Effects of repeated-dose isradipine on the abuse liability of cocaine.

Despite preclinical studies suggesting that isradipine may antagonize the abuse liability of cocaine, pretreatment with sustained-release isradipine did not reduce euphoric mood in cocaine-using volunteers. This double-blind, within-subject, crossover laboratory study determined whether maximal dose-loading with isradipine could antagonize effects of cocaine in 12 cocaine-dependent research volunteers administered intravenous cocaine doses (0, 0.325, and 0.65 mg/kg) on different days after 5 days of treatment with isradipine or placebo. Isradipine dose was 30 mg sustained release nightly plus 15 mg immediate release 2 hr before cocaine infusion. Cocaine produced dose-related increases in cocaine's subjective effects and a behavioral measure of reinforcement. Isradipine enhanced, rather than antagonized, subjective effects, indicating that isradipine does not antagonize cocaine's abuse liability in dependent research volunteers.

Increasing physician impact on the prevention of domestic violence.

Physicians in their professional organizations have recognized the tremendous toll of domestic violence on the safety and health of their patients. Effective integration of screening and referral into routine practice has encountered many significant barriers, primarily the syndrome of compassion fatigue. This article describes how physicians can enhance the safety of families. Universal education offers more opportunities for physicians to communicate with survivors and perpetrators of violence. Specific documentation by physicians will enhance patient care and public health surveillance efforts. Safety planning skills offer immediate benefits to patients facing acute dangers. The participation of physicians (individually and collectively) on adult intentional fatality review boards will make available more specific data and tools for the prevention of domestic violence.

A Retrospective Study of Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy in a University-Based Psychiatric Practice.

We reviewed the log book of our university-based electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) service for the years 1981 to 1987. We identified 10 patients treated with monthly maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT-M). These 10 patients received 3% of the ECT treatments given in this 7 year period. The review of their charts suggests that ECT-M is generally reserved for patients who are older (i.e., over 60 years of age), suffering from delusional depression and/or depressive pseudodementia, and have a history of poor response or tolerance to medications but good response to ECT. The patients had fewer hospitalizations in the 18 months after initiating ECT-M than during the 18 months preceding ECT-M (mean of 3.1 vs. 0.3, respectively, p < 0.001). However, this apparent efficacy of ECT-M may be confounded by the concurrent use of medication. A review of the literature reveals only descriptive studies on ECT-M and shows that our data are congruent with these published studies. The relative value of maintenance ECT and its specificity remain unknown. Its apparent impact on hospitalization rates and safety warrant controlled trials.