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Addiction may involve the use of substances such as alcohol , inhalants , opioids, cocaine , nicotine , and others, or behaviors such as gambling. There is scientific evidence that the addictive behaviors share key neurobiological features: They intensely involve brain pathways of reward and reinforcement, affecting motivation , which involve the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Neuroscience for Addiction Medicine: From Prevention to Rehabilitation - Methods and Interventions is the latest volume from Progress in Brain Research. Neuroscience for Addiction Medicine: From Prevention to Rehabilitation - Methods and Interventions. Edited by Hamed Ekhtiari, Martin P. Paulus. Volume
And, in keeping with other highly motivated states, they lead to the pruning of synapses in the prefrontal cortex, home of the brain's highest functions, so that attention is highly focused on cues related to the target substance or activity. It is important to know that the brain changes are reversible after the substance use or behavior is discontinued. Both substance use disorders and gambling behaviors have an increased likelihood of being accompanied by mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety or other pre-existing problems.
Substance use and gambling disorders not only engage the same brain mechanisms, they respond to many of the same approaches to treatment. Complex conditions that affect reward, reinforcement, motivation, and memory systems of the brain, substance use and gambling disorders are characterized by impaired control over usage; social impairment, involving disruption of everyday activities and relationships; and may involve craving.
Continuing use is typically harmful to relationships and work or school obligations. Another distinguishing feature is that individuals may continue the activity despite physical or psychological harm incurred or exacerbated by use. And typically, tolerance to the substance increases, as the body adapts to its presence.
Although all addictions have the capacity to induce a sense of hopelessness and feelings of failure, as well as shame and guilt , research documents that recovery is the rule rather than the exception, and that there are many routes to recovery. Individuals can achieve improved physical, psychological, and social functioning on their own—so-called natural recovery.
Others prefer the support of community or peer-based networks. Still others opt for clinical-based recovery through the services of credentialed professionals.
Dr Ekhtiari started to work in the field of transcranial brain stimulation with an awarded short-term fellowship at Harvard university in Close Figure Viewer. Peer group. This established international series examines major areas of basic and clinical research within neuroscience, as well as popular emerging subfields such as addiction. His current research, supported by NIAAA and internal awards from Mass General, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard University is seeking to better understand affective and psychophysiological factors that heighten addiction relapse risk.
The road to recovery is seldom straight: Relapse, or recurrence of substance use, is common—but definitely not the end of the road. For those who achieve remission of the disorder for five years, scientists report, the likelihood of relapse is no greater than that among the general population. Neuroscientists report that synaptic density is gradually restored.
There are plenty of myths and misconceptions about addiction, but in reality, the processes that give rise to addictive behavior resist a simplistic explanation. Alcoholism , Smoking , Dopamine. Recurrent use of a substance or engagement with an activity leading to impairment or distress, is the sine qua non of an addictive disorder.
The diagnosis is based on the presence of at least two of a number of features:. Alcoholism , Smoking , Compulsive Behaviors. Because addiction is a multi-faceted condition, arising from the confluence of many elements—including, of course, exposure to an addictive agent—it is more productive, and more accurate, to think of risk factors for the development of substance abuse disorders, rather than causes. And just as there are risk factors, so are there factors that protect individuals against addiction.
Research makes it clear: There is no way to predict who will develop compulsive substance use or gambling behavior. Genetics , Sensation-Seeking , Gender. Substance use is a treatable condition and complete remission is entirely possible. Recovery, however, is often a long-term process that may involve multiple efforts.
Relapse is now regarded as part of the process, and effective treatment regimens address prevention and management of recurrent use. Since success tends not to occur all at once, any improvements are considered important signs of progress. Increasingly, programs are available to help those who recognize they have a substance-use problem but are not ready for complete abstinence.
Treatment can include any of a number of components, and they are often deployed in combination. Moreover, one feature of a good treatment program is regular monitoring of individual progress and it is likely that the components of treatment will change over the course of recovery. No one way is right for everyone, and there is evidence that the commitment to change is more important than the type of treatment program.
Whatever the treatment under consideration, say independent researchers, there are number of features to look for to identify an effective program. The medical world currently views substance use disorders according to the class of drug that is used. As a result, it defines 10 separate substance use disorders. All of the disorders share the defining features of addiction—they directly and intensely involve reward and reinforcement systems of the brain, stimulating compulsive use that typically leads to the neglect of normal activities and negative consequences.
With some variation, they also share common symptoms, although withdrawal symptoms differ significantly among them and do not occur for some classes of drug hallucinogens and inhalants. Smoking , Alcoholism , Compulsive Behaviors. Addiction is not limited to biochemical substances such as cocaine, alcohol, inhalants, or nicotine. It can involve behaviors that provide opportunities for immediate reward.
In June , the World Health Organization included Gaming Disorder, involving digital gaming or video gaming to a degree that it takes priority over other interests and daily activities despite negative consequences, in its newest edition of the International Classification of Diseases.
The inclusion of Gaming Disorder reflects a consensus of experts from different disciplines and geographical regions around the world. They point out that only a tiny proportion of those who engage in digital or video gaming activities—notably those who have impaired control over the activity and spend excessive amounts of time at it—are at risk for the diagnosis.
In the United States, excessive behavior patterns—involving smartphone use, Internet gambling, gaming, pornography , even eating and shopping—are under study as a behavioral addiction.
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