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Compulsion and addiction
1Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, USA.
Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Addictions can be viewed as a type of compulsion, suggesting psychoanalytic treatment may be effective. This paper revises definitions of addiction and compulsion, exploring treatment possibilities.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Psychoanalysis
Background:
- Addictions are complex behavioral patterns.
- Current definitions may not fully encompass their nature.
- Psychoanalytic approaches are not always considered for addiction treatment.
Observation:
- This paper proposes a new analytical framework for understanding addictions.
- It suggests viewing addictions as a specific category within broader compulsions.
- This reframing has significant implications for treatment strategies.
Findings:
- Addictions are analytically defined as a subset of compulsions.
- This revised definition supports the potential efficacy of psychoanalytic interventions.
- A re-evaluation of the definitions of both addiction and compulsion is presented.
Implications:
- Psychoanalytic therapy may be a viable treatment option for many addiction cases.
- The proposed framework could lead to more nuanced diagnostic criteria.
- Further research into the psychoanalytic treatment of addictions is warranted.