Photo of Elena Del Busto, Psychiatrist in 19102, PA
Elena Del Busto
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Philadelphia, PA 19102
I am an ABPN Board certified psychiatrist and Clinical Associate at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Psychiatry. I have been honored as Top Doc in Philadelphia Magazine in May 2018 and Main Line Today in 2014. I offer an integrated, holistic approach to mental health treatment and believe in using psychotherapy and psychopharmacology when appropriate. I feel it is best to use evidence-based medicine and personalized treatment plans to help optimize outcomes and improve my patients' mental health.
I am an ABPN Board certified psychiatrist and Clinical Associate at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Psychiatry. I have been honored as Top Doc in Philadelphia Magazine in May 2018 and Main Line Today in 2014. I offer an integrated, holistic approach to mental health treatment and believe in using psychotherapy and psychopharmacology when appropriate. I feel it is best to use evidence-based medicine and personalized treatment plans to help optimize outcomes and improve my patients' mental health.
(610) 616-3633 View (610) 616-3633
Photo of Christina L Persaud, Psychiatrist in 19102, PA
Christina L Persaud
Psychiatrist, MD, MPH
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Philadelphia, PA 19102  (Online Only)
My goal is to help you improve your quality of life through the right combination of medications and therapy. My therapy style combines elements of psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and supportive therapy…along with the appropriate doses of sensitivity, empathy and humor.
My goal is to help you improve your quality of life through the right combination of medications and therapy. My therapy style combines elements of psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and supportive therapy…along with the appropriate doses of sensitivity, empathy and humor.
(646) 956-5955 View (646) 956-5955
Alcohol Use Psychiatrists

Are there specific medications for alcohol use?

There are oral medications approved to treat alcohol use disorder—such as disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone, which also comes in an injectable form. These medications do help people reduce their drinking as well as avoid the problem of relapse. Naltrexone helps reduce cravings, disulfiram can make a person feel sick when they drink, and acamprosate may help ease symptoms like poor sleep and anxious feelings.

How do alcohol recovery or rehabilitation programs work?

In inpatient programs, individuals live in a facility with other patients in recovery; in outpatient programs,individuals live at home. These facilities are staffed with healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, psychologists, counselors, and psychotherapists. Staff can also include people who have recovered themselves, serving as mentors and guides. These programs may use abstinence, harm reduction, detoxification, psychotherapy, and other tools for recovery.

How do 12-step programs combined with psychotherapy work?

Members of 12-step programs help each other reach abstinence and work to maintain it. These programs promote complete change in the individual’s emotional, mental, physical, and even spiritual perspectives. Some programs require that new members attend 90 meetings in 90 days. Many people do attend these programs in conjunction with their work in psychotherapy; the combination of therapy along with 12-step can be extremely effective.

How does harm reduction combined with psychotherapy work?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, harm reduction prevents death, injury, disease, overdose, and substance misuse. People who choose harm reduction for alcohol use reduce the amount of alcohol they intake. It is not abstinence-based like a 12-step program, but combining harm reduction with psychotherapy proves to be effective for many people.