Diagnosing a mental disorder is often a complicated process, with a long list of criteria often presenting very differently in each individual. Much of the information gathered to determine whether a diagnosis is appropriate is gathered using reports from the individual being diagnosed, and some of the information may not be reliable.

When compared with other psychiatric disorders, the reliability of the diagnostic tools set forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition is relatively stable. When interviewing individuals from the general public, however, their estimates of past experience or lifetime history of psychiatric or substance abuse disorders are often unreliable.

A new study examined the reliability of the DSM-IV lifetime history of alcohol dependence in a population-based sample. The researchers found that when a diagnosis is based on a single interview, the results are reliable. The study, which will be published in the September 2011 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, was conducted by Eivind Ystrom and colleagues at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Ystrom explained that the researchers wanted to explore the accuracy of diagnostic interviewing because people tend to be very inaccurate when interviewed about a history of psychiatric symptoms. This is usually because people don’t recall when prompted about certain events. As a result, the researchers hoped that by interviewing individuals several times about the same disorder that it might be possible to quantify how often people are accurate.

The researchers recruited a sample of 4,203 male twins in Virginia who had been assessed for lifetime alcohol dependence two different times, with the assessments occurring one year apart. The researchers used logistic regression analysis to identify clinical features that might be reliable for diagnosing alcohol dependence. The team also examined whether genetic and environmental influences were a factor.

The researchers found that certain variables were useful in predicting the reliability of the diagnosis. Not all of the symptoms that are predictive of alcohol dependence were useful in achieving a reliable diagnosis for the patient.

One of the key discoveries that the researchers identified was that men who are diagnosed with lifetime history of alcohol dependence accurately using a clinical interview had at some point in their lives sought treatment for alcohol dependence. In addition, they had experienced a relatively long period of alcohol dependence, and they spent extensive time in obtaining alcohol or recovering from alcohol use.

The results of the study show that the diagnosis of alcohol dependence may be measured accurately by determining the individual’s history on a few key measures.

Researchers have officially confirmed that when people use marijuana, certain malfunctions occur within the cannabinoid brain receptors – resulting in a clearer picture of how to treat people with marijuana addictions. They also collected evidence that the damage to brain receptors may be reversible if the marijuana use is ended.

The research, conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health together with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, shows how a person’s ability to experience pleasure, to focus on a task, to understand the passage of time and to remember or have coordinated movements is affected by marijuana. The active chemical found in marijuana, THC, adheres to cannabinoid receptors at the brain level and impairs these functions, in addition to cannabinoid receptors found elsewhere in the systems related to digestion, breathing and cardiovascular health.

During the study, researchers looked at biological processes of 30 marijuana users for a month, using PET scanning and injections that allowed a view of how the marijuana was affecting their bodies.

When the half of the participants stopped using marijuana, they were examined again, according to a recent study report. Results showed that the receptor activity in the brain had jumped significantly without the marijuana usage, in comparison with receptor activity when the research started. Researchers summarized that marijuana causes reduced activity of certain receptors responsible for body processes and functions, but that with a cessation of marijuana use, this activity can return.

Further implications from the study include the importance of using PET imaging for studying several types of human illness.

Depressed people who are in treatment for alcoholism may benefit from being treated for both disorders at once, according to a new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Alcoholism and depression often appear together. In one study of over 43,000 adults, about 21% of those who were dependent on alcohol were also clinically depressed. Among the alcoholics in treatment, the percentage with both conditions was over 40%. Traditionally, patients go through alcohol detoxification, psychotherapy and residential treatment for alcohol dependencies first, and after that, their doctors and therapists address the problems of depression. The reason for this is that alcoholism can cause depression, and it is easier to diagnose depression once alcoholism is no longer in the picture. Also, medications for depression react with alcohol.

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Many families struggle on their own when someone they love has developed an addiction to drugs or alcohol. They may be ashamed or just think they can fix it on their own. Often, the addicted person is simply too determined to continue using drugs and alcohol and will make false promises, outright lie, manipulate, and generally find ways to do so.

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A person’s struggle with addiction is never easy. Worse, admitting that one has a problem and needs help is only the tip of the iceberg. Many trials and tribulations await those who are serious about trying to kick their bad habit for good. But upon entering treatment, addicts should be supported and treated with respect and concern. They should also receive the most up-to-date, current care available to aid in their recovery. Unfortunately, the testimonies of many who leave recovery facilities are not consistent with this type of care.

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The use of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes has been increasing over the last decade, and the profile of a typical drug addict is starting to change as well. Now, treatment programs are seeing many over-50 individuals addicted to prescription drugs originally prescribed to treat chronic pain or anxiety problems.

The changes are registering in other ways as well. From 2005 to 2009, there was a significant increase in emergency department visits for drug-related suicide attempts by women aged 50 and older. There were 11,235 visits in 2005 and 16,757 visits in 2009, an increase of 49 percent.

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When you’ve overcome substance abuse and gotten clean and sober, you’re in new phase of your life that’s called recovery.  But recovery isn’t just one path for everyone, and it isn’t time-limited. In fact, once you’ve kicked your addiction through rehab, you’ll actually be in recovery for the rest of your life.

That is, you will be in recovery unless you relapse. Relapse, or falling back into addictive patterns and use, is the greatest risk during the first 90 days or three months of early recovery. It’s during this time that the newly recovered need to be most diligent. Telling it like it is: the truth is that you need to be all in or all out. Halfway measures will only threaten your recovery.

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If you are just beginning your research on drug rehab treatment, you are likely wondering what the differences are between the types of rehabs. Some of the terms you may have seen are:

Long-term drug rehab

Residential drug rehab

Outpatient drug rehab

Holistic drug rehab

Alternative drug rehab

12-step drug rehab

Experiential drug rehab

Luxury drug rehab

Executive drug rehab

Hospital drug rehab