Addiction can be challenging to overcome because it affects your physical and mental health. If you or a family member feels overwhelmed navigating the labyrinth of addiction treatment and recovery, your best guide is an addiction psychiatrist—a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating occurring mental health conditions related to substance abuse.
What is the role of an addiction psychiatrist?
An addiction psychiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in addiction who diagnoses and treats mental health conditions that are caused by or related to drug addictions. The main role of addiction psychiatry is to support recovering users by identifying core mental health disorders, such as depression or other mood or personality disorders, that may have led to substance abuse in the first place. They also play a vital role during the detoxification stage of addiction treatment. Because a substance use disorder affects the brain’s neurochemistry, the medical expertise of a psychiatrist will be necessary for safe and sustainable recovery.
What is the difference between addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry?
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recognizes addiction medicine as a distinct subspecialty within medicine. In general terms, it encompasses the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of individuals with the disease of substance use addiction.
Addiction psychiatry practices within the field of addiction medicine; however, this specialty is devoted to the treatment of addiction from a medical and psychological perspective. This includes providing comprehensive diagnostic assessments, developing personalized treatment plans, providing psychotherapy, and prescribing medications to treat mental health issues associated with substance addiction. Additionally, they may collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as social workers or support groups, to provide a more holistic approach to substance abuse treatment.
What is one of the first signs of withdrawal?
Depending on the severity of the substance abuse, the first phase of withdrawal typically begins within a few hours or days after the last use of the substance.
These early symptoms may include:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Muscle aches
- Sweating or chills
- Nausea
What is the addiction cycle in psychiatry?
The psychological addiction cycle describes the process every addict experiences, from initial use and abuse to addiction, cessation, and then relapse. Each cycle’s stage involves a complex interplay between brain circuits and behaviors. While variations of the addiction cycle can occur, they all follow a similar pattern.
These eight stages include:
- Frustration
- Fantasizing
- Obsessing
- Begin Substance Use
- Loss of Control
- Consequences
- Discontinue Substance Use
- Relapse
Is addiction a mental disorder?
Yes. According to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revised (DSM-5-TR), addiction is identified as a mental illness under the clinical name substance use disorder (SUD). Addiction is the most severe form of SUD. This disease is considered both a complex brain and mental disorder. Additionally, both mental illness and SUD can contribute to each other, perpetuating a vicious cycle of substance abuse. For example, a person who suffers from bipolar disorder may abuse alcohol or drugs to cope with the recurring symptoms of this mental disorder.
How long does a withdrawal take?
Withdrawals can last anywhere from days to weeks. In cases of severe addiction, some symptoms may linger for months. The duration of withdrawal can differ from person to person. The factors that influence the timeline for withdrawal may include:
- The amount and frequency of the drug you took
- The manner in which you took it (drinking, snorting, injection, etc.)
- Whether you combine it with other drugs
- How long have you abused the drug?
- Your genetic profile, general health, metabolism, and weight
What is the most serious form of withdrawal?
Delirium tremens (DTs) is the most severe form of withdrawal, particularly with alcohol. This serious condition occurs when a person with an alcohol addiction suddenly stops drinking “cold turkey.”
Long-term excessive alcohol use creates a tug-of-war effect, with your central nervous system (CNS) on one side of the rope and alcohol on the other. Your CNS controls your body’s involuntary functions, like breathing, body temperature, and heart rate. Alcohol is a depressant, so it slows down this activity. As a result, your CNS must compete with the effects of alcohol to operate at a functional level. Over time, your CNS adjusts to a “new normal.” If you suddenly stop drinking, it’s like the alcohol side suddenly lets go of the rope. Although your CNS no longer has to fight against alcohol, it can’t adjust to healthy levels that quickly. The CNS spirals into a dysregulated and hyperactive state, which wreaks havoc on your automatic body processes.
This causes DTs, and its symptoms include:
- Tremors or shakes
- Confusion
- Agitation or anxiety
- Hallucinations and paranoia
- Sensory disruptions and disorientation
- Bouts of heavy sweating or chills
- Seizures
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased heart rate
Drug and Alcohol Detox with Fifth Avenue Psychiatry
At Fifth Avenue Psychiatry, we provide evidence-based therapy for addiction treatment in a private and confidential space without disrupting our clients’ professional lives. Our medication detox services are led by top doctors in the field of psychiatry.
Call us today, and we will design a personalized program just for you.
