2018 data shows that every day, 128 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare\” (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2020). Treatment can be challenging as they do not see their symptoms as painful to themselves or others.
In this Discussion, you will explore personality disorders in greater detail and discuss treatment options using evidence-based research.  Hallucinogen Related Disorder Essay Paper

My discussion for Week 4 is Hallucinogen related disorder
Post:
Explain the diagnostic criteria for your assigned substance-related and addictive disorder.
Explain the evidenced-based psychotherapy and psychopharmacologic treatment for your assigned substance-related and addictive disorder.
Describe clinical features that you would expect to observe in a client that may have the substance-related and addictive disorder you were assigned. Align the clinical features with the DSM-5 criteria.
Support your rationale with references to the Learning Resources or other academic resources.

 Hallucinogen Related Disorder

Introduction

Hallucinogens refer to the psychoactive drugs that produce visual and/or auditory hallucinations, and mood, thought, and perceptual changes. Psychoactive drugs can also trigger euphoria and transcendental experience.  The hallucinations can manifest as delirium when accompanied by disturbances in intellect, judgment, intellect, emotion, and memory (Garcia-Romeu et al., 2016).

Diagnostic Criteria

According to DSM-5 criteria hallucinogen related disorder is characterized by the continued use of a hallucinogen even when a substance or a drug causes the person significant problems or even when the person is aware of the adverse effects of the hallucinogen such as anxiety attacks, flashbacks, and intoxication (Garcia-Romeu et al., 2016). The symptoms of the hallucinogen-related disorder can lead to significant clinical distress or impair the occupational, social, and academic functioning of an individual. The psychological symptoms of hallucinogen intoxication encompass delusions, paranoia, anxiety attacks, decreased inhibitions, disorientation in space and time, confusion, euphoria, concentration impairment, memory loss, personality changes, increased empathy (MDMA), poor judgment, mental drug dependence, and flashbacks after the clearance of the drug from the body (el-Guebaly et al., 2015). Additionally, individuals crave the hallucinogens if one has not used them for a period of time. Hallucinogen Related Disorder Essay Paper

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Psychotherapy and Psychopharmacologic Treatment

Currently, there is no evidence-based pharmacological treatment for hallucinogens. The most commonly used psychotherapy treatment in hallucinogen related disorders includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The CBT assists the person to eliminate the self-sabotaging thoughts that make someone to crave for the hallucinogen. The CBT also helps an individual to confront the thought patterns and life problems that drive an individual to use the hallucinogens (Easterbrook & Meehan, 2016). Moreover, during the CBT the individual is trained to identify circumstances and issues likely to contribute to using the hallucinogen, become aware of negative feelings, thoughts and behaviors contributing to hallucinogen use, and identify negative thinking patterns, and finally eliminate the negative thinking patterns and replace them with a positive one (Syros, 2017). CBT can assist an individual to nurture their emotional and mental health. Moreover, by learning to think positively, the individual will have a balanced emotional state and thus make healthier and logical choices in life that may include stopping the use of the hallucinogens because of their harmful effects (Syros, 2017). The changes not only support the recovery but also sustained abstinence from the hallucinogens.

Clinical Features in a Client with Hallucinogen Related Disorder

The common clinical features in a client with hallucinogen related disorder include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, anxiety attacks, decreased inhibitions, disorientation in space and time, confusion, euphoria, concentration impairment, and physical effects such as increased pulse rate, nausea, and changes in perception of the passage of time. The client may also report flashbacks, anxiety attacks, lack of coordination, disconnection from reality, and psychosis (Byock, 2018).

Conclusion

Hallucinogen related disorder is characterized by the continued use of a hallucinogen even when a person is aware of the adverse effects associated with the substance or drug use. The key symptoms of the disorder include hallucinations, delusions, confusion, psychosis, among others. CBT is effective in treating hallucinogen related disorders.

References

Byock I. (2018). Taking Psychedelics Seriously. Journal of palliative medicine, 21(4), 417–421.

Easterbrook C & Meehan T. (2016). The Therapeutic Relationship and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Case Study of an Adolescent Girl with Depression. The European Journal of Counselling Psychology, 6(1).

el-Guebaly, N., Carrà, G., & Galanter, M. (Eds.). (2015). Textbook of addiction treatment: international perspectives. Springer Milan.

Garcia-Romeu, A., Kersgaard, B., & Addy, P. H. (2016). Clinical applications of hallucinogens: A review. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 24(4), 229–268.

Syros I. (2017). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of PTSD. Eur J Psychotraumatol, 8(4).

Hallucinogen Related Disorder Essay Paper