Probing the Psychology of Relapse

relapse

Plus: Online classes, and a webinar on the neuroscience of addiction

By Ellie Jensen

New & Next: Science

A Study on What Causes Relapse

A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that relapse and drug-seeking behavior arise not from a desire for the drug itself but out of ingrained behavioral traits in the user. The study, conducted on rats, found that relapses after a period of abstinence from drug use were driven by the patterns of drug-seeking rather than the side effects of withdrawal. Read more about the study here.

New & Next: Education

Supporting Transgender Clients

The Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) has an array of online courses available this year, including Ethics and Suicide Prevention in Working with Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Clients. This course includes guidance on how to support transgender and gender non-conforming individuals through standards of care approved by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Other CASAT self-paced online courses are also available through the end of this year.

Mind-Body Medicine in Clinical Practice

The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) and the MGH Psychiatry Academy are organizing an online course focused on the use of mind-body techniques, such as meditation and yoga, in clinical treatment. The course begins Feb. 7 and runs until March 31. The content is self-paced, with weekly call-in times to speak to health experts and an interactive discussion board for participants. Registration is now open.

A Training Series for Women in Recovery

NAADAC’s Women in Recovery Specialty Online Training Series is open for registration. The series focuses on addiction treatment for women; individuals who complete the series can apply for a Women in Recovery certificate. The first of the sessions, “SUD in Women with a Focus on Pregnant and Parenting Persons,” will be held on March 18 from noon to 1:30 p.m. EST. Additional sessions will be run on Fridays between March 18 and May 20. To register or learn more, click here.

New & Next: Webinars

The Neuroscience of Addiction

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation will host a free webinar on Feb. 8 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. “Investigating Neurobiology and New Treatments for Addiction, Depression and Anxiety” will discuss how neurobiology is related to reward behavior and reinforcement is altered in individuals with substance use disorder, depression and anxiety. Registration and additional information can be found here.

Photo: Markus Winkler