Individual personality characteristics are involved in the development of addictive disturbances. Particularly at risk are individuals with self-esteem problems and difficulties in emotional regulation. Problems in these areas are often associated with a personality disturbance. The diagnosis of a comorbidity involving personality disturbance and addictive disease has implications for the subsequent treatment. This book presents various models of personality disturbances and the forms taken by addictive diseases, and places the two disturbance patterns in relation to each other. Indications for treatment and options for case-specific psychotherapy for this double diagnosis are then developed and discussed.

Adjunct Professor Marc Walter, Chief Physician in the Department of Adult Psychiatry at the University Psychiatric Hospital (UPK) in Basel. Adjunct Professor Daniel Sollberger, Chief Physician at Baselland Psychiatry. Dr. Sebastian Euler, Senior Consultant at the Centre for Special Psychotherapy (ZSP) at the UPK in Basel.