Rationale Chronic cocaine use results in long-lasting neurochemical changes that persist beyond the acute withdrawal period. Previous work from our group reported a profound reduction in the acoustic startle response (ASR) in chronic cocaine-dependent subjects in early abstinence compared to healthy controls that may be related to long-lasting neuroadaptations following withdrawal from chronic cocaine use. Objectives This study aims to investigate the persistence and time course of the decrements in the ASR of cocaine-dependent subjects during prolonged abstinence. Methods Seventy-six cocaine-dependent (COC) subjects and 30 controls (CONT) were tested, the former after a period of heavy cocaine dependence. COC subjects were retested sequentially for 1 year of abstinence or until relapse. ASR testing was conducted at 3-dB levels and the eye-blink component of the startle response was quantified with electromyographic recording of the orbicularis oculi muscle. Results While there was no difference in startle magnitude between CONT and COC in early abstinence, by day 40 of abstinence COC subjects exhibited a statistically significant decline (p=0.0057) in ASR magnitude as compared with CONT and this decrement persisted for up to 1 year of abstinence (p=0.0165). In addition, startle latency was slower in COC subjects as compared with CONT at all stages of abstinence. Conclusions These results replicate and expand upon the earlier finding that chronic cocaine use impairs the ASR in a manner that persists beyond the acute withdrawal period. This phenomenon may represent a biological measure of long-term neural changes accompanying cocaine dependence and subsequent withdrawal.
Objective To assess for the prevalence of autophony, a distressing auditory symptom commonly attributed to patulous eustachian tube, in a cohort of individuals with severe malnourishment due to an eating disorder. Method A cross‐sectional survey study was performed. Patients admitted for inpatient medical stabilization of an eating disorder, who were also at low body weight, were asked to complete a survey assessing aural symptoms present in the previous 24 hr, including autophony. Anthropometric data and prealbumin levels were collected. Results Of 101 patients enrolled, 43 (42.6%) reported symptoms of autophony. The presence of autophony was associated with lower serum prealbumin levels and lower body weight as measured by percentage of ideal body weight. Discussion Autophony is a commonly reported, albeit rarely discussed, symptom in individuals with severe eating disorders and correlates with degree of malnutrition.
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