTp receipt. Female gender, White ethnicity and presence of a comorbid affective disorder or primary schizoaffective diagnosis were independently positively associated with CBTp receipt within the whole sample and the top 25% of mentioned depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with a psychotic disorder who had recorded depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to receive CBTp sessions, aligning with CBTp guidelines of managing depressive symptoms related to a psychotic experience. However, overall receipt of CBTp is low and more common in certain demographic groups, and needs to be increased