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Psychology of Addictions > Lecture 3 > Flashcards

Lecture 3 Flashcards

(68 cards)

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1
Q

What is a drug addiction ?

A

A chronic disorder in which drug-seeking & drug-taking behaviour persist despite serious negative consequences

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2
Q

What do addictive substances induce ?

A

They induce pleasant states or relieve stress

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3
Q

What does continued drug use induce ?

A

Induces adaptive changes in the CNS which leads to tolerance, physical dependence, sensitization, craving & relapse

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4
Q

What does genetic factors contribute to ?

A

Contribute to the risk of addiction, making some individuals more/less vulnerable

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5
Q

What are the groups of substances ?

A
  • Depressants
  • Stimulants
  • Opioids
  • Hallucinogens
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6
Q

What do depressants do ?

A

They result in behavioural sedation and relaxation

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7
Q

What drugs are included in depressants ?

A
  • alcohol
  • sedative (calming)
  • hypnotic (sleep-inducing)
  • anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing)
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8
Q

Do depressants increase or decrease CNS activity ?

A

They decrease CNS activity

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9
Q

Do depressants reduce or increase levels of physiological arousal ?

A

They reduce it

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10
Q

What are alcohol-related disorders ?

A

Cognitive, behavioural, biological & social problems associated with alcohol use & abuse

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11
Q

What is apparent stimulation ?

A

The initial effect of alcohol
* Initially feel more outgoing then gradually reaction time slows, judgement becomes poor, motor coordination is impaired

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12
Q

What path is travelled by alcohol throughout the body after ingestion ?

A
  • Stomach - small amounts absorbed
  • Small intestine- absorbed into the bloodstream
  • Circulatory system distributes alcohol throughout the body
  • Contacts major organs: heart, lungs ( vaporizes, is exhaled) & liver
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13
Q

What are the effects of alcohol on the brain ?

A
  • GABA: may explain anti-anxiety properties of alcohol
  • Glutamate system: may explain blackout/loss of memory period of intoxication
  • Serotonin: may explain alcoholic cravings
  • Dopamine: may explain pleasurable feelings experienced during alcohol consumption
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14
Q

What are the consequences of excessive drinking ?

A
  • Liver disease
  • Cardiovascular disorders
  • Dementia
  • Werinicke-Korsakoff syndrome
  • Fetal Alcohol syndrome
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15
Q

What is dementia ?

A

Deterioration of brain functioning
* can be a direct result of neurotoxicity or poisoning of the brain by excessive amounts of alcohol

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16
Q

What is Werinicke-Korsakoff syndrome ?

A

Results in confusion & loss of muscle coordination

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17
Q

What causes WKS ?

A

Caused by a deficiency in thiamine ( a vitamin metabolized poorly by heavy drinkers )

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18
Q

What is Fetal Alcohol syndrome ?

A

Pattern of problems inluding learning difficulties, behaviour deficits & characteristic physical flaws

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19
Q

Who are more likely to drink heavily ?

A

Men (boo)

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20
Q

What is considered heavy drinking for men or women ?

A
  • Men: 5+ drinks on one occasion at least once a month in the past year
  • Women: 4+ drinks
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21
Q

How does the rate of alcohol use vary across countries ?

A
  • Different attitudes towards drinking
  • Availability of alcohol
  • Family norms
  • Physiological reactions
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22
Q

What are the predictors of later abuse ?

A
  • Drinking at an early age (b/w 11-14) is predictive of developing later alcohol-related disorders
  • Lacking (or experiencing milder) physiological response to the sedative effects of alcohol may increase the likelihood of later abuse
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23
Q

What do stimulants do ?

A

Enhance alertness and activity & elevate mood, arousal and concentration

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24
Q

What drugs are included in stimulants ?

