International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction
Volume:10 Issue: 1, Mar 2021

 Due to the increasing spread of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) and their addictive potential, scholars assert that understanding the factors underpinning Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is crucial, considering the psychopathological classification.

 This study aimed to explore the motives predicting IGD in MMORPG players with different personality risk profiles.

 An online survey was conducted among 202 MMORPG players (mean age = 27.85 years, SD = 6.49). A cluster analysis was performed to classify the samples, according to the substance use risk profile scale (SURPS), distinguishing a sensation seeking (SS) group from a group prone to negative emotions (PNE), including anxiety, hopelessness, and impulsivity. Also, the gaming motives, which were determined using the Motives for Online Gaming Questionnaire (MOGQ), were considered as independent variables in analyses. The regression analyses indicated different combinations of gaming motives, predisposing the two groups to IGD.

 The escapism motive and male gender were the main risk factors for SS players, whereas the sociability motive predicted addiction tendencies in the PNE group. Also, the competition motive was a strong predictor of IGD in both groups; this motive was found to be associated with the male gender and the specific game genre. Moreover, the PNE players were significantly more addicted to MMORPGs and were less satisfied with their life, compared to the SS group.

 Based on the present results, clustering gamers in terms of personality traits allowed us to understand the mechanisms underlying IGD for overcoming a reductive approach, which considers MMORPG players as a uniform group.

 Opiate dependence, a great worldwide obstacle, is regularly treated by detoxification via opioid agonists and antagonist administration. However, different effects and severity of detoxification on the male reproductive system have not been evaluated so far.

 Thus, the present study intended to investigate the impact of morphine dependence and detoxification with methadone and/or buprenorphine on sexual behavior and sex hormones in an animal model of opiate dependence.

 sixty-six adult male mice were randomly allocated into six groups of control (ctl40), morphine-dependent (Mrph40) (which received morphine for 40 days), another control (Ctrl80), morphine-dependent (Mrph80) (which received morphine for 80 days), methadone (Mtdn) detoxified, and buprenorphine (Bprn) detoxified groups (n = 11). Different aspects of sexual activities and Sex hormones were assessed at the end of the treatment period. Data were analyzed by ANOVA test using SPSS version 16 software for Windows.

 Testosterone level significantly decreased in all treated groups compared with its level in the Ctl40 group. Detoxification with buprenorphine was reduced following 80 days of treatment, the level of testosterone significantly reduced in all treated groups compared to its level in the Ctrl80 group. The highest and lowest levels of FSH were observed in the Bprn group and in the Mrph40 group, respectively, even lower than that of the Mrph80 and Mtdn groups. Either of the treatments has decreased the level of LH when compared with its level in the controls. Various sexual behaviors were differently disturbed in the treated groups. Duration of sexual activity, Mount frequency, ejaculation latency, and sexual activity duration was higher in the Bprn group than the Mtdn group, but the rate of pregnancy was much higher in the Mtdn group.

 Either Short or long-term dependence on morphine affects the sex hormones and activities. Following detoxification with methadone and/or buprenorphine, various aspects of sexual behaviors were differently altered, which could alert clinicians in detoxification programs.
 

 Mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been proposed as a potential approach to improve negative emotions and reduce craving in persons with substance use disorders. Recent studies suggest that tDCS may enhance psychological interventions.

 The current study, hence, investigated the effects of combined tDCS with mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment (MBSAT) to improve negative emotions and reduce craving in adolescents with methamphetamine dependence.

 Eighty early-abstinent methamphetamine users aged between 18 and 21 were randomly assigned to the research groups (tDCS group (n = 20), mindfulness group (n = 20), combined mindfulness-tDCS group (n = 20), and sham group (n = 20). Active tDCS (intensity of 1.5 mA, with 20 min duration) or sham tDCS (intensity of 0.0 mA, with 20 min duration) was used over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the MBSAT protocol was used over twelve 50-min sessions.

