Addiction is a complex disorder, it is a brain ailment that is demonstrated by habitual substance use, thing or activity despite harmful consequence. They are substance related and behavioral addictions (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). People with addiction have an intense focus on using or doing certain to the point that it takes over their life. In the United States the term addiction has been replaced by the term substance use disorder (Dunphy, Winland-Brown, Porter and Thomas, 2014). They continue performing those behaviors even though they know it will causes problems. This paper will discuss the presentation, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnoses, treatment modalities and patient education of addiction. …show more content…
Presentation of addiction is characterized by being unable to consistently abstain from the addictive things or activities. The individuals be having impairment in behavioral control, increased craving for drugs or fulfilling experience. Some people experience diminished acknowledgement of significant issues problems with their behaviors, relationships, and dysfunctional emotional response. As a result, those individuals fail to complete major tasks at school, work, or home. They give up their work, social, or leisure activities because of the addiction.
Pathophysiology of addiction is that it involves a long‐term, persistent plasticity in the activity of neural circuits mediating motivational systems that derives from recruitment of brain stress systems such as corticotropin‐releasing factor that drive negative emotional states. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic psychological, biological, spiritual and social