Alcoholism diminishes brain activity related to interpretation of negative emotions, in addition to its adverse effects on cognition, results of a brain imaging study suggest.

About half of parents surveyed knew that their teens smoked, or used alcohol or marijuana, but only a handful know when that use had crossed the line into abuse or dependence, reported psychiatrist Laura J. Bierut, M.D., of Washington University here and colleagues at three other centers.

Ever since the idea emerged that objects have the capacity to influence psychological states, the idea that almost any subjectively rewarding activity (e.g., drug use, shopping, working, running, gambling) can become the object of addiction has become increasingly popular.

Binge drinking appears linked to depression, particularly among women, according to a large survey. Among women who typically consumed seven or more standard alcoholic beverages on an occasion, 24.5% met diagnostic criteria for major depression compared with 8.2% among women who usually consumed only one drink.

People with substance-related disorders consume psychoactive substances in an effort to achieve the desired effect upon alertness. Obtaining information from patients regarding their sleep habits, as well as their use of psychoactive substances to manipulate sleep and alertness, is an important part of a complete history.

Nonconventional and integrative treatments include vitamins, minerals, and amino acids; use of medicinal herbs; exercise, mindfulness training and more.

The public health impact of alcohol and substance use disorders is rapidly changing as baby boomers age. The most recent National House hold Survey on Drug Use and Health demonstrated a 1.7-fold increase from 2002 to 2005 in illicit drug use for those aged 55 to 59.

Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) is the family therapy method with the strongest research support for its effectiveness in substance abuse.

In the past decade, there has been a growing paradigmatic shift in eating disorder research, with a movement away from explanations that rely solely on psychosocial factors, to a belief that disturbances in the function of brain neurotransmitter pathways are also highly relevant.