Review of Behavioral analysis of drug dependence.

Reviews the book, Behavioral analysis of drug dependence edited by Steven R. Goldberg and Ian P. Stolerman (1986). This volume brings together the main findings of basic research in behavioral pharmacology that have direct relevance to issues in drug dependence. As the editors note, the book is unique in being organized around behavioral principles rather than specific drug classes. It is also unique in making accessible a series of clearly written, well-edited summaries of the experimental literature to professionals and students who have no special background in behavioral pharmacology. I would recommend the Goldberg and Stolerman collection to researchers as well as substance abuse professionals and I think any student of substance abuse will find much of value here. The book will make a wonderful seminar at the graduate or advanced undergraduate level. Goldberg and Stolerman have succeeded in making an excellent overview of the behavioral pharmacology literature on drug dependence available to us in a single volume. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Behavioral approaches to medicine: Application and analysis.

Reviews the book, Behavioral approaches to medicine: Application and analysis edited by J. Regis McNamara (1979). In this book, McNamara has taken a different perspective, emphasizing the content of behavioral assessment and treatment as it applies to the activities of psychologists and other health professionals in medical settings. McNamara speaks of the interpenetration of behavior modification into medicine, much as one might speak of the use of behavior therapy in schools or of the application of behavioral psychology in prisons. Instead of involving the reader in a discussion of the nuances of definitions of fields such as health psychology or behavioral medicine, McNamara sticks with the idea of applying principles from a familiar area to particular problems that arise in a different area. Thus, the focus of the book is on practical problem-solving and on developing a behavioral conceptualization of health care problems. This book is very useful to the extent that it consistently presents this point of view. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of A primer of drug action.

Reviews the book, A primer of drug action (4th ed.) by Robert M. Julien (see record 1985-97568-000). This volume, which is the fourth edition of this text to appear in the last decade, provides an excellent introduction to drugs that affect the central nervous system. The author begins with basic pharmacology--how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated--and then discusses specific pharmacological agents by grouping them into five major categories. This book can be understood easily by those with no background in the biological sciences. Students who are deficient in such knowledge can pick up what they need to know from the appendices, which are as thoughtfully prepared as the remainder of the text. Another nice feature of this book is that its content is not overly Americanized and thus it is unlikely to alienate Canadian students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Drugs and behavior: An introduction to behavioral pharmacology.

Reviews the book, Drugs and behavior: An introduction to behavioral pharmacology by William A. McKim (1986). This book effectively describes in 14 chapters the diverse aspects of behavioural pharmacology. The structure of the chapters ensures that a continuity of basic principles in behavioural pharmacology will emerge, and the reader will be able to understand the behavioural consequences of drugs with respect to their physiology and pharmacology in each chapter. This book covers the material well, and in my opinion its greatest strength is its readability. The author produced a book that will not only give undergraduate and graduate students a solid foundation in behavioural pharmacology, but will also provide an enjoyable reading experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Opioid Craving and Seeking Behavior in Physically Dependent Volunteers: Effects of Acute Withdrawal and Drug Reinforcement Opportunity.

This study examined whether acute opioid withdrawal and drug reinforcement opportunity increase opioid craving and seeking behavior. The author used a 3 × 2 within-subject randomized crossover design to assess craving and operant behavioral effects of 3 pretreatments (naloxone 0.1 mg/70 kg, fentanyl 0.75 mg/70 kg, or saline iv) and drug or money reinforcement opportunity in 8 methadone-maintained volunteers. Each pretreatment was paired with response-contingent (15 × fixed-ratio 100) delivery of drug (fentanyl 1.5 mg/70 kg iv) and money (rated equivalent of fentanyl) in different sessions. Naloxone significantly increased opioid craving, withdrawal signs, and symptoms, but not operant behavior, relative to saline and fentanyl pretreatment. However, drug versus money reinforcement opportunity did not significantly increase opioid craving or seeking behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Regulation of Drug Taking by Sensitization and Habituation.

The authors argue that drug taking is an operant behavior that is reinforced by the drug itself. The effectiveness of a drug as a reinforcer is modulated by sensitization and habituation to the drug as it is consumed. According to this model, drug taking stops when habituation reduces the ability of the drug to reinforce its own consumption. Drug taking resumes when spontaneous recovery restores the effectiveness of the drug as a reinforcer. This parsimonious model provides a framework for understanding many findings in the drug literature, including acute and chronic tolerance, the effect of deprivation on consumption, the contextual specificity of tolerance, polydrug abuse, cross-sensitization between stress and drugs, behavioral sensitization, priming, and reinstatement. Although this model cannot explain all aspects of drug taking (e.g., the effect of cognitive manipulations), it has many implications for understanding and controlling human drug consumption and addiction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Drug use and misuse.

Reviews the book, Drug use and misuse by Stephen A. Maisto, Mark Galizio, and Gerard J. Connors (see record 1990-98923-000). Maisto, Galizio, and Connors have written a comprehensive, 16-chapter volume that discusses the use and abuse of historically important drugs as well as the most recently developed psychoactive drugs. Most of the chapters contain thorough and up-to-date discussions of drug issues and recent research concerning drug effects. The presentation of information is orderly and logical. Discussions later in the book build from information presented earlier, and students should have no trouble in following the text and using it effectively. On occasion, there are recent developments that probably deserve expanded coverage beyond that provided by the text. However, this is a well-produced book that should prove useful to students and benefit introductory courses in substance use and abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Revue de Aspects neurologiques de l'addiction.

Reviews the book Neurological aspects of addiction (2008). This book is a reference book on the neurological aspects of addiction. It is an invaluable tool for students, researchers and professionals interested in the topic of drug addiction and treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Therapeutic communities for addictions: Readings in theory, research and practice.

Reviews the book, Therapeutic communities for addictions: Readings in theory, research and practice edited by George DeLeon and James T. Ziegenfuss Jr. (1986). DeLeon and Ziegenfuss present a collection of readings that are representative of the current thinking about therapeutic communities. Initially the concept of therapeutic communities was exclusively utilized in psychiatric settings. Since the 1960s the therapeutic community approach has been widened and predominantly applied in the treatment of drug abusers. The therapeutic community offers a systematic approach to achieve its main rehabilitative objective, which is the reorganization of the life-style, perception, and behavior of the addict. The overall conceptualization of the book is an excellent one. One aspect that it has failed to address is the impact on the staff, usually former addicts, of prolonged work within the TC. A chapter on burnout and how to combat it within the TC would have enriched the book. This book will appeal to the researcher, to the clinician, and to psychotherapists who may need to refer clients to a TC within their geographic area. It gives a clear understanding of historical roots, functioning, and contributions to treatment of addicts. It also explores the implications of extensive longtitudinal research findings on our dealing with the addicts in our society. Certainly a worthy book to add to our libraries on clinical understanding of such a critical problem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Drugs and Drug Abuse: A Reference Text.

Reviews the book, Drugs and Drug Abuse: A Reference Text by T. C. Cox, M. R. Jacobs, A. E. LeBlanc, and J. A. Marshman (1983). This reference book was written at the request of County Court judges "to provide judges, lawyers and other concerned professionals, such as physicians and social workers, with a guide to many issues and pertinent facts associated with psychoactive drug use and abuse." This stated purpose has been effectively accomplished. It is timely, because the intended users of this book are deeply involved in dealing with drug use. It is reasonable to expect that the above-mentioned professionals operate on the basis of factual knowledge rather than myths and ignorance. For this reason I regard this an important reference book. Pharmacology is the main theme of this book; however, psychology, medicine, chemistry, epidemiology, and a number of other disciplines which have made significant contributions to the understanding of drug use are also incorporated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Getting back to basics: Commentary on McSweeney, Murphy, and Kowal (2005).

The review article "Regulation of Drug Taking by Sensitization and Habituation" by F. K. McSweeney, E. S. Murphy, and B. P. Kowal (see record 2005-10634-001) introduces 2 basic principles of behavior, sensitization and habituation, into a comprehensive model for studying drug intake and drug addiction. A key assumption of the model is that the reinforcing effectiveness of drugs sensitize and/or habituate; however, issues with the measurement of reinforcing effectiveness should be carefully considered. In addition, a multidisciplinary approach might broaden this model and increase its power. Other approaches include, but are not limited to, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling and in vivo measures of brain activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Behavioral Approach to the Case of Ms.S.

This article provides a behavioral formulation and treatment plan for the case of Ms. S (see record 2005-02680-005). Given the complexity of Ms. S and the status of current research, interventions proposed emphasize empirically supported principles of change over any specific protocol. This particular behavioral approach incorporates aspects of dialectical behavior therapy and functional analytic psychotherapy in addition to more traditional behavior therapy. The utility of the therapeutic relationship in this approach is described (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Linking assessment to intervention in the 21st century.

Reviews the book, Building positive behavior support systems in schools: Functional behavioral assessment by D.A. Crone and R.H. Horner (see record 2003-02190-000). Children with behavioral disorders present to school psychologists and educators some of the greatest challenges in terms of assuring education in the least restrictive environment while preserving these children's basic rights. To address the outcomes successfully within the book's three sections and eight chapters, the authors employ several conventions, such as recurring case examples; sample completed forms, protocols, and blank drafts of these forms; and supplementary sections of additional readings and resources at the end of chapters. The authors note both the effectiveness and rewards of collecting data for evaluation purposes in this section but fail to recognize some of the barriers to data collection and to provide strategies to overcome them. The authors conclude the book by discussing the process of building a behavior support team within an individual school. Overall, the book is a valuable resource for use in creating behavior support teams in schools by practitioners. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Ethology, the Biology of Behavior.

Reviews the book, Ethology, the Biology of Behavior by Irenaus Eibl-Eibesfeldt (see record 1971-03810-000). This text on ethology, written by a colleague of Konrad Lorenz, is designed "to bridge the gap between biology and the sciences of human behavior (psychology, sociology, and anthropology)." The topics dealt with include the ethogram, fixed action patterns, releasers, conflict behavior, the genetics of behavior patterns, phylogenetic and ontogenetic development of behavior, mechanisms of learning, temporal factors in behavior, and the ethology of man. The book is well illustrated, an extensive bibliography and indexes are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psychotherapists in clinical practice: Cognitive and behavioral perspectives.

Reviews the book, Psychotherapists in clinical practice: Cognitive and behavioral perspectives by Neil S. Jacobson (see record 1987-98176-000). Behavior therapy is known for, indeed in some circles notorious for, its commitment to procedural specificity. It is thus ironic how little has been written about the concrete, session-to-session work of outpatient behavior therapists. Neil Jacobson, a behavioral marital therapist and a veteran editor of clinical compendiums, has stepped into the breach with this most recent volume. As he notes in his introduction, "The impetus for this book is the belief that there is not enough material in behavior therapy literature to support a practicing clinician working in settings where outpatients must be treated." (p. 4). It is Jacobson's intent to help remedy this deficit. Altogether, Jacobson's latest collection is a worthwhile addition to any clinician's library, whether or not the practictioner is of a behavioral bent. The usefulness of the contributions may vary, but the volume as a whole is likely to serve as a valuable reference for the outpatient therapist. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special issue: Developmental perspectives on addictive behaviors.

A developmental perspective on drug abuse includes an understanding of the "natural history" of drug-using patterns and the context of such behavior in the lives of individuals. This context includes the developmental precursors of addictive behavior at an earlier stage of life, as well as an understanding of how certain stages of life, such as adolescence, may predispose such behavior. The articles in this special issue include studies of familial influences, behavioral and psychosocial correlates that are specific to a developmental period, and gender-related developmental sequelae. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psychotherapy through clinical role playing.

Reviews the book Psychotherapy through clinical role playing, by David A. Kipper (see record 1986-98559-000). Kipper's book presents a microanalysis of the role of groups and intervention in therapy. So does his presentation of a general role-playing model embedded in group therapy. It is a reminder of roots springing from behavior simulation, the environmental factor and clinical role playing as a subset of behavior simulation. Kipper presents an extended and somewhat drawn-out discussion of the newer and rational processes of psychotherapy through clinical role playing. He is an advocate of clinical role-play therapy as a comprehensive utilization of behavioral simulation as a force for change in therapy. He is persuasive not only in group therapy but also in the application of this technique in individual treatment. Clinical role playing in therapy is both an adjunct and sometimes the main thrust of therapy. We all do it using different nomenclature and even in psychoanalysis without its staging and defined roles. This book calls our attention to a technique that we may take for granted, and as such it is an evocative book well worth reading. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Making up the mind: How the brain creates our mental world.

Reviews the book, Making up the mind: How the brain creates our mental world by Chris Frith (see record 2007-00531-000). This book directly addresses the fundamental question as to how the brain creates the inner world of humans from an empirical perspective. It provides an excellent introduction to some of the most exciting recent cognitive-neuroscience research along the way. To find an answer to his question, the author takes a broad stance and draws on advances in areas as diverse as action control, visual perception, language, emotion, social cognition, and schizophrenia. From this research, he derives several general principles that aim to capture the relationship between mind and brain in more abstract terms. These principles provide the thread that makes not only for a thought-provoking, unifying theoretical account, but also for an impressively cohesive narrative. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)