Addiction Treatment Modalities & Therapeutic Approaches Flashcards

Which behavioral intervention, often delivered in a single session, has demonstrated efficacy in reducing heavy drinking in primary care and emergency department settings?

Answer: Brief Motivational Intervention (Brief MI)

Brief Motivational Interventions (typically 1-4 sessions using MI principles) have robust evidence for reducing hazardous alcohol use when delivered in non-specialty medical settings.

In therapeutic communities (TCs) for substance use disorders, which philosophical concept is central to the treatment model?

Answer: The community itself — peers and program structure — serves as the primary agent of change

In therapeutic communities, the peer community and structured social environment are considered the primary instruments of behavior change, using social learning and community norms.

A patient with alcohol use disorder and a contraindication to benzodiazepines needs alcohol withdrawal management. Which agent is the best alternative for seizure prophylaxis?

Answer: Phenobarbital

Phenobarbital, a GABA-A agonist acting at a different receptor site than benzodiazepines, is a validated alternative for alcohol withdrawal management including seizure prophylaxis.

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) targets addiction relapse by teaching patients to do which of the following?

Answer: Observe cravings and emotions with non-judgmental awareness rather than automatically reacting to them

MBRP trains patients to use mindfulness meditation to observe urges, emotions, and thoughts without reacting, reducing automatic relapse behavior by creating space between trigger and response.

Varenicline (Chantix/Champix) aids smoking cessation through which dual mechanism?

Answer: Partial agonism at α4β2 nicotinic receptors, reducing withdrawal and blocking nicotine reward simultaneously

Varenicline partially activates α4β2 nicotinic receptors to relieve withdrawal symptoms while simultaneously blocking nicotine from producing its full rewarding effect if the patient smokes.

Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) differ from traditional acute treatment models primarily because they emphasize which approach?

Answer: Long-term, person-centered support across multiple life domains throughout the recovery journey

ROSC frameworks recognize addiction as a chronic condition requiring sustained, individualized support across housing, employment, health, and social domains rather than episodic acute care alone.

When using the FRAMES model to guide a brief intervention for substance use, what does the 'R' in FRAMES stand for?

Answer: Responsibility — emphasizing that change is the patient's personal responsibility

In FRAMES (Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu, Empathy, Self-efficacy), 'R' stands for Responsibility, acknowledging that the patient has personal agency and is responsible for making change.