This Research Topic intends to provide new empirical evidence on the nature of the relationship between addiction and other psychiatric disorders as well as new empirical evidence on the treatment of dual disorders produced by excellent researchers in the field.

Since several decades, we know that dual disorders: the comorbidity between addictive and other psychiatric disorders, is the rule rather than the exception. The high prevalence of dual disorders and the presence of worse outcomes in case of dual disorders are already well documented. We do not want to gather further controversies based on opinion papers stating that dual disorders are the results of either a self-medication attempt of psychiatric disorders or the results of a toxicity of repetitive substance use on brain functions such as mood regulation.

This research topic will host innovative studies focusing on empirical methods. Studies validating screening or diagnosis methods, both dimensional and categorical, based on high grade experimental studies using state-of-the-art methodology will be considered. We aim to host articles providing mechanistic explanations on how addictive disorders may interfere with the pathophysiology of other psychiatric disorders and/ or cognitive disorders. More specifically, we want to promote a shift from descriptive studies to studies identifying endpoints for targeted interventions.

• Articles reporting validated biomarkers of common versus specific pathophysiological pathways, preclinical or experimental interventions, and innovative treatments specifically designed to dual disorder populations.
• Articles produced by research teams mastering methods including brain imaging, brain stimulation, neuropsychological interventions, pharmacology, genetics, genomics, and multi-omics approaches are welcome as submissions.
• Clinical studies assessing the efficacy/ tolerance of specific intervention in Human patients transferring preclinical research hypotheses in clinical interventions toward patients with dual disorders will be considered with a high priority.
• Hard endpoints such as mortality, disease trajectory modifications, or proven harm reduction are favoured.

All types of psychiatric disorders will be considered, including categorical as well as dimensional definitions of psychiatric disorders and symptoms, as long as excellent methodology and precise inclusion criteria are used. All types of substance dependence as well as behavioural addictions are part of this research topic.

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Frontiers in Psychiatry

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