Substance-Related Disorders

The grounding supports substance use or abuse as the proximate basis of the disorder category. It also indicates that addictive drugs can alter brain organization and that individual differences, psychiatric symptoms, and coping motives may contribute to vulnerability.

The literature describes addiction-related neuroadaptations in brain reward and incentive-motivation systems, including sensitization to drugs and drug-associated stimuli. It also emphasizes a shift from voluntary drug use toward compulsive drug-seeking, with involvement of prefrontal cortical inhibitory control, striatal mechanisms, extinction circuits, habits, and conditioned cues.

Psychiatric symptoms are described as increasing risk of dependence, and stress or negative mood can augment drug choice. The grounding also notes coping motives as a mediator of risk and highlights drug-associated Pavlovian-conditioned stimuli as contributors to drug seeking and relapse.

The supplied grounding supports psychotherapy-based approaches, including motivational interviewing, as a treatment modality for substance abuse. It also indicates drug therapy as a covered area, but does not provide enough detail to specify particular medication classes.