2 research outputs found
Intrauterine Exposure To Methadone And Buprenorphine: Incidence And Severity of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. A Retrospective Study At The Canberra Hospital
Background: Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) is the standard
of care for opioid dependent pregnant women and is associated with
positive outcomes for the mother and the infant. However, it is associated
with a significant risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome
(NAS). The primary aim of this study is to examine the relationship
between intrauterine exposure to methadone or burepnorphine and
incidence of NAS.
Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of pregnant
women on OMT and their babies (N =218) who were delivered
between January 2001 and December 2016. A modified Finnegan score
was used at The Canberra Hospital to monitor the neonates for NAS.
Results: A total of 117 (53.6%) of neonates reached the threshold
for NAS requiring treatment, comprised of 55.7%% (n =108) in the
methadone exposure group and 37.5% (n = 9) in the buprenorphine
group. Infants exposed to more than 50 mg of maternal methadone
dose in intrauterine life are three times (P=0.001) more likely to
develop NAS compared to exposure less than 50 mg. Receiver operating
characteristic curve was used to determine the cut off for these
two groups.
Conclusions: We found a significant positive correlation between
maternal methadone dose and NAS in this study. We also came to
the conclusion that the watershed dose of methadone for NAS is
50 mg. Rest of the findings of this study are consistent with current
research and we came to the same conclusions as in MOTHER study.
There was no association between NAS severity and maternal buprenorphine
or methadone dose. There is growing evidence for the use of
buprenorphine as a safe and effective treatment in pregnancy.
Implications for Practice or Policy: With the increasing problem of
prescription opioids in the community, the potential exists for unrecognised
maternal opioid dependence with subsequently missed NAS.
Translational Research: Intrauterine exposure to prescription opioids
and monitoring NAS
Salt in the soul, steel in the eye and caution towards the winds: a mariner's guide for navigating a new academic psychiatry department
Objectives: This paper describes principles and advice regarding the development of a new academic psychiatry department within a medical school for aspiring academic psychiatrists. We describe general principles based on the experience of the foundation of the Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine at the Australian National University Medical School. Conclusions: Perspicacious leadership and organisation are the foundation for an academic psychiatry department which delivers teaching, research and broader intellectual engagement with the medical and broader community