A
  • Amphetamines
  • cocaine
  • nicotine
  • caffeine
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25
What is **caffeine use disorder** ?
cognitive, biological, behavioural & social problems associated with the use & abuse of caffeine
26
What occurs when you take caffeine in **small doses** ?
Elevates mood & reduce fatigue
27
What occurs when you take caffeine in **large doses** ?
It causes insomnia
28
What does **regular use** of caffeine cause ?
* Tolerance * Dependence * Intoxication * Withdrawl
29
What is **tobacco-related disorders** ?
cognitive, biological, behavioural & social problems associated with the use & abuse of nicotine
30
What patterns do **nicotine** produce ?
Produces patterns of dependence, tolerance, and withdrawl
31
What are the withdrawl symptoms of **nicotine** ?
* depressed mood * insomnia * irritability * anxiety * difficulty concentrating * increased appetite * weight gain
32
What are the **consequences** of nicotine ?
* high blood pressure * increase risks of heart disease & cancer
33
What do **amphetamines** & **cocaine** do ?
* Increases blood pressure & pulse rate * Induce the release of corticotropin - releasing factor & cortisol
34
What does long term use of **amphetamines & cocaine** cause ?
* irritability * aggresive * stereotyped behaviour * paranoid-like psychosis
35
What are the mild withdrawl signs of **amphetamines & cocaine** ?
* insomnia * depression * lack of energy * intense cravings
36
What are **opiods** ?
Family of addictive psychoactive substances that include natural opiates, synthetic variations & comparable substances that occur naturally in the brain
37
What is an **opiate** ?
Natural chemicals in the opium poppy that have a narcotic effect
38
What are **opioid-related disorders** ?
cognitive, biological, behavioural and social problems associated with the use and abuse of opiates and their synthetic varients
39
What drugs are included in **opiods** ?
* heroine * opium * codeine * morphine
40
What can **opioids** cause ?
* euphoria * drowsiness * slowed breathing * death * can also reduce pain
41
What are the withdrawl symptoms of **opioids** ?
* excessive yawning * nausea * vomiting * chills * muscle aches * diarrhea * insomnia
42
What are the consequences of **opioids** ?
* mortality rates are 6-20 times more than the general population * relapse is common * many replace opiods with alcohol or other drugs * increased risk of HIV infection
43
What do **hallucinogens** do ?
Alter sensory perception & produce delusions, paranoia & hallucinations
44
What are the physical symptoms of **hallucinogens** ?
blurred vision, rapid heart rate, etc
45
What categories does **cannabis** fall under ?
Depressant, stimulant, and hallucinogen
46
What are common reactions of **cannabis** ?
* altered perceptions * mood swings * heightened sensory experiences
47
What occurs when you take cannabis in **large doses** ?
* paranoia * hallucinations * dizziness
48
What can occur with the **long-term use** of cannabis ?
impaired memory, concentration, motivation & cannabis use disorder
49
What can **synthetic marijuana** cause ?
* hallucinations * seizures * heart rhythm problems
50
What are the symptoms of withdrawl of **cannabis** ?
restlessness, irritability & insomnia | are subtle & appear in heavy consumers
51
Where is **dopamine highly concentrated** ?
Ventral tegmental area ( VTA, midbrain, brainstem )
52
What is the **mesolimbic pathway** ?
Spans from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens (striatum) & other limbic regions * Activation is necessary for experiencing reward and reinforcement * Each drug increases the amount of dopamine released in this pathway differently
53
How is the **release of dopamine stimulated** ?
Both natural rewards (i.e: foods) & addictive drugs stimulate the release of dopamine from neurons of the presynaptic VTA into the nucleus accumbens ( brain's pleasure centre) causing euphoria & reinforcement of that behaviour
54
What do **dopamine transporters** do ?
Removes dopamine from the synaptic cleft
55
What are the effect of drugs on **dopamine** ?
* All classes of drugs increase dopamine levels in the brain. but in different ways * Some (i.e: alcohol and nicotine) indirectly excite dopamine-producing neurons in the VTA so they generate more action potentials * Others (i.e: cocaine) act at the nerve terminal and bind to dopamine-transporter & **block reuptake of dopamine**
56
What is **reuptake** ?
Process that allows neurotransmitters to be taken back into the presynaptic neuron
57
What is the **incentive sensitization theory**
*Incentive salience* - as addiction develops, the addict develops an increase in "wanting" the drug, despite a decrease (or static) "liking"
58
What factors are involved in **relapse & craving** ?
* Re-exposure to the drug * Exposure to enviromental stimuli previously paired with druge use ( conditioned drug cues ) * Exposure to enviromental stressors
59
What is the **brain disease model of addiction** ?
When fundamental biological processes are disrupted they can alter voluntary behavioural control & lead to self-regulation disorders
60
What are the **criticisms** of the brain model of addiction ?
* This view challenges values about self-determination & personal responsibilities which frame drug use as a voluntary act * This view seems to be a way of excusing personal irresponsibility and criminal acts * This view fails to identify genetic aberration or brain atypicalities that consistently apply to all individuals
61
What is **operant conditioning** ?
Type of learning that is controlled by the consequences of one's behaviours
62
What is **reinforcement** ?
Any consequence that makes a behaviour *more* likely to occur ( *strengthens* the probability of the behaviour)
63
What is **positive** reinforcement ?
Presenting a pleasant stimulus following a behaviour we want to strengthen
64
What is **classical conditioning** ?
Form of learning in which one responds to a previously neutral stimulus that has been paired with another stimulus which elicits an automatic response
65
What is a **unconditioned stimulus** ?
Elicits an automatic response without prior conditioning
66
What is a **unconditioned response** ?
Automatic response to a stimulus that does not need to be learned
67
What is a **conditioned stimulus** ?
Initially neutral stimulus that comes to elicit a response due to association with an UCS
68
What is a **conditioned response** ?
Response previously associated with a nonneutral stimulus that is elicited by a (previously) neutral stimulus through conditioning

Psychology of Addictions (7 decks)

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