title: Review. Evidence-based treatments of addiction.
abstract: Both pharmacotherapy and behavioural treatment are required to relieve the symptoms of addictive disorders. This paper reviews the evidence for the benefits of pharmacotherapy and discusses mechanisms where possible. Animal models of addiction have led to some medications that are effective in reducing symptoms and improving function but they do not produce a cure. Addiction is a chronic disease that tends to recur when treatment is stopped; thus, long-term treatment is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 3900 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6178, USA. obrien@mail.trc.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Charles P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000819:agonists; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs