Addictive Behaviors

Addictive Behaviors is a professional journal designed to publish original research and theoretical papers in the area of substance abuse. The journal focuses on alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, and problems associated with eating. Articles represent interdisciplinary endeavors with research in such fields as biochemistry, psychology, sociology, psychiatry, neurology, and pharmacology being represented. While theoretical orientations are diverse, the emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with objective assessment procedures is a requisite for inclusion of papers. Occasionally, uncontrolled clinical demonstrations or case reports appear in brief form if they are innovative and likely to induce further research in the area. A case report, to be acceptable, must embody one or more of the following: (1) a new and original method; (2) an apparently advantageous variation of a previous method; (3) an observation of considerable interest; (4) an unusually clear account of the use of an accepted method. In all instances, baseline and follow-up quantitative data of no less than a six-month duration should be presented. Two major types of research reports are encouraged. The first type includes descriptive studies in which functional relationships between a substance abuse and any one of a combination of social biochemical, cognitive, environmental, attitudinal, emotional, or neurological factors are established. A study in which the relationship between social stress and alcohol consumption were assessed in both alcoholics and social drinkers is included in this category. Descriptive studies which contribute meaningfully to the development and/or modification of clinical treatment strategies are given priority. The second type of study involves clinical outcome data in which treatment or prevention procedures are systematically evaluated by controlled group research or single-case designs.