Dependence/addiction/use disorder from a therapeutic perspective -A preliminary study of preference for terms describing the condition.

Abstract

This study focused on patients receiving specialized outpatient (n=26) care to improve addiction behavior (mainly patients with alcohol dependency) and investigated their preferences for terms that describe the relationship between a patient and the object of his or her addiction and how those preferences correlated with the patient's current stage of recovery. The results showed a correlation between a preference for the term "dependence" and a stagnated recovery and a correlation between a preference for the term "overindulgence" and recovery progress (p<0.05). This was a correlation study, so it did not reveal the existence of a causal relationship. It did, however, suggest that terms implying self-directedness, such as "overindulgence" or "addiction," are preferable to the term "dependence" when providing treatment, because they allow.the patient to have a more autonomous self-image. However, the words "use disorder" and "habit" are safe in the sense that they are neutral, so these words are useful when beginning treatment, etc., in a patient-centered care setting, such as one that utilizes Shared Decision Making (SDM).