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Neuroscience in social work practice and education
- Author:
- JOHNSON Harriette C.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 1(3), 2001, pp.81-102.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In the past two decade, advances in neuroscience research have revolutionised the scientific community's understanding of brain/behaviour connections. Social work is now taking note of this trend. Specialists in substance abuse, addiction, and co-occurring diagnoses are beginning to relinquish long-held beliefs in mind-body dualism in favour of a truly integrated biopsychosocial understanding. This article identifies challenges related to social work and argues that neurobiological knowledge is essential for a biopsychosocial understanding of substance abuse and addiction, other mental disorders, co-occurring conditions, and human behaviour. It gives examples of drawing on neurobiological knowledge for practice applications. These include educating users, families, and providers about neurobiological aspects of substance abuse (psychodeucation); using neuroscience research on mental illness and addiction to develop integrated approaches for dually diagnosed persons; and considering a range of medication options to alleviate cravings and reduce relapse.
What neurobiology has to say about why people abuse alcohol and other drugs
- Author:
- LITTRELL Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 1(3), 2001, pp.23-40.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Four major hypotheses have formulated to address the issue of why some people develop compulsive use of particular drugs. These hypotheses include: (1) drugs that are abuse sensitive the motivational systems of the brain such that the behavioural routines for acquisition of the drug become compulsive, (2) drugs that are abused stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, (3) people who abuse drugs are naturally in an aversive state that their drug use enables them to escape, and (4) drugs of abuse are associated with aversive withdrawal phenomena which can be elicited by conditioned stimuli, therefore people continue to take drugs to avert conditioned withdrawal states. This paper examines each of these hypotheses in light of research findings from neurobiology.
Nicotine, alcohol and drug dependence and psychiatric comorbidity: results of a national household survey
- Authors:
- FARRELL Michael, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 179, November 2001, pp.432-437.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study aims to report on consumption patterns of and dependence on nicotine, alcohol and non-prescribed drugs and to report on the levels of psychiatric morbidity in these groups. A national household study of psychiatric morbidity was conducted in England and Wales. This research compares the levels of psychiatric morbidity in the non-dependent and the nicotine-, alcohol- and drug-dependent cases. Results found twelve per cent of the non-dependent population were assessed as having any psychiatric disorder compared with 22% of the nicotine-dependent, 30% of the alcohol-dependent and 45% of the drug-dependent population. Concludes that there is a clear relationship between dependence on nicotine, alcohol and drugs and other psychiatric morbidity.
The clinical advantage of the death instinct
- Author:
- WASKA Robert
- Journal article citation:
- Psychoanalytic Social Work, 8(2), 2001, pp.23-40.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The death instinct is dirived from Kleinian theory and has been subject to great debate. This paper explores the advantages of the concept from both a clinical and theoretical perspective. Due to their self-destructive ways, certain patients seem to create difficult and destructive transference-countertransference patterns. Case material is used to illustrate manifestations of the death instinct.
Don't look now
- Author:
- BURROWS Gideon
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 8.11.01, 2001, pp.32-33.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The Mental Health Foundation estimates there are up to 20,000 regular street drinkers in towns across the UK. For many of the street drinkers inadequate housing, poverty, and poor mental health are related to the root causes of their drinking. However, because many of them do not fall under categories such as homeless, they are often ignored by service providers. Investigates why this is the case.
Retrospective reasons for the initiation of substance use: gender and ethnic effects
- Authors:
- CORCORAN Myra, CORCORAN Jacqueline
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 10(1), 2001, pp.69-83.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Evidence for co-morbidity in psychiatric disorders and chemical dependency suggests that people with addiction problems use drugs and alcohol to cope with painful affective states and symptoms. At the same time, sustained chemical use may also lead to further damage and mimic symptoms of disorders. This American study was designed to build knowledge about the reasons in-patient and out-patient substance abusers in treatment initially use, and to test if there were differences between gender and ethnic (White non-Hispanic and African -American) groups. Findings indicated that people not only started using drugs and alcohol to enhance affective states, they also were likely to use chemicals as a way to cope with painful, affective symptoms. Gender seemed to play a salient role than ethnicity in that females of either ethnicity were more likely than males to endorse items relating to the management of negative affective states, for enhancement of skills and problem-solving abilities, and for perceived lack of alternatives. Implications study are provided.
Mental illness and substance abuse
- Authors:
- LANCELOT Andrew, SIMS John
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 27.9.01, 2001, pp.36-37.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Explains how a flexible, family-oriented care plan helped a mentally distressed client with alcohol problems where previous interventions had failed.
Barriers to help seeking for mental disorder in a rural impoverished population
- Authors:
- FOX Jeanne C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 37(5), October 2001, pp.421-436.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Examines barriers to seeking mental health care reported by individuals in a rural impoverished population in the USA, by screening 646 randomly selected adults for depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse. Respondents who screened positive were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) no intervention, (2) and educational intervention alone, or (3) the educational intervention in the presence of a significant other. Those who screened positive for disorders cited barriers to care at significantly higher rates than respondents who screened negative. Respondents who received the educational intervention endorsed several barriers at significantly lower rates in the follow-up telephone call (subsequent to the intervention) than in the original interview (prior to the intervention).
Double jeopardy
- Author:
- VALIOS Natalie
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 28.6.01, 2001, pp.20-21.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Services tend to be tailored either to people with mental health problems or to those with drug or alcohol misuse problems, not to both. Looks at what happens when a person presents needs in both categories.
Alcohol and mental health
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Acquire Alcohol Concern's Quarterly Information and Research Bulletin, 29, Summer 2001, pp.i-viii.
- Publisher:
- Alcohol Concern
This article summarises research on the nature and scale of the problem of co-existent mental health and alcohol problems from the alcohol perspective.