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Addictions as a process: Commonalties or codependence

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Abstract

At present, no single theory of addictions dominates thinking in the mental health profession or comprehensively informs about clinical interventions. This article examines the biochemical and psychosocial commonalties of dependence disorders and concludes that similar addictive processes appear to be the foundation of a variety of addictive behaviors. Codependence is suggested as the underlying psychological dynamic pervasive in a host of addictive disorders. Implications for the treatment of codependence as the foundation of addictions is discussed, and a number of intervention strategies are suggested to work with the individual on “family of origin” issues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 116 Wetherill Building, Purdue University, 47907, West Lafayette, IN

    Teri A. Loughead PhD (assistant professor of Counseling and Development)

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  1. Teri A. Loughead PhD
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I would like to thank J. Edward Lynch, Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse, Jo Cruse, Stanley Sunderwirth, my students, and persons in my groups for their contributions to the conceptual development of this article. I am also grateful to Richard Loughead and Paul Wright for their timely and comprehensive reviews of earlier drafts of this manuscript.

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Loughead, T.A. Addictions as a process: Commonalties or codependence. Contemp Fam Ther 13, 455–470 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00890498

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