Assessment Of Addictive Behaviors

This comprehensive clinical resource and text is grounded in cutting-edge knowledge about the biopsychosocial processes involved in addictive behaviors. Presented are research-based, eminently practical strategies for assessing the treatment needs and ongoing clinical outcomes of individuals who have problems with substance use and nonchemical addictions. From leading contributors, the book shows how to weave assessment through the entire process of care, from the initial screening to intervention, relapse prevention, and posttreatment monitoring.

Only a decade ago, addictive behavior was defined as chemical dependence on alcohol or opiates. As each addictive drug was seen as unique, the professional and scientific disciplines investigating them worked in relative isolation. Moreover, while physiological, psychological, behavioral, and social factors were recognized as important in the etiology of addiction, these domains were not integrated into a unified model. Now, a more ``generic'' view of addictions is emerging. As analyzed in ASSESSMENT OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS, similar processes occur across a wide range of behaviors, such as drinking, smoking, eating, and drug use. With this broadened view, research has shifted from the evaluation of treatment interventions to more process-oriented studies of the multiple factors contributing to the maintenance of, and relapse to, addictive behaviors. As research is becoming increasingly integrated across disciplines, addiction now may be defined as an interactive product of learning in a setting involving physiological events as they are interpreted, labeled, and given meaning by the individual.

This important work elucidates why relapse is so common for people recovering from addictive behavior problems--and what can be done to keep treatment on track. It provides an empirically supported framework for helping people with addictive behavior problems develop the skills to maintain their treatment goals, even in high-risk situations, and deal effectively with setbacks that occur. The expert contributors clearly identify the obstacles that arise in treating specific problem behaviors, review the factors that may trigger relapse at different stages of recovery, and present procedures for teaching effective cognitive and behavioral coping strategies.

"The book has two primary goals. The first is to challenge and strengthen the reader's understanding of addiction by exploring how others in the field have come to know it. We hope that this will enable the reader to create a clear and logically consistent perspective on addiction. The second goal is to show the reader how theory and research are important to both the prevention and the treatment of substance abuse. This information should provide the reader with an array of strategies for addressing substance abuse problems and help make him or her an effective practitioner"--

Ambivalence, poor adherence to treatment, serious psychiatric and medical comorbidities -- the difficulties posed by patients of substance use disorders are among the most challenging for practitioners to face. Given that only 10% of patients with these disorders actually receive specialized addiction treatment, it's clear that physicians in all medical and surgical specialties need to become comfortable assessing and treating substance use disorders. The Pocket Guide to Addiction Assessment and Treatment is designed specifically to aid a wide range of clinicians, regardless of their training in addiction, to more confidently assess and treat this patient population. The book's practical, actionable content is divided into three sections -- Fundamentals of Addiction, Substances and Behaviors, and Treatment -- that address topics including: The neurobiology of addiction How to recognize and treat intoxication, withdrawal from, and addiction to substances such as alcohol, anabolic-androgenic steroids, benzodiazepines, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, and tobacco, as well as hallucinogens, inhalants, and caffeine Special issues with psychiatric and medical comorbidities, as well as with specific populations Behavioral addictions, with a special focus on gambling disorder Cognitive-behavioral therapy; 12-step programs; nutrition and exercise; spirituality, mindfulness, and meditation; and other treatment options, with examples of how each can be used with patients facing addictions With an accessible, easily referenced format, the Pocket Guide to Addiction Assessment and Treatment serves as a go-to resource for general psychiatrists, internists, family practitioners, pediatricians, emergency medicine physicians, psychiatric nurses, residents, medical students, and other practitioners involved in the addiction treatment field. And because all of the diagnostic discussions are DSM-5®--based, readers can be confident that they're getting the most relevant and up-to-date guidance on the topic.

A reference manual that examines, defines, and presents behavioral addiction in a compelling discussion to practitioners, students, and general public.