Recent Developments in Alcoholism: Memory Deficits Sociology of Treatment Ion Channels Early Problem Drinking - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1489916865 ISBN 13: 9781489916860

Publisher: Springer, 2013

Synopsis

From the President of the Research Society on Alcoholism In recent years, increasingly convincing evidence in support of a biobehavioral conceptual model of the etiology of alcoholism has emerged. In this model, the disorder is perceived as arising from the interaction of geneticlbiological vulnerability and psychosocial risk. Drinking, or alcohol-seeking, is a metric trait. Alcoholism, which is a state of abnormally intense alcohol-seeking be­ havior that, over time, leads to the alcohol dependence syndrome, lies at the extreme, high end of this quantitative measure. Metric traits are influenced by multiple genes; the extent of genetic loading of biological risk for alcoholism would be different in different individuals. Added to this kind of variability is the wide range of options for exposure to the psychosocial risk factors of heavy drinking provided by modern society. Further, environmental prov­ ocation also changes when life events change. It is not surprising, therefore, from the combination of the kinds of genetic and environmental variability described above that there is a wide array of patterns of expression of the disorder alcoholism, referred to by some as "alcoholisms. " In the search for understanding of underlying mechanisms and rational bases for potential therapy, it is important to focus our attention on the final common pathway of this disorder, alcohol-seeking behavior. This series, ever since its beginning in 1983, has been sensitive to the complexities of the interaction between biological and psychosocial risk factors in alcoholism.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Recent Developments in Alcoholism

Volume 18: Research on Alcoholics Anonymous and Spirituality in Addiction Recovery

Edited by Marc Galanter, NYU School of Medicine, and Lee Kaskutas, UC Berkely School of Public Health

It was once taken for granted that peer-assisted groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous had no "real" value in recovery from addiction. More recently, evidence-based medicine is recognizing a spiritual component in healing especially when it comes to addiction. The newest edition of Recent Developments in Alcoholism reflects this change by focusing on the 12-step model of recovery as well as mindfulness meditation and other spiritually oriented activity. More than thirty contributors bring together historical background, research findings, and clinical wisdom to analyze the compatibility of professional treatment and nonprofessional support, day-to-day concepts of relapse prevention, the value of community building in recovery, and much more.

Among the topics covered:

• How and why 12-step groups work.
• The impact of the spiritual on mainstream treatment.
• The impact of AA on other nonprofessional recovery programs.
• AA outcomes for special populations.
• Facilitating involvement in 12-step programs.
• Methods for measuring religiousness and spirituality in alcohol research.

Whether one is referring clients to 12-step programs or seeking to better understand the process, this is a unique resource for clinicians and social workers. Developmental psychologists, too, will find Volume 18 Research on Alcoholics Anonymous and Spirituality in Addiction Recovery a worthy successor to the series.

Review

"The preface to Alcohol Problems in Adolescents and Young Adults states, 'Adolescence is already challenging. The addition of alcohol has only made it more so.' What follows is an excellent review of alcohol abuse and dependence problems in young men and women....The book provides a comprehensive assessment of alcohol problems among adolescents and young adults, and it enhances our fund of information concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately prevention of alcohol problems in this vulnerable population."

Jack H. Mendelson, M.D., New England Journal of Medicine, May 25, 2006

"The mix of theory and research in these chapters underscores the influence of the two organizations responsible for this series. Theory informs the presented research in a way that will please both the person who likes to consider cuases and the person who likes to see results. The writing is clear and straightforward, with little jargon or minutia. Even the neurological section is accessible to the relatively physiologically naive reader."

Joan B. Reed in PsycCRITIQUES, June 21, 2006, Vol. 51 (25), Article 13

From the reviews:

"This volume in the Recent Developments in Alcoholism series is a unique and comprehensive review of 12-step programs/Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and spirituality, how they intersect, and how they aid in the treatment of addiction. All healthcare providers, researchers, and students involved in the treatment of patients with alcoholism and addictions are the intended audience. It will also be useful for anyone interested in spirituality as a model for helping chronic illnesses. This is a valuable reference for anyone in this field ." (Michael Easton, Doody 's Review Service, June, 2009)

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1489916865
• ISBN 13: 9781489916860
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 488
• Editor: Galanter Marc