The Encyclopedia Of Addictions And Addictive Behaviors

369 Pages·2006·2.51 MB·English

by  Esther

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
ADDICTIONS AND
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
ADDICTIONS AND
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
Esther Gwinnell, M.D.
Christine Adamec
The Encyclopedia of Addictions and Addictive Behaviors
Copyright © 2006 by Esther Gwinnell, M.D. and Christine Adamec
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gwinnell, Esther.
The encyclopedia of addictions and addictive behaviors / Esther Gwinnell, Christine Adamec.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8160-5707-9 (hc : alk. paper)
1. Substance abuse—Encyclopedias. 2. Drug abuse—Encyclopedias. 3. Compulsive behavior—
Encyclopedias.
[DNLM: 1. Behavior, Addictive—Encyclopedias—English. 2. Substance-Related Disorders—
Encyclopedias—English. WM 176 G994e 2006] I. Adamec, Christine A., 1949– II. Title.
RC564.G95 2006
362.29′03—dc22 2004023866
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Text and cover design by Cathy Rincon
Graphs by Sholto Ainslie
Printed in the United States of America
VB Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Esther Gwinnell would like to dedicate this book to
her patients and to her students, who have always taught
as much as they learned—and more.
h
Christine Adamec would like to dedicate this book
to her husband, John Adamec,
for his continued patience and support throughout this project
as well as for his assistance with the creation
of some of the more graphically challenging charts.

CONTENTS
Foreword ix
Introduction xi
Entries A–Z 1
Appendixes 263
Bibliography 307
Index 321

FOREWORD
Psychiatrists often treat both the causes and the People generally come to psychiatrists complain-
consequences of addictive behaviors. As a psy- ing of depression, anxiety, obsession, or other dis-
chiatrist, I have treated many people with serious orders. What they may not realize, however, is that
addictive behaviors ranging from cocaine addiction these often previously undiagnosed illnesses may
to kleptomania. I have also treated patients who be the underpinnings for addictive behaviors that
have come to me with a broad range of other psy- are causing havoc in their lives. In many cases,
chiatric problems. In addition, some of my patients they do not recognize or acknowledge that they
have had problems with both addictive behaviors have these problems. It can actually be liberating
and psychiatric problems. In fact, studies indicate for these patients to discover that there were rea-
that many people with addictive behaviors also suf- sons for such behaviors and there are also ways to
fer from underlying psychiatric problems that must overcome them.
be identified and treated. Of course, it is not easy for psychiatrists, other
Whether the psychiatric problem came before or physicians, or anyone else to determine readily the
after the addiction is not always clear. Did the alco- cause of addictive behaviors in general or of one
holic begin abusing alcohol because of an underly- person’s addiction in particular. People are com-
ing depression? Did years of alcohol abuse instead plex. Emotions, experience, genetic factors, educa-
cause the individual to develop a depressive disor- tional levels, intelligence levels—and a myriad of
der? Knowing the answer may be hard or impossi- other factors—affect how people view situations
ble. What most psychiatrists do know is that both and react to them. Thus, there are no overnight
disorders need to be treated. cures for addictions. It may take months or even
In such cases, treating the addiction alone (and years to recover from addictive behaviors and/or
ignoring the depression or other underlying psychi- psychiatric illness.
atric problem) might temporarily resolve one par- It is also true that some people can recover from
ticular addiction, but the patient will often develop some addictions without therapy; for example,
problems in another area. For example, a person most people can quit smoking without seeing a
who is obsessed with spending time on the Internet, mental health professional. Nicotine replacement
while ignoring her children and her spouse, may therapy is available over-the-counter, and many
eventually learn to stay away from the Internet. primary care physicians prescribe bupropion
However, if the underlying problem that caused this (Zyban or Wellbutrin).
addiction is not identified and dealt with, she may With other addictive behaviors, such as alco-
then develop another compulsive problem such as holism or drug addiction, more aggressive help is
gambling or compulsive overeating. For this reason, often needed. Groups such as Alcoholics Anony-
both the addiction and any accompanying emo- mous or Narcotics Anonymous have been of enor-
tional disorders need to be addressed. mous benefit for many people with these addictions.
ix