People generally come to psychiatrists complaining of depression, anxiety, obsession, or other disorders. For this reason, both the addiction and any accompanying emotional disorders need to be addressed. However, if the underlying problem that caused this addiction is not identified and dealt with, she may then develop another compulsive problem such as gambling or compulsive overeating. For example, a person who is obsessed with spending time on the Internet, while ignoring her children and her spouse, may eventually learn to stay away from the Internet. In such cases, treating the addiction alone (and ignoring the depression or other underlying psychiatric problem) might temporarily resolve one particular addiction, but the patient will often develop problems in another area. What most psychiatrists do know is that both disorders need to be treated. Did the alcoholic begin abusing alcohol because of an underlying depression? Did years of alcohol abuse instead cause the individual to develop a depressive disorder? Knowing the answer may be hard or impossible. Whether the psychiatric problem came before or after the addiction is not always clear. In fact, studies indicate that many people with addictive behaviors also suffer from underlying psychiatric problems that must be identified and treated. In addition, some of my patients have had problems with both addictive behaviors and psychiatric problems. I have also treated patients who have come to me with a broad range of other psychiatric problems. As a psychiatrist, I have treated many people with serious addictive behaviors ranging from cocaine addiction to kleptomania. Sychiatrists often treat both the causes and the consequences of addictive behaviors. 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. You can find Facts On File on the World Wide Web at 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.Įsther 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. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. RC564.G95 2006 362.29′03-dc22 2004023866 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Includes bibliographical references and index. The encyclopedia of addictions and addictive behaviors / Esther Gwinnell, Christine Adamec. 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gwinnell, Esther. For information contact: Facts On File, Inc. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. and Christine Adamec All rights reserved. The Encyclopedia of Addictions and Addictive Behaviors Copyright © 2006 by Esther Gwinnell, M.D.