[Substance use and risk behaviors of out-of-treatment cocaine base paste and cocaine hydrochloride users]. / Consumo de sustancias y conductas de riesgo en consumidores de pasta base de cacaína no consultantes a servicios de rehabilitación.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, cocaine base paste (CBP) is the illegal substance that produces the highest rate of addiction. Nonetheless, a marginal number of users receive treatment each year. AIM: To compare the consumption patterns and risk behavior of CBP and cocaine hydrochloride (CH) users who do not attend rehabilitation services. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective research design, through a study methodology called Privileged Access Interview of hidden populations, 28 surveyors recruited 231 CBP users (group 1) and 236 CH users (group 2). The Risk Behavior Questionnaire was applied in four communities of Metropolitan Santiago, that have the highest prevalence of PBC and CH use. RESULTS: CBP users showed higher schools drop-out and unemployment rates. Subjects of both groups were predominantly polysubstance and polyaddicted users. The severity of addiction to CBP of group 1 was significantly higher than the severity of addiction to CH of group 2 (5.5 versus 5.1: p<0.001). CBP users showed significantly higher rates of sexual risk behaviors, antisocial behavior, self infliction of injuries, suicide attempt and child neglect. CONCLUSIONS: A higher vulnerability was shown for users of CBP than those of CH. Attention is drawn to the need for developing community interventions in order to alter substance abuse and the risk behavior of these vulnerable groups.

Consumo de sustancias y conductas de riesgo en consumidores de pasta base de cacaína no consultantes a servicios de rehabilitación / Substance use and risk behaviors of out-of-treatment cocaine base paste and cocaine hydrochloride users

Background: In Chile, cocaine base paste (CBP) is the illegal substance that produces the highest rate of addiction. Nonetheless, a marginal number of users receive treatment each year. Aim: To compare the consumption patterns and risk behavior of CBP and cocaine hydrochloride (CH) users who do not attend rehabilitation services. Material and Methods: In a prospective research design, through a study methodology called Privileged Access Interview of hidden populations, 28 surveyors recruited 231 CBP users (group 1) and 236 CH users (group 2). The Risk Behavior Questionnaire was applied in four communities of Metropolitan Santiago, that have the highest prevalence of PBC and CH use. Results: CBP users showed higher schools drop-out and unemployment rates. Subjects of both groups were predominantly polysubstance and polyaddicted users. The severity of addiction to CBP of group 1 was significantly higher than the severity of addiction to CH of group 2 (5.5 versus 5.1: p<0.001). CBP users showed significantly higher rates of sexual risk behaviors, antisocial behavior, self infliction of injuries, suicide attempt and child neglect. Conclusions: A higher vulnerability was shown for users of CBP than those of CH. Attention is drawn to the need for developing community interventions in order to alter substance abuse and the risk behavior of these vulnerable groups.

Patrones de consumo de sustancias de una muestra no consultante de consumidores de pasta base de cocaína / Patterns of substance use of out-of-treatment cocaine base paste users

Introducción: En Chile, el consumo de Pasta Base de Cocaína (PBC) se ha asociado a marginalidad y micronarcotráfico. Es posible que en nuestro país exista una población de consumidores de PBC oculta a los estudios de población general y a los servicios sanitarios. El objetivo fue caracterizar una muestra de consumidores de PBC que no han recibido tratamiento reciente por abuso de sustancias utilizando la Entrevista de Acceso Privilegiado. Método: Se entrenaron 9 entrevistadores, con acceso a consumidores de PBC en las comunas de San Joaquín y La Pintana, en la administración de una encuesta sobre patrones de consumo y conductas de riesgo. Resultados: se reclutaron 160 sujetos con una mediana de edad de 21 años (mín: 12; máx: 46) de los cuales 99 fueron hombres (61,9 por ciento). La PBC fue la sustancia primaria de consumo en 136 sujetos (85 por ciento) con una mediana de días de consumo en el último mes de 23 (mín: 1; máx: 30) y una cantidad mediana de consumo de 4,2 gr/día (mín: 1; máx: 75). La edad mediana de inicio de consumo de PBC fue de 16 años (mín: 8; máx: 37). Conclusiones: el patrón de consumo de sustancias de esta muestra no consultante parece ser de mayor severidad que el patrón de consumo de una muestra de población general reportada en el Estudio Nacional de consumo de Sustancias (CONACE 2000) en las mismas comunas. La muestra descrita, o parte de ella, pudiera constituir una población oculta de consumidores de PBC.

