The Addiction Casebook

The Addiction Casebook by Drs. Petros Levounis and Abigail Herron is a wonderful addition to the armamentarium of clinicians working with patients suffering from various types of addictive disorders. It is clearly written, with outstanding contributions from many generations of leading specialists in the field. The format of case-based presentations with key points and self-directed questions at the end of each chapter facilitates both an appropriate understanding of treatment options and how best to incorporate the most recent advances in the field into clinical practice. This book is a 'must read' for any practitioner who wants to provide state-of-the-art treatment for addiction and co-occurring mental disorders. Carol A. Bernstein, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Vice Chair for Education and Director of Residency Training, NYU School of Medicine; Past President, American Psychiatric Association Petros and his team have done it again. This is a very easy format to follow and I especially liked the 'key points' and questions at the end of each chapter. I found the Q and A very helpful when I wanted to lead a discussion of the chapter. Steven S. Kipnis, M.D., FACP, FASAM, Medical Director, NYS Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services Practice Guidelines can provide evidence-based findings for treatment. But, in order to practice effectively, clinicians need actual and vivid examples described by experts. This book provides just that, in a readable and cogent way. It's a must. Marc Galanter, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, and Director, Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, NYU School of Medicine This book will be an excellent resource for trainees in psychiatry and in the primary care specialties, as well as for other clinicians who work with individuals with substance-related and addictive disorders. The volume is clearly organized and very easy to read. It covers the full spectrum of substance use disorders including emerging areas of concern such as internet addiction. The clinical recommendations present up-to-date and evidence-based information in a format that is very user friendly. The narrative format makes it easy to follow and easy to understand. The cases and bullet points are relevant and help the clinician understand the thinking processes that support appropriate treatment decisions. In summary, this is an excellent review of the substance use disorders and how to manage these cases. It is an easy read for the novice and for the addiction specialist looking for the latest treatment recommendations in a very accessible format. John A. Renner, Jr., M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine; VA Boston Healthcare System The Addiction Casebook provides both seasoned clinicians and those just beginning their training with well written and accessible case vignettes. Spanning a gamut from alcohol and opioids to cannabis and caffeine, this Casebook offers much timely and useful information for anyone treating a patient with an addiction problem. Jack Drescher, M.D., Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association In The Addiction Casebook, doctors Levounis and Herron have edited a very useful and readable book, using numerous experts in the field of addiction, to provide the reader to a solid basis in substance use disorders. Oriented around a case format, the book provides the fundamental tools for working with patients with a variety of addiction problems from alcohol to the internet. Oscar G. Bukstein, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Director, DePelchin Children's Center; Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine The Addiction Casebook provides a clinically focused, basic introduction to diagnosis and treatment of DSM-5 substance-related and addictive disorders appropriate for clinicians with little experience in this area of medicine and psychiatry. In particular, the chapters on caffeine, hallucinogens, cathinones, and gambling convey clear, important, and useful information not always readily accessible elsewhere. Andrew J. Saxon, M.D., Professor, Dept of Psychiatry & Beh Sci, Director, Addiction Psychiatry Residency Program, Univ of Washington; Director, CESATE, VA Puget Sound Health Care System

The Addiction Casebook consists of 13 clinical cases that exemplify DSM-5 addiction diagnoses commonly encountered in clinical practice. The book complements substance abuse textbooks by providing hands-on experience with real-life situations and updated information relating to DSM-5 diagnoses.

The Addiction Casebook presents 12 patients with DSM-5 addiction diagnoses—plus one experiencing problematic Internet use—and illustrates practical and successful strategies for diagnosing and treating these patients. The book's cases are analogous to those that clinicians commonly encounter in their everyday practice and effectively demonstrate the intersection of addiction with other psychiatric diagnoses. The experience and clinical wisdom of three generations of addiction specialists are distilled into a single volume that includes the most salient ideas and treatment suggestions for clinicians.

This informative, practical volume strikes a colloquial, and sometimes humorous, tone. General psychiatrists and psychiatric residents seeking to gain expertise in and an understanding of addiction will find it a delight to read, as will a diverse audience of family practitioners, internists, pediatricians, medical students, allied professionals, and anyone interested in sharpening her or his clinical skills.

The book is the first to cover the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of substance use disorders and other addictions within the DSM-5 framework. Its many valuable and helpful features include
• An outline of the progression in thinking about psychiatric diagnoses with the move from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5.
• Descriptions of hands-on experience with the current diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders and other addictions that complement substance abuse textbooks and bring the material to life.
• Coverage of such subject areas as alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, hallucinogen, inhalant, opioid, sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, stimulant, tobacco, gambling, and Internet addictions.
• Key points and multiple-answer questions at the end of each chapter that highlight the chapter's most pertinent takeaways and apply and strengthen readers' knowledge of chapter information.
• Extensive use of tables, figures, charts, and other instructive materials to illuminate and clarify addiction concepts.

In their preface, the authors assert their hope that the book "will provide the fundamental tools for working with the substance-using patient in the hospital, the clinic, and the community." The Addiction Casebook exceeds its goal by providing mental health and other medical practitioners with timely, current strategies for addiction diagnosis and treatment in a succinct, engaging, and entertaining volume.