Research Roundup

Welcome to the July edition of?Turning Point’s Research Roundup newsletter.

In this edition:?

• Helplines could play a key role in?overcoming?barriers that can prevent people from accessing care?for alcohol concerns.?
• The value of our neuropsychological services was recently showcased at the Global Neuropsychology Congress in Portugal.?
• A?randomised controlled trial is seeking to better understand ?N-acetylcysteine's?potential to help people resist craving and reduce alcohol consumption.
• Plus, our latest journal publications, research participation opportunities, and more!

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Helplines could be key to increasing treatment for alcohol concerns

As a common first point of contact when people seek support for alcohol harms, telephone helplines have the potential to overcome the barriers that can prevent people from accessing care.

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Turning Point on the world stage of neuropsychology

The value of our neuropsychological services?was recently showcased with presentations at the Global Neuropsychology Congress?by Senior Clinical Neuropsychologists Dr James Gooden and Georgia Bolt.?

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New antioxidant may help people resist craving

By examining the impacts of N-acetylcysteine through a multi-site randomised controlled trial, researchers from the Clinical and Social Research team are seeking to better understand the antioxidant's?potential to help people resist craving and reduce alcohol consumption.?

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Upcoming Talking Point webinar

In an upcoming Talking Point webinar, Research Fellow Dr Sarah Catchlove (pictured) and Clinical Director,?Turning Point Statewide Services, A/Prof?Shalini Arunogiri will present?findings and discuss learnings about a recently completed open-label pilot for individuals experiencing methamphetamine withdrawal.?

Register for the event

New publications

Web-based forums can reduce help-seeking barriers for people experiencing substance use or gambling disorders

• Web-based peer-supported forums are used by people experiencing addiction in a number of ways: to share information and experiences, and give and receive support.
• Seeking web-based support offers an alternative approach to traditional face-to-face support options, and may reduce some barriers to engaging in peer support.
• Further research will assist forum users and forum administrators to articulate and optimise the benefits of web-based forum participation.

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Rotation from methadone to buprenorphine using a micro-dosing regime in patients with opioid use disorder and serious mental illness: A case series

• Micro-dosing of buprenorphine, with small incremental doses, is a novel?approach to transitioning from methadone and does not require a period of methadone abstinence. This study assessed whether this method can be used successfully, without destabilising the patient’s mental state.
• The researchers found that mental health measures remained stable except for mildly increased anxiety. Most (93%) patients rated their experience as ‘manageable’, with mild withdrawal symptoms.?
• Findings indicate?that the use of a micro-dosing buprenorphine induction for methadone to buprenorphine transitions has negligible risk, is tolerated by patients with serious mental illness and is unlikely to exacerbate their mental illness.
• Limitations of this preliminary study include its?small size of 16 patients and its retrospective nature.?

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Trait anger as a predictor of dangerous driving among people who use methamphetamine

• The study explored psychosocial factors that contribute to dangerous driving among people who use methamphetamine, and found that trait anger strongly and positively predicted dangerous driving behaviour.
• Combined with situational traffic factors, trait anger may lead to greater levels of risk-taking among this group and increase their risk of experiencing traffic harm.
• By addressing and reducing levels of negative emotionality and addressing cognitive triggers for driving-related stress, road-safety outcomes among people who use methamphetamine could be improved.

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Research Participation Opportunities?

The following research studies are currently?open for participants?

• Adults who would like to cut down on their drinking?are invited to help improve treatments to reduce alcohol intake.
• Adults who are struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and their use of alcohol are invited to take part in a clinical trial of a novel treatment for PTSD?and alcohol use problems.?
• Victorians who have been picked up for minor drug use or possession are invited to help researchers improve the system of dealing with those offences.?

Click below to find out about these and other opportunities to participate in Turning Point research.?

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