Background: In Chile, crack or free-base Cocaine (FBC) use is associated with social isolation and drug traffic. This fact might be conditioning a hidden population of CBP users. The aim of the study was to characterize a sample of out-of-treatment CBP users by means of Privileged Access Interviewing in two districts of Santiago. Methods: Nine privileged access interviewers were trained to administer a questionnaire about substance use patterns and related risk behaviors. Results: 160 CBP users were recruited. The median age of the sample was 21 years (min: 12; max: 46). Gender distribution was 61,9 percent male. CBP was the primary abused substance in 85 percent of the sample. The median days of use in the last month was 23 days (min: 0; max: 30) and the median daily dose in the last month was 4,2 gr/day (min:0; max:75). The median age of onset of CBP use was 16 years (min: 8; max: 37). Conclusions: The pattern of substance use of this out-of-treatment sample seems to be more serious than the pattern of a general population sample reported by a National Survey in the same territorial areas. This sample, or part of it, might be a hidden population of CBP users.

Implementación de la entrevista de acceso privilegiado para caracterizar consumidores de pasta base de cocaína / Using privileged access interviewing to identify crack cocaine users

Introducción. En Chile, es posible que parte de los consumidores de pasta base de cocaína (PBC) estén ocultos dada la asociación del consumo de esta sustancia con pobreza y micronarcotráfico. La entrevista de acceso privilegiado es un método utilizado en la exploración de poblaciones ocultas. Objetivo. Implementar en Chile la entrevista de acceso privilegiado para contactar consumidores de PBC sin tratamiento en el último año. Método. Se seleccionaron y entrenaron potenciales entrevistadores de acceso privilegiado (EAPs) en las comunas La Pintana y San Joaquín para la realización de una encuesta de conductas de riesgo a consumidores crónicos de PBC en su medio natural. Resultados. Se contactaron 27 sujetos de los cuales se seleccionaron 17 entrevistadores. Participaron efectivamente en el estudio 9 sujetos (52,9 por ciento) con una edad mediana de 21 años (mín: 20, máx: 28). Un total de 160 encuestas cumplieron los mecanismos de control de confiabilidad en un plazo de 7 meses. Los EAPs de sexo femenino reclutaron el 59,2 por ciento de la muestra. Los EAPs hombres reclutaron sujetos con mayor frecuencia de conductas antisociales y conductas sexuales de riesgo que las entrevistadoras mujeres. Discusión. La utilización de la entrevista de acceso privilegiado fue un método rápido, seguro y confiable para la obtención de información de consumidores de PBC que no han consultado a servicios de rehabilitación, pudiendo constituirse como un método de estudio sistemático de poblaciones ocultas en Chile. Un adecuado proceso de selección de los EAPs puede mejorar el acceso a consumidores de sustancias difíciles de contactar.

Trastorno de pánico e hipertiroidismo: curso clínico en dos pacientes / Panic disorder and hyperthyroidism: report of 2 cases

In two females aged 27 and 32 years old, an aggravation of their panic disorder coincided with the appearance of clinical signs of hyperthyroidism. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed with the finding of raised thyroid hormone levels and undetectable TSH levels. These two cases highlight the importance of routine thyroid function assessment in patients with panic disorder, mainly in those with partial response to medications or when symptoms aggravate, despite an adequate treatment

Relevancia del estudio tiroideo en pacientes con trastornos psiquiátricos / Thyroid function assessment in psychiatric patients

Background: Thyroid dysfunction is frequent in psychiatric outpatients and the correction of their endocrine abnormalities seems to improve the response to psychopharmacologic treatment. Aim: To retrospectively explore the frequency of thyroid abnormalities in psychiatric autpatients. Material and methods: Clinical charts and thyroid assesment of 102 psychiatric patients aged 40.8ñ15 years old (28 male) seen between April 1995 and 1996 were reviewed. Endocrine diagnosis was made according to international criteria and psychiatric diagnosis was made by a single psychiatryist following DSM IV criteria. Results: Forty patients (39.2 percent) had thyroid abnormalities. Thirteen (12.7 percent) had a diagnosis of thyroid problems and were in treatment before they came to the psychiatric clinic. Sixteen patients had hypothyroidism (40 percent), seven had subclinical hypothyroidism (17.5 percent), 12 were euthyroid but had goiter or positive thyroid antibodies (30 percent) and 5 individuals had hyperthyroidism (12.5 percent). The most frequent thyroid abnormality was the presence of positive thyroid antibodies in 16 cases (15.7 percent). No specific associaton was found between psychiatric and endocrine diagnoses. Conclusions: The desing of this study prevents to draw conclusions about prevalence of thyroid alterations in psychiatric patients. Nevertheless results support the need for routine thyroid assessment in this specific population