title: [Interdisciplinary therapeutic approaches with substance abusers taking into consideration gender differences].
abstract: Scientific advances over the past 20 years have shown that drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that results from the prolonged effects of drugs on the brain. As with many other brain diseases, addiction includes behavioral and social-context aspects that are important parts of the disorder itself. Therefore, the most effective treatment approaches will include biological, behavioral and social-context components. Whereas the basic treatment approach in substance dependence involves the medical field, psychosocial support is the second main area which has to be included in order to gain a successful treatment outcome. In addition, psychotherapy presents a third useful area in the field of the treatment of drug addiction, but only under the consideration that the addict shows a continuing motivation to change. Recognizing addiction as a chronic, relapsing brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use can impinge on society's overall health and social policy strategies and help diminish the health and social costs associated with drug abuse and addiction. Treatment of substance dependence in men differs from treatment of substance dependence in women; drug addiction in females requires special attention when the woman is pregnant.
authors.affiliation: Klinischen Abteilung für Allgemeine Psychiatrie, Universitätsklinik Wien. gabriele.fischer@akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*