Substance Abuse in the Mentally and Physically Disabled PDF

Preface

The important interrelationship between substance abuse and psychiatric or general medical illness has become increasingly clear from both clinical and scientific sources. Growing attention to this issue is evidenced by the establishment of subspecialties in addiction psychiatry and addiction medicine. This book provides current clinical, scientific and epidemiological information on the etiology, detection, pathology, and treatment of substance abuse patients who have a comorbid psychiatric or general medical disorder.

Substance Abuse in the Mentally and Physically Disabled is divided into there parts. Part 1 provides an overview. Assessment instruments, laboratory data, and major comorbidity epidemiological studies are discussed, in addition to general information on comorbidity. Part 2 is composed of six chapters on specific psychiatric illnesses (including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and mental disorders of childhood.) It also includes a chapter by Dr. Castelnuovo-Tedesco (now deceased) on psychoanalytically informed treatment of alcoholism. Part 3 comprises four chapters on substance abuse in special subpopulations of general medicine (including cardiovascular disease, HIV-related illnesses, chronic pain, and neurological disorders). In addition, a chapter on substance abuse in the elderly has been provided in light of the ever-increasing age of our population and in recognition of their special problems.

We wish to thank the many excellent chapter authors who contributed to this book. Distinguished scientists were recruited from numerous leading universities in the United States. It is our hope that the information and analysis contained in this text will be helpful to substance abuse clinicians, general medical doctors, medical specialists, clinical researchers, and basic scientists who are interested in this exciting and rapidly expanding field.

In addition, we are very grateful to the many administrative assistants who have helped make this book possible. Our deepest appreciation is also extended to our families, including Suzanne Hubbard, Tara Hubbard and Erin Hubbard, Barbara Martin, and Alec Martin for their inspiration, love, and support.