Author
Shane Darke
Other affiliations: University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Wollongong
Bio: Shane Darke is an academic researcher from National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre. The author has contributed to research in topics: Poison control & Heroin. The author has an hindex of 72, co-authored 323 publications receiving 18940 citations. Previous affiliations of Shane Darke include University of Sydney & University of New South Wales.
Topics: Poison control, Heroin, Population, Methadone maintenance, Drug overdose
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: The SDS satisfies a number of criteria which indicate its suitability as a measure of dependence, and shows criterion validity in that drug users who have sought treatment at specialist and non-specialist agencies for drug problems have higher SDS scores than non-treatment samples.
Abstract: The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) was devised to provide a short, easily administered scale which can be used to measure the degree of dependence experienced by users of different types of drugs. The SDS contains five items, all of which are explicitly concerned with psychological components of dependence. These items are specifically concerned with impaired control over drug taking and with preoccupation and anxieties about drug use. The SDS was given to five samples of drug users in London and Sydney. The samples comprised users of heroin and users of cocaine in London, and users of amphetamines and methadone maintenance patients in Sydney. The SDS satisfies a number of criteria which indicate its suitability as a measure of dependence. All SDS items load significantly with a single factor, and the total SDS score was extremely highly correlated with the single factor score. The SDS score is related to behavioural patterns of drug taking that are, in themselves, indicators of dependence, such as dose, frequency of use, duration of use, daily use and degree of contact with other drug users; it also shows criterion validity in that drug users who have sought treatment at specialist and non-specialist agencies for drug problems have higher SDS scores than non-treatment samples. The psychometric properties of the scale were good in all five samples, despite being applied to primary users of different classes of drug, using different recruitment procedures in different cities in different countries.
1,170 citations
TL;DR: The literature shows respectable reliability and validity of self-reported behaviours when compared to biomarkers, criminal records and collateral interviews, and concludes that the self-reports of drug users are sufficiently reliable and valid to provide descriptions of drug use, drug-related problems and the natural history ofdrug use.
1,111 citations
TL;DR: The current public image of methamphetamine does not portray adequately the extensive, and in many cases insidious, harms caused.
Abstract: Issues. The major physical and psychological health effects of methamphetamine use, and the factors associated with such harms. Approach. Comprehensive review. Key Findings. Physical harms reviewed...
589 citations
TL;DR: Psychometric properties of the Index are excellent, suggesting that the OTI is a relatively quick, efficient means of obtaining reliable and valid data on opiate users undergoing treatment over a range of relevant outcome domains.
Abstract: This article presents a new instrument with which to assess the effects of opiate treatment. The Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) is multi-dimensional in structure, with scales measuring six independently measured outcome domains: drug use; HIV risk-taking behaviour; social functioning; criminality; health; and psychological adjustment. Psychometric properties of the Index are excellent, suggesting that the OTI is a relatively quick, efficient means of obtaining reliable and valid data on opiate users undergoing treatment over a range of relevant outcome domains.
462 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that drug driving is a significant problem, both in terms of a general public health issue and as a specific concern for drug users.
Abstract: The existing literature on the prevalence of drug driving, the effects of drugs on driving performance, risk factors and risk perceptions associated with drug driving was reviewed. The 12-month pre...
425 citations
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TL;DR: The Global Burden of Disease 2015 Study provides a comprehensive assessment of all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1980 to 2015, finding several countries in sub-Saharan Africa had very large gains in life expectancy, rebounding from an era of exceedingly high loss of life due to HIV/AIDS.
4,804 citations
TL;DR: Attentional control theory is an approach to anxiety and cognition representing a major development of Eysenck and Calvo's (1992) processing efficiency theory and may not impair performance effectiveness when it leads to the use of compensatory strategies (e.g., enhanced effort; increased use of processing resources).
Abstract: Attentional control theory is an approach to anxiety and cognition representing a major development of Eysenck and Calvo's (1992) processing efficiency theory. It is assumed that anxiety impairs efficient functioning of the goal-directed attentional system and increases the extent to which processing is influenced by the stimulus-driven attentional system. In addition to decreasing attentional control, anxiety increases attention to threat-related stimuli. Adverse effects of anxiety on processing efficiency depend on two central executive functions involving attentional control: inhibition and shifting. However, anxiety may not impair performance effectiveness (quality of performance) when it leads to the use of compensatory strategies (e.g., enhanced effort; increased use of processing resources). Directions for future research are discussed.
3,799 citations
TL;DR: The optimal management of patients with acute and chronic HCV infections in 2018 and onwards is described, as well as developments in diagnostic procedures and improvements in therapy and prevention.
2,491 citations
TL;DR: Theories of anxiety and performance need to address at least two major issues: (1) the complexity and apparent inconsistency of the findings; and (2) the conceptual definition of task difficulty as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Anxiety often impairs performance of “difficult” tasks (especially under test conditions), but there are numerous exceptions. Theories of anxiety and performance need to address at least two major issues: (1) the complexity and apparent inconsistency of the findings; and (2) the conceptual definition of task difficulty. Some theorists (e.g. Humphreys & Revelle, 1984; Sarason, 1988) argue that anxiety causes worry, and worry always impairs performance on tasks with high attentional or short-term memory demands. According to the processing efficiency theory, worry has two main effects: (1) a reduction in the storage and processing capacity of the working memory system available for a concurrent task; and (2) an increment in on-task effort and activities designed to improve performance. There is a crucial distinction within the theory between performance effectiveness (= quality of performance) and processing efficiency (= performance effectiveness divided by effort). Anxiety characteristically impa...
2,033 citations
TL;DR: A meta-analysis of studies that have attempted to longitudinally predict a specific STB-related outcome suggests the need for a shift in focus from risk factors to machine learning-based risk algorithms.
Abstract: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are major public health problems that have not declined appreciably in several decades. One of the first steps to improving the prevention and treatment of STBs is to establish risk factors (i.e., longitudinal predictors). To provide a summary of current knowledge about risk factors, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies that have attempted to longitudinally predict a specific STB-related outcome. This included 365 studies (3,428 total risk factor effect sizes) from the past 50 years. The present random-effects meta-analysis produced several unexpected findings: across odds ratio, hazard ratio, and diagnostic accuracy analyses, prediction was only slightly better than chance for all outcomes; no broad category or subcategory accurately predicted far above chance levels; predictive ability has not improved across 50 years of research; studies rarely examined the combined effect of multiple risk factors; risk factors have been homogenous over time, with 5 broad categories accounting for nearly 80% of all risk factor tests; and the average study was nearly 10 years long, but longer studies did not produce better prediction. The homogeneity of existing research means that the present meta-analysis could only speak to STB risk factor associations within very narrow methodological limits-limits that have not allowed for tests that approximate most STB theories. The present meta-analysis accordingly highlights several fundamental changes needed in future studies. In particular, these findings suggest the need for a shift in focus from risk factors to machine learning-based risk algorithms. (PsycINFO Database Record
2,013 citations