 Negative emotions significantly improved in the combination group receiving real tDCS + MBSAT (PIN-CODES), as compared to baseline values and sham stimulation group. Similarly, a significant reduction in craving was observed after intervention in the tDCS + MBSAT group but not in the sham stimulation group. Also, a significant correlation was shown between the enhancement of negative emotions and the decrease of craving in the combination group (tDCS + MBSAT) compared to the other groups.

 The findings of the present study confirm the effectiveness of the combined approach of mindfulness therapy with electrical stimulation in substance use groups
 

COVID-19 is a communicable disease that is preventable by accessing valid health information.

This study aimed to investigate health information seeking behaviors (HISB) related to COVID-19 in young people.

A total of 258 young people participated in this online study through a convenience sampling method who filled out the HISBC-19 questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 19 software by the chi-square test with considering α = 0.05 as the significance level.

Out of 258 participants,105 (40.7%) had very good internet search skills, 77 (29.8%) were good, and 76 (29.5%) were poor. Besides, 194 (75.2%) people started searching for health information from search engines and virtual social media. The highest use of health information sources was related to virtual social media. Also, 243 (94.2%) people reported behavioral improvement after achieving health information. The chi-square test showed a significant difference between men and women in receiving information from visiting the physician or other treatment staff, asking questions from family members, watching satellite channels, and attending workshops and meetings on health (P < 0.05).

The use of internet-based media is one of the most important sources of health information related to COVID-19. Planning to provide accurate health information through reliable sources plays an important role in improving health information in young people.

 Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common congenital malformations at birth. Substance abuse has increased dramatically over the past two decades. It also can affect neonates of drug-abusing mothers.

 This study aimed to elucidate the possible association of maternal drug abuse with CHDs in their newborn infants.

 In this study, 72 neonates who were born during 6 years in three teaching hospitals are studied. Echocardiography was performed by a single pediatric cardiologist using two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

 1) Of 72 included cases, 38 (52.78%) had abnormal echocardiographic findings; 2) from 38 abnormal echocardiography, 35 (48.61% of total and 92.11% of abnormal echoes) had mild congenital heart defect (CHD), and 3 had complex CHD; 3) There was no significant difference in the prevalence of neonatal congenital heart defect with the type of misused drugs (opiates or methamphetamines).

 In our study, the prevalence of CHD in newborns of drug abuser mothers was significantly higher than the normal population of infants. Hence, echocardiographic screening of these newborns seems to be logical.

 Suicide is an important concern with regard to mental health and needs more attention in Iran.

 This study aimed to compare depression, exposure to suicide, self-injury, defeat, and entrapment, and adverse childhood experiences in suicide attempters and normal people.

 The current research method was descriptive in the form of ex post facto research. The research community included two groups of (1) suicide attempters, and (2) normal students. Research measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, exposure to suicidal behavior, non-suicidal self-injury, short defeat and entrapment scale, adverse childhood experiences questionnaire, and future self-injury. The data were analyzed using t-test.

 The results showed a significant difference between groups on the mean values of depression (2.27 for the non-suicidal group vs. 3.87 for the suicidal group), adverse childhood experiences (5.82 vs. 0.95), exposure to the attempted suicide (0.28 vs. 0.50), self-injury behavior (0.36 vs. 2.13), and future self-injury likelihood (0.56 vs. 2.13). The most significant differences belonged to the defeat and entrapment variable and adverse childhood experiences (P < 0.01).

 Thus, defeat and depression play an important role in predicting suicide, so we should intervene in these two states of mind.

 Substance abuse and addiction are serious problems all around the world. Increased substance use tendency in adolescents has attracted the researchers' and therapists' attention.

 The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of family-based treatment on craving in female students with substance abuse.

 In this multiple baseline experimental single case study, four families and their female adolescents who were engaged in substance abuse were selected using the purposive sampling technique. family-based treatment (FBT) was performed in three phases of baseline, intervention, and follow-up. Data were collected using the Craving Beliefs Questionnaire (CBQ).

 This study demonstrated that FBT could significantly decrease the craving, 40.08% improvements.

 FBT can be considered as an effective strategy for changing the dysfunctional cycle of the family system and decreasing substance use tendency in adolescents.