Denial in alcohol and other drug use disorders: A critique of theory

Abstract

Despite the centrality of the construcl ill tht: tield of alcohol and other drug (ADD) addiction, denial remains poorly conceptualized. One reason for this na rrow conceptualization is thc recenl unihncral dcvotion 10 the T ranslhcorctical , \-Iodd (I~r,\ I). In an d'foTl 10 demonstrate denial's thcorc:tica! complexity, the TfM and fin~ additional intuitively appealing theories of denial wi!! be sutlllllari:.:ed. T he strengths and weaknesses of each theory and possible treatment implications based on each theory wi!! also be pre~t:nted. Tht: article concludes with a recommendation for future re~eareh to t:valuatt: multiple theories of denial using consistent and rigorous research methodology in order to de"clop a comprehen~i\"(~ Iheory of denial. 'nlis will promote evolulion of the deductive research proce~~, and el"enlUa!!y lead to the del"e!opment of empirica!)y generated inlen"entions which addres~ the comrk ... nature and etiology of denial.

Motivation to Change as a Mediator for the Longitudinal Relationships of Gender and Alcohol Severity With One-Year Drinking Outcome

“…Our third and fi nal fi nding is that gender did indirectly predict lower levels of self-reported drinking at 12-month follow-up through alcohol severity and problem recognition. This fi nding is consistent with the general idea that greater problem severity may lead to the realization of the need to reduce drinking (Field et al, 2007;Shealy et al, 2007;Stoddard Dare and Derigne, 2010).…”

Problematic Attachment to Social Media: Five Behavioural Archetypes

“…Users with problematic attachment are characterised by a denial of their online behaviour, reactance when they feel their freedom to continue using social media is controlled by some measures like reminders and timers, and relapses when they try to regulate that relation both in terms of usage style and the preoccupation around it [41,42,43]. Thus, the design of social media needs to consider the differences that users may have in their characteristics based on different configurations of software-based intervention, to facilitate the social welfare of users [95].…”

“…They are often vulnerable to loneliness and anxious feelings. Furthermore, people with problematic online attachment are characterised by a denial of the nature of their online behaviour, adverse reactions when they feel their freedom to continue using social media is being limited by reminders and timers, and relapse when they try to regulate their usage of social media and reduce their preoccupation with them [41,42,43]. Any intervention designed to address problematic online attachment needs to consider the differences in the characteristics, personality, and problematic style of users, as a different type of user may require different interventions to meet their specific needs for social wellness.…”

The majority of professionally active women diagnosed with eating disorders may be at risk of work addiction: an overlooked comorbidity

“…Finally, what EDs and WA share, and it is probably a crucial similarity, is that in reference to both problematic behaviors there are severe limitations in I) recognizing the disorder (Atroszko et al, 2020;Couturier & Lock, 2006;Goldstein et al, 2009;Holton, 2016;Pickard, 2016Pickard, , 2018Stoddard Dare & Derigne, 2010;Vandereycken & Van Humbeeck, 2008), and II) receiving disorder-specific treatment (Le, Barendregt, Hay, & Mihalopoulos, 2017;Le, Hay, & Mihalopoulos, 2018;Weissman & Rosselli, 2017), or treatment at all. Furthermore, specific prevention programs need to be developed (Atroszko et al, 2020;Austin, 2016).…”