Editorial: The gambling control bill: time for action.

A modern regulatory framework for gambling in Ireland is urgently required. The Gambling Control Bill of 2013 represents a decent starting point in developing player protection and much needed treatment services and research facilities for Gambling Disorder. The drafting and enactment of the Gambling Control Bill of 2013 appears to have slipped from legislative priority. The sooner this bill is enacted the better

Addiction Psychiatry and COVID-19 - Impact on patients and service provision.

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtably had a major impact on the provision of physical healthcare in Ireland and worldwide. The mental health impact of this pandemic cannot be underestimated, particularly relating to patients suffering with addiction. Heightened public stress and anxiety levels, increasing isolation and the physical consequences of addiction play a large role in the proliferation and ongoing relapse of substance misuse and behavioural addiction. Service provision is an ongoing challenge due to the increasing need for services given the increased mental health burden of COVID-19 but also the restrictions in place in clinical areas to achieve social distancing. The necessary adaptations to service provision provide opportunities for the analysis of current processes used in our addiction unit and the introduction of new processes to our service. The current crisis tests the sustainability of the service to provide the high standard of care required for these patients

Online gaming and gaming disorder: more than just a trivial pursuit.

Gaming disorder is set to be included in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems alongside other behavioural addictions (gambling disorder) and substance-related addictions. Given the popularity of online gaming, this is set to become an increasingly common presentation to general mental health professionals, addiction specialists, and general practitioners. This article briefly examines online gaming and describes the characteristics of gaming disorder. Some features of online gaming that have addictive potential and similarities to other addictive behaviours such as gambling disorder are discussed. Finally, the article examines treatment options available for gaming disorder and treatment going forward from an Irish perspective

A GSTP1 functional variant associated with cocaine dependence in a Brazilian population

Cocaine dependence aetiology is complex and genetically influenced. We hypothesize that, for many users, efficient metabolism of cocaine and its toxic byproducts aids persistent cocaine use, such as that leading to dependence. The glutathione-S-transferases-in particular, GST-Pi-may be important in preventing cocaine and alcohol-induced oxidative damage. We genotyped a GST-Pi functional polymorphism (Ile105Val) in 654 male cocaine users and 572 controls from Brazil. Genotype and allele frequencies of Ile105Val differed significantly (chi(2) = 6.74; P=0.03 and chi(2)=6.54; P=0.01, respectively). Ile/Ile cocaine dependents had an OR=1.31 (95%Cl: 1.04-1.65), and Ile/Ile dependents consuming > 50 units alcohol weekly an OR of 1.44 (95% CI:106-1.96). Population stratification was assessed and did not affect the results. These data require replication but do suggest that the high activity Ile105 GST-Pi allele may influence the aetiology and development of cocaine dependence.Kings Coll London, Sect Genet, MRC, Social Genet & Dev Psychiat Res Ctr,Inst Psychiat, London SE5 8AF, EnglandKings Coll London, Dept Psychol Med, Inst Psychiat, London SE5 8AF, EnglandUniv Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, UNIAD, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, UNIAD, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Substance misuse training among psychiatric doctors, psychiatric nurses, medical students and nursing students in a South London psychiatric teaching hospital

Background: Health professionals play an important role in the detection and subsequent management of individuals who misuse substances. Aim: This article aimed to assess self-reported levels of training received by psychiatric doctors, nurses, medical students and nursing students in a South London psychiatric teaching hospital. Method: Self-completion questionnaire assessing key aspects of training. Findings: We found low overall levels of reported training in substance misuse. Of the reported training received, most was theoretical rather than clinical. The highest level of reported training was in alcohol misuse compared to illicit drug and tobacco misuse. High numbers of respondents reported feeling responsible for helping individuals with substance misuse difficulties but low numbers actually felt skilled to do so, indicating high levels of awareness without the requisite training. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that more resources should be focused on teaching psychiatric doctors, nurses, medical students and nursing students the key issues in substance misuse, and that this training should be clinically grounded, to alleviate the perceived low levels of reported clinical training in this study and the resulting lack of confidence.</p

Construction of p16Slux, a Novel Vector for Improved Bioluminescent Labeling of Gram-Negative Bacteria▿

A novel vector has been constructed for the constitutive luminescent tagging of gram-negative bacteria by site-specific integration into the 16S locus of the bacterial chromosome. A number of gram-negative pathogens were successfully tagged using this vector, and the system was validated during murine infections of living animals