Neuropsychology and Substance Use Disorders

This book is a comprehensive guide for health professionals working with psychoactive drug use and dependence who want to learn the nuts and bolts of the neuropsychology of substance use disorders. It presents the basic foundations of neuropsychology, including a historical overview of studies and research, theoretical and conceptual bases, and practical applications to the area of psychoactive drug use and dependence. It also includes a comprehensive introduction to the history, theoretical models, diagnostic criteria and epidemiology of substance use disorders. With a special focus on practice and applied knowledge, the volume presents the main methods of neuropsychological assessment of substance use disorders and reviews the most important neuropsychological and psychotherapeutic interventions to treat substance use disorders. Additionally, whole sections of the book are dedicated to explaining the impacts of substance use on cognitive and executive functions and the relationship between substance use and mental disorders in adolescence. Finally, the book also includes brief introductions to the neurobiology of substance use disorders and to research methodologies for studying the neuroscience of psychoactive substance use. Neuropsychology and Substance Use Disorders: Assessment and Treatment will be an invaluable resource for health and care professionals from different areas, such as clinical psychology, psychiatry, nursing and social woacrk, who are looking for a friendly introduction to the neuropsychology of substance use disorders. It will also be a helpful tool for graduate and undergraduate psychology students interested in specializing in this field of knowledge and practice.