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Physicians' Beliefs about the Nature of Addiction: A Survey of Primary Care Physicians and Psychiatrists

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lawrence, RE; Rasinski, KA; Yoon, JD; Curlin, FA
Published in: American Journal on Addictions
March 8, 2013

Background and Objectives: Society debates whether addiction is a disease, a response to psychological woundedness, or moral failing. Method: We surveyed a national sample of 1427 US primary care physicians (PCPs) and 487 psychiatrists, asking "In your judgment, to what extent is alcoholism/drug addiction each of the following? A) a disease B) a response to psychological woundedness C) a result of moral failings." Results: The response rate was 63% for PCPs and 64% for psychiatrists. More psychiatrists than PCPs consider addiction a disease (64% versus 56%). Some PCPs (31%) and psychiatrists (27%) attribute addiction to psychological woundedness. More psychiatrists than PCPs said addiction is "not at all" due to moral failings (55% versus 39%). Conclusions and Scientific Significance: The disease model for addiction is prominent among physicians, but exists alongside beliefs that addiction is a response to psychological woundedness, or a result of moral failings. © American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

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Published In

American Journal on Addictions

DOI

EISSN

1521-0391

ISSN

1055-0496

Publication Date

March 8, 2013

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance Abuse
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1701 Psychology
 

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Lawrence, R. E., Rasinski, K. A., Yoon, J. D., & Curlin, F. A. (2013). Physicians' Beliefs about the Nature of Addiction: A Survey of Primary Care Physicians and Psychiatrists (Accepted). American Journal on Addictions. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1521-0391.2013.00332.x
Lawrence, R. E., K. A. Rasinski, J. D. Yoon, and F. A. Curlin. “Physicians' Beliefs about the Nature of Addiction: A Survey of Primary Care Physicians and Psychiatrists (Accepted).” American Journal on Addictions, March 8, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1521-0391.2013.00332.x.
Lawrence RE, Rasinski KA, Yoon JD, Curlin FA. Physicians' Beliefs about the Nature of Addiction: A Survey of Primary Care Physicians and Psychiatrists (Accepted). American Journal on Addictions. 2013 Mar 8;
Lawrence, R. E., et al. “Physicians' Beliefs about the Nature of Addiction: A Survey of Primary Care Physicians and Psychiatrists (Accepted).” American Journal on Addictions, Mar. 2013. Scopus, doi:10.1111/j.1521-0391.2013.00332.x.
Lawrence RE, Rasinski KA, Yoon JD, Curlin FA. Physicians' Beliefs about the Nature of Addiction: A Survey of Primary Care Physicians and Psychiatrists (Accepted). American Journal on Addictions. 2013 Mar 8;
Journal cover image

Published In

American Journal on Addictions

DOI

EISSN

1521-0391

ISSN

1055-0496

Publication Date

March 8, 2013

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance Abuse
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1701 Psychology