Journal of Dual Diagnosis: Highlights From 2022

The past year was a very successful one for the Journal. It received its highest impact factor to date (2.324). In addition, total citations were at their highest level. The CiteScore (Scopus) Best Quartile (the journal’s highest CiteScore ranking in a Scopus subject category) was Q2. Average number of days from submission to first decision was 40, and average number of days from acceptance to online publication was 33.

The publications in the Journal continue to reflect the diversity of the field. The Journal received submissions from across the globe. Reflecting the growing interest in the relationship between trauma and substance use, the Journal published many papers on trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2022. Hoyt et al. (2022) observed that direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C infection were associated with a reduction in alcohol use in patients with PTSD and alcohol use disorder. Goodrum et al. (2022) examined relationships between interpersonal violence in women with PTSD and various substance use disorders. The authors found particularly strong relationships between elevated PTSD symptoms and opioid and cocaine use. Flynn et al. (2022) reported that PTSD avoidance symptoms were associated with alcohol craving in veterans. Tasmim et al. (2022) attempted to determine why opioid use disorder develops in some people with PTSD when exposed to opioids and not in others. They observed that childhood trauma and neglect increased the risk of experiencing opioid use disorder. Blakey et al. (2022) examined predictors of PTSD and alcohol or drug use disorder. The authors found that panic attacks, as well as younger age and male sex, all were risk factors for PTSD with a co-occurring drug or alcohol use disorder. Peltier et al. (2022) also examined predictors of PTSD. The authors observed that substance use disorders predict the development of PTSD. This finding was particularly strong in women. Reyes et al. (2022) observed in Black emerging adults that PTSD symptoms were positively associated with drug and alcohol misuse. Furthermore, the relationship was moderated by perceived levels of social support.

The potential role of inflammation in substance use disorders and other psychiatric illnesses is an emerging area of research. Two papers in the Journal addressed this topic. Interestingly, Romeo et al. (2022) reported that cessation of cannabis use in patients with schizophrenia was associated with an increase in inflammatory biomarkers. Dirani et al. (2022) examined eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR) in people with alcohol use disorder with and without bipolar disorder. The patients with bipolar disorder had higher ELR values, suggesting greater inflammation in these patients with dual diagnosis.

The use of technology in dual diagnosis is an active area of investigation and development. Whiteley et al. (2022) reviewed the literature on digital interventions for cannabis use. They concluded that there is ample evidence of the effectiveness of digital interventions in people who use cannabis; however, their use in the dual diagnosis population is much less extensive. Access to care is critical to effective dual diagnosis treatment. Ford et al. (2022) reported on an implantation strategy that decreased medication wait times in patients with dual diagnosis. Hammond et al. (2022) examined the feasibility of mobilizing support for patients with dual diagnosis from drug-free social network members. The findings suggest that patients typically had drug-free people in their support system and that they were willing to include them in recovery plans.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).