IMPULSE CONTROL DISORDERS Flashcards
(32 cards)
What did Blaszczynski and Nower (2003) contribute regarding imaginal desensitization?
They provided evidence that it is an effective method in treating certain impulse control disorders.
How often is guided imagery practised in imaginal desensitisation?
Two to three times per day, five to seven days per week, with progress recorded.
What is imaginal desensitisation?
Purpose: A cognitive-behavioural therapy to reduce urges in impulse control disorders (e.g., gambling, kleptomania).
Process:
1️⃣ Relaxation Training – Progressive muscle relaxation to reduce tension.
2️⃣ Trigger Visualisation – Imagine a situation that provokes the impulse.
3️⃣ Acting Out Mentally – Visualise performing the behaviour without actually doing it.
4️⃣ Exit While Relaxed – Mentally leave the situation while maintaining relaxation.
According to Glover (1985), what is the benefit of covert sensitization for kleptomania?
Vivid imagery of unpleasant scenes related to stealing reduced urges to steal in a case study.
What is covert sensitisation?
A classical conditioning technique where clients imagine unpleasant scenes repeatedly paired with their target behavior, creating negative associations and reducing urges.
What limitation did Grant et al (2008) have regarding follow-up?
There was no long-term follow-up, so long-term efficacy is unknown.
What methodological strength did Grant et al (2008) have?
Y-BOCS was administered double-blind, increasing validity.
What was the main conclusion from Grant et al (2008)?
Opiate antagonists are especially effective for gamblers with a family history of alcoholism and strong pre-treatment urges, with apparent placebo effect in younger gamblers.
What three factors predicted better treatment outcomes in Grant et al (2008)?
Family history of alcoholism, stronger baseline urges, and age (reduced placebo effect in older participants).
How long did the drug trial in Grant et al (2008) last?
Up to 18 weeks.
What assessment tools were used in Grant et al (2008)?
Comorbid diagnoses were found via structured interview; gambling severity was measured with the Y-BOCS.
Who were the participants in Grant et al (2008)?
284 pathological gamblers, all outpatients from 15 psychiatric centers, who had gambled in the past two weeks.
What was the purpose of Grant et al (2008) study?
To investigate the effectiveness of opiate antagonists for treating gambling disorder.
How do opioid antagonists work in impulse control disorders?
They block opioid receptors, reducing euphoria/reinforcement from behaviors, leading to extinction of compulsive acts.
What biological treatments are used for impulse control disorders?
SSRIs, mood stabilizers and opioid antagonists are used to manage symptoms.
What are psychological treatments for impulse control disorders?
- Covert sensitisation 2. Imaginal desensitisation
What is Miller’s feeling-state theory?
🧩 Core Mechanism: Positive emotions fuse with behaviors, forming a feeling state → Leads to state-dependent behavior
💥 Example: A person with pyromania associates setting fires with a powerful emotional high, making it irrationally rewarding
🔄 Cycle:
1️⃣ Feeling state triggers the urge
2️⃣ Acts as compensation for underlying negative beliefs
3️⃣ Provides temporary escape from core self-doubt
4️⃣ Consequences reinforce new negative beliefs, fueling the cycle
What is variable ratio reinforcement (VRR)?
A reinforcement schedule where rewards are unpredictable; leads to high rates of behavior and resistance to extinction, explaining gambling addiction.
How does behavioral psychology explain impulse control disorders?
Behaviors that are positively reinforced by pleasurable outcomes (dopamine rush) are repeated; especially when reinforced on a variable ratio schedule as in gambling.
What is reward deficiency syndrome?
A theory that impulse control disorders arise from reduced dopamine levels, causing people to seek behaviors that increase dopamine; may be genetic.
What biological mechanism is implicated in impulse control disorders?
Stimulation of reward centers (e.g. nucleus accumbens) causes dopamine release, leading to pleasurable feelings that reinforce the behavior. Dopamine is also released before previously rewarded behaviours, leading to excitement and anticipation.
What are the weaknesses of the K-SAS?
Relies on honest self-reporting and variation in interpretation of scale labels may affect reliability.
What are the strengths of the K-SAS?
Practical (takes 10 minutes and needs no training) and provides objective, quantitative data.
What is a sample item from the K-SAS?
‘If you had urges to steal during the past week, on average, how strong were your urges? None (0) Mild (1) Moderate (2) Severe (3) Extreme (4)’.
