The Craving Brain: The Biobalance Approach to Controlling Addictions

by Marcia Byalick and Ronald A. Ruden

"Gotta have it" is the thought process of an addicted person. A drink, a drag, a hit, a line, a pill, another piece of chocolate. "Gotta have it." What drives this powerful need known as addiction? The problem isn't with the abused substance or activity, contends Dr. Ruden. The problem lies in the brain. As a result of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors, dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain are altered, and this sets the stage for the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060186984
• ISBN13: 9780060186982
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

This Should Be Taught In Junior High

Why do I stuff a whole bag of candy or quart of ice cream into my face? Why am I obsessed with Suzy down the street? Why do some people become alcoholics while others don't who drink just as much? Why am I so depressed? How can I learn to be satisfied with just the amount of food, sex and excitement that is good for me? This amazing book explains a neurobiological mechanism common to all these questions and more. It also provides helpful tools for the management of excessive cravings. This is done with such clarity and simplicity, and is potentially so valuable to humanity, that I believe it should be taught in school. Anyone who has had issues with depression, obsessiveness, impulse control or addiction should be sure to get the Second Edition, which adds a lot of material on non-drug management of such problems.

Follow up:

On Jan. 23/00 I was waxing and waning on the merits of this bio-balance approach to addiction. Well , confession time ; I wrote that the day I severed the bond (33 years) with nicotine How - Zyban - if that is O.K. to mention .... but somehow ,in someway , that particular concotion ... ( its really wellbutrin), did everything that Ruden talks about.... it is definitely in the neuro-chemical balance in the brain; for me it worked; it cut the chord so to speak; ever since I can decide that I do not wish, desire or want to smoke......and 347 days later still agree with delightful easement. If only the medical establishment would get serious and start doing some baseline metabolic type test : why did it work on me and not on .. Joe or Mary ???? Letsget with it!

Forward Thinking !

Finally , something on , about addictions that seems to hit the proverbial nail on the head. A forward assault on the bottom line of'addiction' ..the craving brain .....the complex of neuro-chemicals , especially dopamine and serotonin , and the yin/yang; up.down ; getting the right balance. Presented as a theory ... as such holds the potential as a very fruitful theory.

Ruden a True Pioneer in the Field of Addiction

Ruden's work is revolutionary. Not the final word, of course, but as a psychologist in the field I can say that The Craving Brain has been of immense value to me in both my research and clinical work. I recommend this book to anyone who is trying to understand and overcome an addiction.

A gem of a book for out-front ideas on addictions

The book is very readable for the non-medical community. It gets right to the point of the author's 'biobalance' theory. References to research are detailed. Author frames his explanation of theory to be comprehensive, but readily understandable. Seems to build a plateau from which further research would and should continue. My only reservations: seems to be a lack of research on the 'smoking gun' portions of theory (especially, not enough detail on the phen-fen studies to evaluate their true importance). I give this 5 stars because an audience that would be even mildly interested in this subject can take alot away from this book. It is a fast read, but will make your mind think about your brain (or others' brains) many times after you put this book down.