Edward J. Khantzian - Böcker

Addictive behaviors beg for an informed explanation to guide patients, families, students, and clinicians through the maddening and often incomprehensible nature of the addictions. Too often addiction is perceived to be merely a moral weakness or purely a brain disease, ignoring the deep personal pain that can permeate the lives of the addicted. But taking an honest look at the underlying emotional or mental issues can more clearly illuminate not only the causes of the addiction, but also the cure. Doctors Edward J. Khantzian and Mark J. Albanese, leading researchers in the field of addiction, see addictions primarily as a kind of self medication—a self medication that can temporarily soothe anxiety or pain, but that ultimately wreaks havoc on the lives and health of both the addicted and their loved ones. With practical advice, compelling case studies, and nuanced theory drawn from their years in clinical practice, Doctors Khantzian and Albanese look at the core reasons behind many addictions and provide a pathway to hope. Understanding Addiction as Self Medication looks at a range of addictions, including alcohol and substance abuse, and clearly explains how to understand other addictive behaviors through the lens of the Self Medication Hypothesis. This book provides a much-needed guide to both understanding addictions and working towards healing.

Innovative and humane treatment of patients with substance use disorders distinguishes this highly esteemed practitioner and major psychodynamic thinker. From his initial contribution of identifying the self-medicating function of abused substances, to the continued elaboration and refinement of his work focusing on the addict's ego deficits of self-regulation and self-care, Edward Khantzian's ideas have become the standard in the field of addictions treatment. His insights into the dynamics of substance abuse have changed the ways that clinicians understand their addicted patients, significantly raising the likelihood of successful treatment. Shifting the focus from a pleasure-seeking to a pain-relieving approach to their patients' substance use enables clinicians to engage in a more positive, compassionate psychotherapeutic relationship, unhampered by countertransference feelings of contempt and condemnation. Passionate, professional, and unfailingly astute, Dr. Khantzian examines his patients' internal worlds, revealing vulnerabilities while uncovering resiliency and strength. This book, comprehensive in scope, abundant in clinical material, and written with clarity and intelligence, provides a depth of understanding of substance use disorders and an increased hope for recovery. A Jason Aronson Book

Innovative and humane treatment of patients with substance use disorders distinguishes this highly esteemed practitioner and major psychodynamic thinker. From his initial contribution of identifying the self-medicating function of abused substances, to the continued elaboration and refinement of his work focusing on the addict's ego deficits of self-regulation and self-care, Edward Khantzian's ideas have become the standard in the field of addictions treatment. His insights into the dynamics of substance abuse have changed the ways that clinicians understand their addicted patients, significantly raising the likelihood of successful treatment. Shifting the focus from a pleasure-seeking to a pain-relieving approach to their patients' substance use enables clinicians to engage in a more positive, compassionate psychotherapeutic relationship, unhampered by countertransference feelings of contempt and condemnation. Passionate, professional, and unfailingly astute, Dr. Khantzian examines his patients' internal worlds, revealing vulnerabilities while uncovering resiliency and strength. This book, comprehensive in scope, abundant in clinical material, and written with clarity and intelligence, provides a depth of understanding of substance use disorders and an increased hope for recovery. A Jason Aronson Book

Human Feelings provides a comprehensive overview of the role of emotions in human life. Growing out of the research and writing of members of the Harvard Affect Study Group, the volume brings to bear different disciplinary outlooks and different modes of inquiry on various aspects of human affective experience. The book opens with an section of "Theoretical Considerations" that includes an overview of affective development across the life cycle, an examination of affect and character, and an empirical analysis of gender differences in the expression of emotion. A series of clinical reports involving patients in different age groups comprises the next section, "Affect and the Life Cycle." Subsequent sections on "Trauma, Addiction, and Psychosomatics" and "Transformations of Affect" traverse the realms of neurobiology, addictive suffering, stress disorders, epistemology, creativity, and social organization. A final section, "New Directions," further extends the frontiers of inquiry into nonordinary states of consciousness and the vicissitudes of well-being.An integrative collection of multidisciplinary sweep and scholarly integrity, Human Feelings is a readable source book that brings together rigorous theoretical and developmental studies, experientially vivid self-reporting, and a wealth of illustrative clinical material. An invaluable addition to the libraries of mental health professionals and developmental researchers, this volume will be illuminating for philosophers, social and political scientists, and lay readers as well.

The Harvard Cocaine Recovery Project, a National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded randomized clinical trial, was initiated in 1986 to compare different approaches for treating cocaine abusers. Modified Dynamic Group Therapy (MDGT), one of the models used in the study, is a short-term supportive-expressive psychodynamic group approach specifically adapted for cocaine addicts. While many previous studies of substance abuse treatment were compromised by extraordinarily high dropout rates, this approach retained nearly 70% of group members for the entire length of treatment. This book describes MDGT and provides a practical guide to implementation. Based on an understanding of the psychological vulnerabilities of addicts, the MDGT model addresses the modifications in psychodynamic technique that are necessary for addicts' needs. It focuses on four main areas of difficulty involving self-regulation; affect, self-esteem, relationship, and self-care problems. Both supportive and expressive, the approach helps group members identify, process, and modify the characterological traits that mask addict's vulnerabilities. With this approach, a well-led group can heighten self-esteem, improve self-care, combat feelings of isolation and shame, and strengthen the individual's capacity for positive change. Concomitant involvement with an individual therapist/counselor is encouraged as a means to support and facilitate the group therapy, especially early in group treatment, and to maintain a flexible individual and group treatment context for self-exploration and understanding. Bringing the model to life are detailed vignettes and transcripts of groups in different phases of recovery. These cases demonstrate techniques, illustrate technical issues, and illuminate major themes that unfold during treatment.

Human Feelings provides a comprehensive overview of the role of emotions in human life. Growing out of the research and writing of members of the Harvard Affect Study Group, the volume brings to bear different disciplinary outlooks and different modes of inquiry on various aspects of human affective experience. The book opens with an section of "Theoretical Considerations" that includes an overview of affective development across the life cycle, an examination of affect and character, and an empirical analysis of gender differences in the expression of emotion. A series of clinical reports involving patients in different age groups comprises the next section, "Affect and the Life Cycle." Subsequent sections on "Trauma, Addiction, and Psychosomatics" and "Transformations of Affect" traverse the realms of neurobiology, addictive suffering, stress disorders, epistemology, creativity, and social organization. A final section, "New Directions," further extends the frontiers of inquiry into nonordinary states of consciousness and the vicissitudes of well-being.An integrative collection of multidisciplinary sweep and scholarly integrity, Human Feelings is a readable source book that brings together rigorous theoretical and developmental studies, experientially vivid self-reporting, and a wealth of illustrative clinical material. An invaluable addition to the libraries of mental health professionals and developmental researchers, this volume will be illuminating for philosophers, social and political scientists, and lay readers as well.

In Treating Addiction: Beyond the Pain, Edward Khantzian offers a collection of his recent works on the study and treatment of substance abuse and addiction. Based on his five decades of experience in working with substance dependent individuals, this volume builds upon Khantzian’s theory of addiction as self-medication and provides insights into how addiction is rooted in human psychological suffering, and not pleasure seeking or self-destruction. Almost without exception, life histories of human discomfort, disconnection, and unhappiness leave those so burdened to be vulnerable to the appeal of addictive drugs, including alcohol. Khantzian’s sensitive teaching voice weaves together an annotated collection of previously published papers into a powerful and engaging volume of effective practice-based treatments. A timely complement to his earlier collection Treating Addiction as a Human Process, this book provides an inclusive and accessible resource for mental health professionals from any background as well as graduate students and those in training.