Full Description
For the first time reports on methadone and heroin maintenance treatment with respect to clinical practice, research, methodological aspects, neuroscience and psychotherapy are brought together in this volume. They arise from a conference held in November 2001 in Basel. The Swiss approach of a highly structured outpatient treatment using methadone, heroin, morphine etc. to keep patients in treatment is discussed. Data of follow-up after heroin-assisted treatment is shown. Also a critical discussion of the history of treatment modalities and its scientific evaluation is presented. Further important topics such as brain imaging, opioid withdrawal, risks of treatment, and basic neurochemical research are presented. The issue concludes with the narrative experience of a practicing psychotherapist. This topical and outstanding overview gives psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists, neuroscientists, physicians as well as decision makers in public health, politicians, counselors and social workers an excellent insight into stimulating and scientific research.
Contents
Critical clinical practice of opiate-assisted treatment; follow-up of substance abusers who had left the heroin prescription in Geneva; perspectives of opiate detoxification treatment; opioid maintenance treatment - the development of therapeutic strategies; scientific evaluation of opioid-assisted substitution treatment; dopaminergic dysfunction - a common final pathway of addiction to alcohol, opiates and nicotine?; brain imaging in opiate addiction; opioids and neurological sequelae; experiences of a practicing pyschotherapist.
