Dr Matt Bader answers some frequently asked questions about what it means to be an Addiction Psychiatrist.
Mar 7th, 2019
Q: What is an addiction psychiatrist?
A: An addiction psychiatrist is a psychiatrist that has undergone additional formal training in the diagnosis and treatment of substance use and other addictive disorders.
Q: How is the training for an addiction psychiatrist different from the training for other psychiatrists?
A: Addiction psychiatrists complete general psychiatry residency but then also complete additional training in the form of a fellowship. This training focuses more specifically on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of addiction often in the context other mental health concerns as well.
Q: What does it mean to be a “board-certified” addiction psychiatrist?
A: A “board certified” addiction psychiatrist has passed the board exam put forth by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).
Q: Can other kinds of doctors specialize in addiction medicine?
A: -Yes, other doctors can specialize in addiction medicine and demonstrate their competence by passing an addiction medicine board exam put forth by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM) or via completing a certificate of Added Qualification in Addiction Medicine via the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
Q: What kinds of treatment does an addiction psychiatrist provide?
A: Different treatments include: use of medication and therapeutic techniques, addiction psychiatrists provide services in prevention, screening, intervention, and treatment for substance use disorders and other addictions while also recognizing and treating any other comorbid mental health diagnoses that often accompany active addiction.
Need help with substance use disorders or addiction? Please contact us at 919-636-5240.
Dr. Matt BaderSpecializing in addiction psychiatry in adults, Matt Bader, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist providing care at Cognitive Psychiatry of Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The New Jersey native has made the Tar Heel State his permanent home. After completing his undergraduate degree at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Dr. Bader went on to earn his doctor of medicine degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dr. Bader completed his psychiatry residency at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. He received subspecialty training in addiction psychiatry as a fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Taking a holistic approach to addiction psychiatry, Dr. Bader works to treat mood-related conditions, like anxiety and depression in addition to addiction issues. This approach allows Dr. Brader to treat the whole person and not just the addiction. Dr. Bader strives to provide each patient with the comprehensive