Psychopathology: Substance Related and Impulse Control Disorders

Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject Psychology - Clinical Psychology, Psychopathology, Prevention, ( Atlantic International University ), language: English, abstract: The drugs mentioned in this paper each have their own specific effects on the user but they are similar in the manner in which they are used and the treatment used when working with the abuser. A substance is a chemical compound that alters behaviour or mood when ingested. This group includes alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, heroin and cocaine along with chocolate and soft drinks. The vast majority of users of the safe drugs are not perceived as addicts, they can be equally as addictive and harmful to ones health. There is a clear distinction between a user and an abuser of drugs. Substance use suggests that the individual ingests the drug in moderate amounts that have no significant effect on their social, educational or occupational functionality. The drug has the ability, based on the quantity ingested to create impaired judgement, mood changes and lowered motor ability; this result is referred to as intoxication. Substance abuse as an extension of use is really defined on how the use of the drug affects the individuals relationships, his work or education and whether it causes him to place himself or others in physically dangerous situations (Barlow & Durand: 2005). Drug dependence is often described as addiction. There is however some disagreement in how we best define substance dependence (Woody & Cacciola: 1997). One definition would explain how the individual requires systematically greater quantities of the drug to experience the same level of intoxication (tolerance), and will behave negatively if the drug is not ingested (withdrawal) (Franklin & Frances: 1999). An alternate view on substance dependence pertains to the behaviour that focuses on finding the required drug as a dependence indicator. A different view of substance dependence focuses on the drug seeking behav