Substance Related and Addictive Disorders: Understanding Etiology and Diagnostic Processes

Welcome to my lecture on Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Understanding Etiology and Diagnosis Through a Trauma-Informed Lens. In this session, I take a deep dive into how addiction develops, why people turn to substances, and how trauma rewires the brain to make substance use feel like a survival mechanism. This isn’t just about diagnosing addiction—it’s about understanding why it happens and how we can approach treatment in a way that truly helps.

I’ll break down the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders, explore the neuroscience of addiction, and discuss the role of trauma and co-occurring mental health conditions. You’ll also hear about process addictions (like gambling disorder and compulsive behaviors), how addiction impacts the brain’s reward system, and why traditional treatment approaches often miss the bigger picture.

By the end of this lecture, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how trauma and addiction are linked, how to apply trauma-informed diagnostic frameworks, and why a bio-psycho-social approach to treatment is essential.

💬 Let’s discuss! If trauma plays such a big role in addiction, how should that influence the way we diagnose and treat substance-related disorders? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!