Addiction Medicine: Science and Practice

Hoarding as a Behavioral Addiction

Overview Hoarding disorder (HD) is defined as the acquisition of—and inability to discard—a large number of possessions, to a degree that precludes intended use of living spaces and creates significant distress or impairment in functioning. Hoarding can interfere with an…

Compulsive Buying

Introduction Kraepelin and Bleuler first identified oniomania, or the urge to buy, in the early 1900s. Today, compulsive buying is likely a much different phenomenon from what it was when Kraepelin and Bleuler first conceptualized the disorder. In the United…

The Biology and Treatment of Gambling Disorder

Introduction Gambling has become increasingly accessible and socially acceptable over the past two decades, with an increasing number of venues and opportunities through casinos, video lottery terminals, sports betting venues, and online poker and other gambling sites. Although most people…

Ketamine and Phencyclidine

Introduction Ketamine and phencyclidine are chemically related to each other and have psychotropic effects similar to those of other prototypical hallucinogens such as lysergic acid diethylamide. Phencyclidine was developed first as a dissociative anesthetic for animals and humans, but seizures,…

Serotonergic Hallucinogens

Introduction This chapter focuses on hallucinogens with psychoactive properties mediated through the serotonin system. Although commonly referred to as “hallucinogens,” a lexigraphic disclaimer is warranted, as the experience elicited by these drugs commonly centers on distortion of perception, not true…

Caffeine

Introduction Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in history. Indeed, caffeine is unusual among psychoactive compounds in being part of the daily diet of most people. With more than 80% of people worldwide consuming caffeine daily, current usage transcends…

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

Introduction Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) refer to the male hormone, testosterone, and many of its natural and synthetic derivatives. All AASs have androgenic (masculinizing) and muscle-specific (anabolic) effects, but some are relatively more anabolic or androgenic than others. Oxandrolone, for example,…