Addiction

Addiction, whether substance-related or behavioral, is now very common among the general population. Early treatment leads to better outcomes.

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1. Alcohol

Alcohol-related disorders refer to health and behavior problems caused by drinking too much alcohol. These include:

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) – When someone can't control their drinking, keeps craving alcohol, and continues to drink even though it's causing problems in their life, work, or relationships.
Alcohol Dependence – When the body gets used to alcohol and needs it to feel normal. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms like shakiness, sweating, or anxiety.
Alcohol Intoxication – Drinking so much at one time that it affects judgment, coordination, and speech. In severe cases, it can cause blackouts or even be life-threatening.
Alcohol Withdrawal – When someone who drinks heavily suddenly stops and experiences symptoms like restlessness, nausea, irritability, or seizures.
Long-term effects – Heavy drinking over time can damage the liver, brain, heart, and increase the risk of cancer and mental health issues.

2. Mood Disorders

Tobacco dependence means a person becomes physically and mentally hooked on using tobacco. The main reason is nicotine, a drug in tobacco that causes strong cravings and withdrawal symptoms (like irritability, anxiety, or headache) when trying to quit.

In short, Tobacco dependence is addiction to nicotine, and tobacco comes in many forms—smoked, chewed, or sniffed—each harmful in its own way.

Types of Tobacco (with common names)

Cigarettes – Most common form. Rolled tobacco with filter.
Bidis – Thin, hand-rolled cigarettes tied with thread, popular in India.
Cigars – Thicker tobacco rolls, often smoked slowly.
Hookah / Shisha – Flavored tobacco smoked through water pipe.
Chewing Tobacco (Khaini, Zarda) – Tobacco mixed with lime, chewed or kept in the mouth.
Gutkha / Pan Masala – A mix of tobacco, areca nut, and flavorings, chewed.
Snuff – Powdered tobacco, inhaled through the nose or placed in the mouth.
Beedi – A cheap hand-rolled cigarette using tendu leaves.

3. Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

These disorders involve the presence of obsessions (persistent, intrusive thoughts) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviors or rituals).

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Intrusive thoughts and the need to perform certain rituals or behaviors to alleviate anxiety.
Hoarding Disorder: Difficulty discarding items, leading to clutter and distress.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): Obsession with perceived flaws or defects in physical appearance.
Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder): Recurrent pulling out of one's own hair.

4. Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders involve distorted thinking, perception, and understanding of reality.

Schizophrenia: A chronic disorder that causes hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.
Schizoaffective Disorder: A condition combining symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorders (e.g., depression or bipolar disorder).

5. Eating Disorders

Eating disorders involve abnormal or disturbed eating behaviors and can severely affect physical health.

Anorexia Nervosa: Restriction of food intake, fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image.
Bulimia Nervosa: Binge eating followed by behaviors like purging (vomiting or excessive exercise).
Binge-Eating Disorder: Recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food without purging.

6. Personality Disorders

Personality disorders involve persistent patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings that differ significantly from societal expectations, often leading to relationship difficulties.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Instability in relationships, self-image, and emotions, often with impulsive behaviors.
Antisocial Personality Disorder: Disregard for others' rights, often accompanied by criminal behavior.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: A pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.
Avoidant Personality Disorder: Extreme shyness, fear of criticism, and social avoidance.
Dependent Personality Disorder: A need to be taken care of, leading to submissiveness and fear of separation.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD): A preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control.

7. Neurodevelopmental Disorders

These disorders typically appear in childhood and involve developmental deficits that affect behavior, learning, and functioning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Difficulty with social interactions, communication, and restricted, repetitive behaviors.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Intellectual Disability: Limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.

8. Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders

These disorders are a response to a traumatic or stressful event and can cause significant distress and impairment.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A reaction to witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance.
Acute Stress Disorder: Similar to PTSD, but symptoms occur immediately after the trauma and last for a shorter period (usually up to a month).
Adjustment Disorder: Difficulty coping with or adjusting to significant life changes or stressors.

9. Neurocognitive Disorders

Neurocognitive disorders are primarily associated with cognitive decline, typically due to aging or injury.

Dementia: A decline in cognitive function, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common form.
Delirium: A sudden, short-term decline in mental function, often caused by illness or medication.
Amnestic Disorders: Memory problems not explained by typical aging.

10. Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

These disorders involve the presence of physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by medical conditions.

Somatic Symptom Disorder: Excessive worry about physical symptoms, leading to significant distress and impairment.
Illness Anxiety Disorder: Preoccupation with the fear of having a serious illness, despite few or no symptoms.
Conversion Disorder: Neurological symptoms (e.g., paralysis or blindness) that cannot be explained by medical conditions.