Addictions are complex diseases that require the involvement of health professionals.
Among them, the figure of the psychiatrist stands out, who has theoretical and practical knowledge to offer concrete solutions to people with this type of pathology.
Through their work, it is possible to intervene both in the functioning of the organism at a biomedical level and in the behavior patterns of the person at a psychological level, to leave behind that dependency that damages their health and personal relationships. It is because of that The teams specialized in the treatment of addictions have psychiatrists who are experts in this type of disorders But… how do they work?
What are the main functions of addiction psychiatrists?
This is a summary of the functions performed by psychiatrists trained and specialized in caring for patients with addiction problems.
1. Evaluation of signs and symptoms
Addictions are, literally, health problems, with everything that implies For this reason, one of the main tasks of psychiatrists specialized in the field of addictions is to carry out medical evaluations in which they take note of the signs and symptoms through which this type of pathology manifests itself in the patient’s daily life.
In addition, it is common to request complementary tests to better understand the possible organic causes of the problem suffered by the person; This is a process that the professional is in charge of by contacting the corresponding person through the pre-established channels for this. These tests include analyzes of substances present in the person’s body, neuroimaging tests, etc.
2. Study of contextual factors associated with possible addiction
The person’s life context, made up of elements such as their family environment or their workplace, is a very important factor in understanding what is happening to them. Both the personal relationships in which he usually engages and the spaces to which the patient is exposed can be both a cause and a consequence of his health problem; pAlthough addictions are pathologies, that does not mean that their scope is restricted to what happens inside the person’s body
For this reason, both psychologists and psychiatrists specialized in addictions analyze the aspects of the patient’s daily life that may be acting as triggers for consumption, those bonds that become more and more damaged by the symptoms that are reflected in their behavior, etc. . Everything to have a global vision of your source of discomfort.
3. Make an evaluation of the person’s health status and degree of well-being
Beyond knowing the possible organic causes of the patient’s problem, it is important to evaluate the degree to which what is affecting them has been taking a toll on their health. This will have implications for the priorities to be taken into account when applying a treatment, and will be used to establish the degree of urgency with which the symptoms should be intervened to avoid short-term damage.
This is one of the most important functions of psychiatrists specializing in patients with addictions, since at this point it becomes “official” if the person actually suffers from an addiction, what type of addiction it is, and if they present other pathologies (i.e. It is very common that those who suffer from this type of alterations also present psychological disorders of an anxious or mood type). If you have developed another disorder, an estimate is also made as to whether the cause has to do with addiction
5. Treatment planning
The therapeutic intervention plan is always personalized; That is to say, psychiatrists take into account the clinical “labels” that serve to refer to the disorder that the patient presents, but They also look at the unique characteristics of each person: particularities of your lifestyle, allergies, possible parallel use of psychoactive substances, etc.
6. Execution of treatment
The therapy goes through different phases. In the case of drug addictions, at the beginning there is a detoxification phase in which the person is helped to stop the substance from circulating through their body, giving them support against the withdrawal syndrome. Furthermore, depending on the type of substance you consumed, you are made to follow the necessary guidelines so that the withdrawal of the drug does not endanger your health (in some cases the cessation of consumption cannot be abrupt, given that your nervous system has been accustomed to working with it).
In the last phases of therapy the person is helped to deal with the emotional cognitive phenomena that can trigger a relapse: thoughts that represent a temptation, habits that lead you to expose yourself a lot to those who spend a good part of their time consuming, search for new sources of gratification, anxiety management, etc.
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7. Tracking
When the patient has already gone through the most difficult part and has managed to achieve a good level of autonomy without resorting to what caused the addiction, follow-up sessions are offered. These meetings serve both to resolve problems and to prevent relapses and obtain a global notion of the progress made contributing to self-motivation and the defense of that healthy lifestyle.
Are you looking for addiction treatment?
If you think you have developed an addiction problem, it is important that you go to health professionals as soon as possible. In CITA Clinics We specialize in the treatment of addictions and the pathologies associated with them, and our team has been dedicated to this area of intervention in patients for decades.
Our psychiatrists and psychologists offer coverage for all phases of treatment, and we also have facilities adapted for short, medium and long-term admissions: we have a fully equipped residential module located in a place where nature and nature predominate. calm, near the city of Barcelona.
