The Relevance of Psychodynamic Theory to Addiction Treatment - Essay Example

The relevance of psychodynamic theory for the treatment of addiction is revealed by its articulation of human behaviour and the internal and external forces that affect human choices and behaviour (Hutchison, 2011). Earlier psychodynamic approaches to addiction emphasized the addict’s propensity to seek pleasure or to be self-destructive. However, later developments in psychodynamic theory placed more significance on shedding insight on the addicts’ inability to properly regulate internal emotions and to adjust to actual external factors.

Therefore, from the psychodynamic perspective, addiction treatment is effective when it involves interventions that recognize, identify and respond to the addict’s inability to regulate conduct and affects (Khantzian, 1986). The approaches to addiction treatment offered by psychodynamic theory are significant because it provides for a more personalized approach to treating the addict. Until the 1970s, much of the research and treatment-based approaches focused on the drug itself, chemical dependence aspects and the “physiological effects” or the impact of the drugs and demographic factors (Blaine & Julius, 1977, p. v). Notably absent was a method of treatment and understanding that targeted the “structure and dynamics of the total personality” (Blaine & Julius, 1977, p. v).. v). Notably absent was a method of treatment and understanding that targeted the “structure and dynamics of the total personality” (Blaine & Julius, 1977, p. v). Psychodynamic theory and practice therefore offer a method by which the individual who is experiencing addiction can be understood and treated.

There are three main theoretical categories of addiction: phenomenological, conditioning and cognitive theories. Phenomenological theories are founded on clinical diagnoses. Conditioning theories are based on development influences and cognitive theories are based on concepts of social learning (Drummond, 2001). However, alone, neither of these broad categories of addiction theory provides a complete understanding and thus effective treatment of addiction. It is argued that theories exploring human behaviour offer a more complete analysis and understanding of addiction as they “generate more specific and testable research hypotheses” (Drummond, 2001, p. 33). Thus the relevance of psychodynamic theory as an exploration of human behaviour is relevant to the treatment of addiction.

This essay analyses the relevance of psychodynamic theory to the treatment of addiction. In analysing the relevance of psychodynamic theory to the treatment of addiction this paper is divided into four main parts. The first part of this paper provides an analysis of addiction theory in order to set up the background around which psychodynamic theory and its relevance to addiction treatment can be analysed. The second part of this paper examines the traditional methods for treating addiction. The third part of the paper examines psychodynamic theory and the final part of this paper will analyse the use of psychodynamic theory in the treatment and understanding of addiction.