Virtual Mentor. January 2008, Volume 10, Number 1: 1-78. Full Issue PDF

January 2008 Contents

Ethical Issues in Diagnosing and Treating Addiction

Ethics Poll

Excessive video game playing (online or television-supported) can become a behavioral addiction similar to compulsive gambling and should be recognized as an addiction by the medical community.
Agree.
Disagree.

Does your physician screen for addictions during routine physicals?
Yes, he or she always asks about my diet, alcohol consumption, and lifestyle and cautions me if something seems out of proportion or worrisome.
Yes, but only for alcohol or illegal drugs, and he or she accepts my answer without a challenge.
No, he or she only addresses the physical complaints that I bring.
I don't know--he or she asks a lot of questions; maybe those questions are a form of screening and I just never realized it.

Do you believe that opioids should be prescribed more readily for the purpose of pain relief?
Yes, opioids have few side effects, are relatively cheap, are quite effective, and fears of addiction are blown out of proportion, when compared to the benefits.
No, the chance for addiction is too great and there are other ways to treat pain.
I don’t know.

View

From the Editor

Addiction: Overlooked and Undertreated
Allison Grady
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:3-4.

Educating for Professionalism

Clinical Cases

Why Must Pain Patients Be Found Deserving of Treatment?
Commentary by Jay M. Baruch
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:5-12.

Communicating with Patients about Harmful Behaviors
Commentary by Carol R. Schermer
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:13-16.

Lost in the Web: Compulsive Videogaming
Commentary by Michael Brody
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:17-20.

Medical Education

Teaching about Substance Abuse
Richard A. Yoast, William J. Filstead, Bonnie B. Wilford, Susan Hayashi, Jennifer Reenan, and Jorie Epstein
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:21-29.

Journal Discussion

A Disorder by Any Other Name: Excessive Computer Game Playing
Swathi Reddy
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:30-34.

Clinical Pearl

Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Patrick B. Wood
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:35-40.

Law, Policy, and Society

Health Law

The Legality of Drug-Testing Procedures for Pregnant Women
Kristin Pulatie
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:41-44.

Policy Forum

Wellness Programs: Legality, Fairness, and Relevance
Laura D. Hermer
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:45-48.

Medicine and Society

Double Standard for Access to Pain Management
Steven D. Passik and Kenneth L. Kirsh
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:49-54.

Op-Ed and Correspondence

Op-Ed

Addiction and Sin: Recovery and Redemption
Hans Madueme
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:55-58.

Correspondence

Comments on the West Virginia Pilot Medicaid Plan
Amy C. Brodkey
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:59-62.

Resources

Suggested Readings and Resources
PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:63-75.

About the Contributors
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:76-78.