Current issues in addiction psychiatry

Dependence or addiction is a life-style disorder (Modus Vivendi). All of things related to life are related to dependence disorder also. Addiction psychiatry is a relatively young field that encompasses the causes, characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of drug or alcohol dependence--in addition to the specific mental disorders that frequently co-occur with substance use. Generally, drug use can cause signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, psychosis, and antisocial behavior, both during intoxication and during withdrawal. At times, these symptoms and signs cluster, last for weeks, and mimic frank psychiatric disorders (i.e., are drug–induced syndromes). These drug–related conditions usually disappear after several days or weeks of abstinence. Prematurely labeling these conditions as major depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia, can lead to misdiagnosis and inattention to a patient’s principal problem—the drug harmful use or dependence. With knowledge of the different courses and prognoses of drug–induced psychiatric disorders, an understanding of the comorbid independent disorders one needs to rule out, an organized approach to diagnosis. Current issues about “addiction”, which is relatively new as a specific field in psychiatry, may be classified and defined from various points of view.
I-The point of disorders
1-Disease: Issues from perspective of specialists and therapists; objective criteria of description, treatment etc..
2-Illness: Issues from perspective of dependent people who are directly facing the issue; subjective feelings of dependents etc.
3-Sickness: Issues from perspective of cultural, moral, social etc. In this perspective, many of factors are determined the disorder.
II- The point of biopsychosocial In this area, there are many different ıssues. For example; medicines, withdrawal management, psychoeducations, researches, social and ethical problems etc.…
III- The point of stages (phenomena of disorder)
1-Intervention; this stage includes many of difficulties. Authorized intervention needs knowledge and experience.
2-Treatment; we need biopsychosocial “treatment programs”
3-Prevention; we need “relapse prevention network programs” also.
IV-Others; medico-legal, forensic, consultation, new drugs use issues etc.…
In this presentation; issues experienced directly and indirectly biologically, psychologically and socially in all such problems will be discussed in the context of daily practice.