The Craving Brain: The BioBalance Approach to Controlling Addictions - Hardcover

Ruden, Ronald A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060186984 ISBN 13: 9780060186982

Publisher: Harper, 1997

Synopsis

"Gotta have it" is the thought process of an addicted person. A drink, a drag, a hit, a line, a pill, another piece of chocolate. "Gotta have it."

What drives this powerful need known as addiction? The problem isn't with the abused substance or activity, contends Dr. Ruden. The problem lies in the brain. As a result of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors, dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain are altered, and this sets the stage for the craving response. "Gotta have it!"

The Craving Brain explains why some individuals are susceptible to addiction to alcohol, gambling or food, while others remain unaffected. It also shows why 12-step programs work, and why we need Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Describing a new, revolutionary treatment to prevent the craving response, this book will forever alter our thinking and our approach to this devastating -- but treatable -- condition.

About this title

About the Author

Ronald A. Ruden, M.D., Ph.D., is a leader in the field of medicine. Harvard-trained, he is that rare breed of clinician-scientist whose research is conducted with real patients, from his private office.

What drives this powerful need known as addiction? The problem isn't with the abused substance or activity, contends Dr. Ruden. The problem lies in the brain. As a result of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors, dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain are altered, and this sets the stage for the craving response. "Gotta have it!"

The Craving Brain explains why some individuals are susceptible to addiction to alcohol, gambling or food, while others remain unaffected. It also shows why 12-step programs work, and why we need Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Describing a new, revolutionary treatment to prevent the craving response, this book will forever alter our thinking and our approach to this devastating -- but treatable -- condition.

Reviews

Ruden (Byalick is his helping pen) is quick to state his belief that alcoholism and other addictions are diseases, not the consquences of lack of willpower, and should be seen and treated as such. Addiction arises, he says, from an imbalance between the effects of dopamine ("gotta have it") and serotonin ("got it") and is a matter of degree, which accounts for why one person can be unaffected by a single drink while another, after a single drink, immediately and always goes on a binge. The first step in achieving biobalance, as Ruden calls it, is removing stress; the second involves disposing of denial. Those seeking biobalance must work hard at emphasizing what is positive, right, and good in their personalities and actions, and Ruden, although he says this is not a self-help book, offers suggestions for moving along the path to biobalance and appends 60 pages of annotated references to the key scientific literature supporting his arguments. William Beatty

Edition details

• Publisher: Harper
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060186984
• ISBN 13: 9780060186982
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224