A review on addiction from a psychoanalytic view, from fixation to emotion dysregulation

Addiction is a chronic and recurrent disease, which has always been the focus of various psychological perspectives. Psychoanalysis theories are fundamental in the modern treatment of addiction. As we have seen changes in the structure and process of methods during the time, they have changed in defining the concept of addiction. According to classic theories, addiction is an equivalent to masturbation and a defense mechanism against anxiety impulses or pretension of oral regression (dependency). Also, from object relations theorists’ perspective, drugs are significant objects for the addicted person. New formulations of psychoanalysis are also introduced using drugs as a reflection of the defects of ego function. The research method is a review, and it aims to analyze addiction from different psychoanalysis perspectives such as classical psychoanalysis, object relations psychology, relational psychoanalysis, and short term psychodynamic psychotherapy. According to research about personality disorders in drug abusers, these individuals need unique treatment like psychoanalytic psychotherapy, which works on personality structures. However, investigations about this field of therapy are limited. Not paying attention to this issue can be a reason of attempts' failures about the treatment of drug abuse. Therefore, it can be said that addiction research literature needs to increase the application and analysis of this therapeutic approach. It is also hoped that in addiction treatment centers, better and more new findings will be used to help this population.