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Criteria of a Pharmacologic Withdrawal Syndrome

Criteria of a Pharmacologic Withdrawal Syndrome Abstract To the Editor.— Hughes and Hatsukami1 add significant findings to our knowledge of the syndrome that ensues when smokers stop smoking. As they suggest, this is very likely a nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Their analysis of alternative hypotheses, however, ignores an important possibility.If it is assumed that a person using a psychotropic drug for a long time was normal without that drug, then a behavioral disorder when the drug is stopped may well be a classic pharmacologic withdrawal syndrome. In reality, however, the assumption cannot be tested because addicts do not come to our attention before their addiction.An alternative hypothesis is that the long-term drug user is self-medicating a behavioral disorder that antedates the drug exposure. In that case, stopping the drug will expose a previously masked set of symptoms. Here we would not be dealing with a classic withdrawal syndrome at all.Either mechanism would produce all References 1. Hughes JR, Hatsukami D: Signs and symptoms of tobacco withdrawal . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:289-294.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of General Psychiatry American Medical Association

Criteria of a Pharmacologic Withdrawal Syndrome

Archives of General Psychiatry , Volume 44 (4) – Apr 1, 1987

Criteria of a Pharmacologic Withdrawal Syndrome

Abstract

Abstract To the Editor.— Hughes and Hatsukami1 add significant findings to our knowledge of the syndrome that ensues when smokers stop smoking. As they suggest, this is very likely a nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Their analysis of alternative hypotheses, however, ignores an important possibility.If it is assumed that a person using a psychotropic drug for a long time was normal without that drug, then a behavioral disorder when the drug is stopped may well be a classic pharmacologic...
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References (1)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-990X
eISSN
1598-3636
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.1987.01800160108016
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract To the Editor.— Hughes and Hatsukami1 add significant findings to our knowledge of the syndrome that ensues when smokers stop smoking. As they suggest, this is very likely a nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Their analysis of alternative hypotheses, however, ignores an important possibility.If it is assumed that a person using a psychotropic drug for a long time was normal without that drug, then a behavioral disorder when the drug is stopped may well be a classic pharmacologic withdrawal syndrome. In reality, however, the assumption cannot be tested because addicts do not come to our attention before their addiction.An alternative hypothesis is that the long-term drug user is self-medicating a behavioral disorder that antedates the drug exposure. In that case, stopping the drug will expose a previously masked set of symptoms. Here we would not be dealing with a classic withdrawal syndrome at all.Either mechanism would produce all References 1. Hughes JR, Hatsukami D: Signs and symptoms of tobacco withdrawal . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:289-294.Crossref

Journal

Archives of General PsychiatryAmerican Medical Association

Published: Apr 1, 1987

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