Is alcohol dependence best viewed as a chronic relapsing disorder?
نویسندگان
چکیده
This 'For Debate' paper starts by recognizing the growing trend towards considering alcohol dependence as a chronic relapsing disorder. We argue that the adoption of this model results from focusing on those in treatment for alcohol dependence rather than considering the larger number of people in the general population who meet criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives. The majority of the general population who ever experience alcohol dependence do not behave as though they have a chronic relapsing disorder: they do not seek treatment, resolve their dependence themselves and do not relapse repeatedly. We suggest that caution is therefore needed in using the chronic relapsing disorder label. Our primary concerns are that this formulation privileges biological aspects of dependence to the detriment of psychological and social contributions, it inhibits much-needed developments in understanding alcohol dependence and leads to inefficient distributions of public health and clinical care resources for alcohol dependence. We invite debate on this issue.
منابع مشابه
Does definition matter? Is a concept of chronic, relapsing disorders a source of dominant policy and treatment paradigm or its reflection?
For debate Is alcohol dependence best viewed as a chronic relapsing disorder? Cunningham, John A. McCambridge, Jim Pages: 6 MISLEADING CONCLUSIONS FROM CLINICAL RESEARCH ANDRÉASSON, SVEN Pages: 13 DOES DEFINITION MATTER? IS A CONCEPT OF CHRONIC, RELAPSING DISORDERS A SOURCE OF DOMINANT POLICY AND TREATMENT PARADIGM OR ITS REFLECTION? MOSKALEWICZ, JACEK Pages: 14 THE ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE CONCEPT I...
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