PSY 408 – ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY

(Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019)

(Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019, p. 476)
(Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019, p. 476, 516)
Durand, V. M., Barlow, D. H., & Hofmann, S. G. (2019). Essentials of Abnormal Psychology. Cengage.
UNIT ESSAY EXAM (WRITING ASSIGNMENT) #3

CHAPTER #10: SUBSTANCE-RELATED, ADDICTIVE, AND IMPULSE-CONTROL DISORDERS (PG. 393-

#3) A variety of psychological and medical treatments are available for substance-related disorders. Describe some of
these treatments and possible variables that could contribute to their success and/or failure

Substance-related disorders pose significant challenges to individuals and society alike. As such, a range of
psychological and medical treatments have been developed to address these disorders. Chapter 10 within the text
explores various traditional and modern psychological and medical treatments for substance-related disorders, examines
the potential variables that contribute to treatment outcomes, and highlights the importance of coupling a multi-faceted
approach with individual motivation as the ultimate predictive variable in determining treatment success. Understanding
the effectiveness of these treatments and the variables that can influence their success or failure is crucial for providing
comprehensive care to individuals struggling with substance-related disorders.

As the text notes, medicinal treatments alone may show promise but lack success without being coupled
simultaneously with some form of therapeutic approach (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). Psychological treatments
including inpatient facilities, Twelve Steps programs, and integrating therapeutic modalities such as contingency
management, Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and the community reinforcement approach, work to address
the underlying reasons why individuals engage in substance-related and addictive disorders and arm them with the
necessary tools to abstain from future use (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). Inpatient facilities provide a comfortable
environment to assist individuals through the initial withdrawal stage of abstaining from substances. After the detox period,
individuals can then participate in other therapeutic modalities, such as attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings
(and variations thereof) for continued social support (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). Other effective psychological
methods deemed component treatments, such as contingency management, which is centered around a rewards-based
system; the community reinforcement approach, a treatment method that introduces a non-user to participate in the
relationship therapy with the ultimate goal of recognizing positive influences and avoiding negative associations;
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), a common intervention strategy that directly addresses a user’s lack of
accountability and motivation to change; lastly, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most well-designed and
studied approaches, provided a multi-faceted treatment approach, and most notably, incorporates strategies to maintain
sobriety through relapse prevention techniques (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019).

In addition to the various aforementioned psychological interventions, several medical treatments can aid in the
management and cessation of substance-related disorders. Advancements in understanding the neurobiological effects of
psychoactive drugs have paved the way for modern biological treatments, including the use of agonist substitutions,
antagonist drugs, and aversive treatment options (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). Agonist substitution medications
such as methadone and buprenorphine, and antagonist drugs like naltrexone are commonly prescribed in the treatment of
opioid use disorders. Agonist substitutions contain some of the beneficial properties of their addictive and illegal
counterparts but without the addictive properties that work in reducing the user’s withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Research has also shown reduced heroin usage and engagement in criminal activity when agonist treatments are coupled
with psychological treatments, such as counseling (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). In addition to agonist medications,
another medical treatment includes the most often prescribed opiate-antagonist drug, naltrexone, which works by blocking
or counteracting the effects of illicit drugs (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). Lastly, aversive treatment methods, which
use a conditioning model to counteract the positive associations with substance use, make the ingestion of abused drugs
incredibly unpleasant for the user (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). One of the most popular aversive treatments for
alcohol use disorder is Antabuse (disulfiram) (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). When the user is prescribed Antabuse
and consumes alcohol, the aversive drug immediately causes physical, aversive symptoms, including nausea, vomiting,
and respiration (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019).

Several variables can influence the success or failure of these treatments for substance-related disorders. One of
the most significant challenges in achieving successful treatment outcomes for substance-related disorders is the lack of
personal awareness and motivation to change, further supported by the reported fewer than 25% of significant substance
users that actively seek treatment (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). To address this issue, psychological treatments
such as Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and community-wide approaches play a crucial role in bridging the
gap. These interventions aim to reduce stigmatization and enhance access to treatment by coordinating efforts across
various settings, including doctor's offices, emergency rooms, and campus health clinics (Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann,
2019). Recognizing that certain drug addictions respond better to specific therapeutic modalities is another important
variable in predicting success. For example, one study found that cocaine-dependent users were more receptive to the
contingency management approach than the traditional modalities that comprise the Twelve Steps (Durand, Barlow, &
Hofmann, 2019). And while societal efforts to mitigate these substance-related and addictive disorders from developing
during our formative years, recent preventive measures have shifted their focus from education-based strategies to more
comprehensive approaches that encompass penal reform and community-based interventions (Durand, Barlow, &
Hofmann, 2019). However, the text emphasizes that the most impactful preventive strategy lies in cultural change
(Durand, Barlow, & Hofmann, 2019). From an individual level, some of the most successful treatment outcomes are often
attributed to an individual’s motivation coupled with both biological and psychological treatments (Durand, Barlow, &
Hofmann, 2019).

Psychological and medical treatments offer valuable avenues for addressing substance-related disorders.
Effective treatment requires recognizing both user and substance individuation and a combination of psychological and
medical modalities. Furthermore, understanding the variables that can contribute to treatment success or failure is
essential for healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive and effective care and ensure treatment compliance. By
recognizing the importance of combining psychological and medical interventions and considering the impact of various
factors that affect an individual’s success or failure, we can undoubtedly improve treatment outcomes and further support
individuals on their journey toward recovery from substance-related and addictive disorders.

References:

Durand, V. M., Barlow, D. H., & Hofmann, S. G. (2019). Essentials of Abnormal Psychology. Cengage.