Psychology Addiciton A03 Flashcards
(24 cards)
Not all addictive behaviours increase dopamine BIO ADDICTION EVAL
Paul stokes et al (2009) found no significant increase in dopamine levels in voloutneers taking cannabis
The complexity of the role of dopamine BIO ADDICITION EVALUATION
Explaining addiciton due to the effects of dopamine ignores the face that dopmaine has a range of other functions as well Vaughn Bell (2013) described dopamine as the Kim K of neurotransmitters. but in truth the brain functions involved are much more complicated
Mehtodological issues BIO ADDICTION EXPLANATION
David Nutt et el (2015) has criticised the methodological use of research in the area. Samples of the studys are small and given in a un natural form
A ‘gene’ for addiciton?
Bio addiciton evaluation
As well as the DRD2 and ADH genes, a number of other have been identified. Ojelade et al (2015) found a gene called RSU1 was not functioning in fruit flys, it lowered their sensitivity t alcohol. Brain imaging techniques tested for this and found a relationsip between this and alchol dependence.
Determinism Addcition Bio evaluation
A key strength is to expl;ain why only some people are likely to be addicted evon though many may try.
Siblingand enviromental imapacts Addction biological evaluation
Kendler et al (2012) conducted a large-scale study and found that childreb of biological or siblings with a drug addiction had a higher risk. However, they noted the risk was higher if there were enviromental factors involved.
Difficulty establishing cause and effect. Addiciton individual evaluation
Mainly correlational research, which is a key issue. Persoanlity tests are usually given once the individual has the addiciton, so cause and effect cannot be established.
There is some evidence from prospetive studies supporting the idea of a addictive personality. Dong et al (2013) carried out a study on chinese uni students given the EPQ after starting university and 2 years later internet addiciton was assessed. Higher P and N scores were linked to addiciton
Role of persanality depends on the behaviour individual addiction evaluation
Ruth Mcmara (2010) found that in rats, impulsitivity meant that animals were more likely to self administeer cocaine not heroin. Early Stroess et al (1993) could not find a pattern when exploring the range of patterns linked to addiciton
Neurotism and Gambling Individual Addiction Eval
Griffiths (2010) found neurotisms along other traits were significanlty associated with online gaming addiciton. It could be argued that online gaming was being used in a simialr way to students. As a way to escape problems
Supporting Evidence Individ Evaluation Addiciton
Griffiths 91994) compared the verbalisations of 30 regular gamblers with 30 non regular gamnlers. The regular gmablers showed many more irrational verbalisation than the non regular. In addiction, regular gamblers showed evidence for heuristics. However, this study ignores gender differences. Males= gambling. females=bingo
Issues with research Individual addicition evalu
Research into cognitive biases requires pp to report to researchers what they are thinking. This creates a range of problems. eg, in research crried out by Griffiths (1994) researchers have to decide what bias is being shown
Sunken cost fallacy Individual addiciton evaluation
Strough et al 2008, found the sunk-cost faalcy is a bias where gamblers continue to recover previous loses, rrationally influenced by past investemnts rather than future outcomes. This can leads to further losses instead of stopping at a logical point
Research Evidence Social psych Addiction evaluation
Bruce Simons-Morton (2010) 40 studies into peers and smoking. All but 1 showed a posotive correlation supporting the link between peers and engagment in addictive behaviour
Peer influence or peer seleciton social psych evaluation
Do the peers influence the individuals to enage or do individuals choose friends because they engage in the behaviour. Ennett and Bauman found pp who were non smokers at the start of the study and who had smoking friends were more likely to smoke at the follow up. However, the institute of medicine (1999) found no evidence of peer influence on initiation or maintance of drug use
Simplistic Social Psych Addicition explanation
It may be too simplisitic to say that peers are the only social factor. Kobes suggest we need to consider the role of fmaily and social contexts in more detail
Difficulty establishing a link Social Psych Addiction evaluation
The majority of research into the media is correlational, cause and effect cannot be established. It may not be the media causing addiction it may be another factor. However, pechmann et al (1999) used an experimental method to assess the effect of smoking potryaol on attitudes of smoking 2 versions of the same film. those who wayched the smoking had increased intentions to smoke
Media can have posotive effects. Social Psych ADDICITON EVAL
It may contribute to a reduction in addictive behaviours. pechamnns study ashowed any smoking inthe film was cancelled iwth a anti smoking ad before hand
Other research for addiciton social psych evaluation
Flay and SObel (1983) found contary to SLT. White campaigns have increased knowledfe about drugs. they may have little or no effect on drug taking behaviour. Ss the media may play less of a role than we think.
Effectivness aversion therapy addiction a03
Niederofer + Staffen (2003) compared Antabus to a placebo and assessed their participants using self-report and screening for 90 days. The Antabuse had greater abstincne than the placebo group. But the effectivness of Antabuse in the long term is rare. Recent research into the effectivness or rapid smoking is also limited as it is less popu;ar.
- A key issue with behavioural therapys is that they treat the behaviour rather than the cause. If there is a underlying cause for the behaviour, like a cognitive bias then it may not be treated
Ethical issues aversion therapy addiction a03
Taking Antabuse can clearly cause very negative effects to a individual if they drink alcohol. Rpaid smoking is very unpleasent. But this is the way the treatment is designed to work. Those taking it would have given valid consent. There may be more ethical ways of achieving the same association
Social Implications of Aversiaon Therapy A03
-An article in the telegraph highlighted the dramatic increase in spending on antabuse and other drugs to treat alcoholism. In 2008, the nHS soent £2.24 million on the medication.
-However, the cost of not treating addiciton may be more. Alcohol abuse costs the taxpayer £21 billion a year.
agonist antagnosit substiution effectivness
NICE assessed 31 reviews of effectiveness, including 27 randomised controlled trials. They found a higher level of retention for people using methadone than placebo/no treatment. One meta-analysis of studies into the effectiveness of a range of treatments concluded that as long as the dosage is adequate then methadone is effective as a maintenance treatment.
Comparing methadone and buprenorphine.
One alternative to methane is burprenophine. It’s a milder medication, has both aganoist and antagonist properties. Which means it partially activates the dopamine receptors, reducing the withdrawal symptoms. But is also blocks the receptors preventing the euphoria associated with the opioids.
- One advantage is that there is less risk of overdose due to its ‘ceiling’ effect. Meaning that taking large quantities will not increase its treatment. Marleau et al (2015) analysed data for 5 years and concluded that it was 6 times safer than methadone. However, methadone is preffered.
Naltrexone. NICE reviewed 17 studies concerning the effectiveness of naltrexone for heroin addiction. Overall, they found conflicting results, and many of the randomised trials showed no significant difference between naltrexone and a control treatment for retention on the programme.However, when the results were pooled they did not find that naltrexone was associated in a reduction in relapse rates. Particularly in those that were highly motivated and where the patients were closely monitored and offered extra support. Issue with effectiveness is that it does not follow up over. along period of time.
agansoit antagnosit substituion ethicla issue
There are ethical criticisms of the uses of methadone. Side effects need to be taken into consideration. eg, methadone may interact with other drugs such as aldol and antidepressents= respiratory problems. Also a danger of overdose. The office for national statistics reported that in 2013, methadone was responsible for 429 deaths in the uk. Naltrexone, there is a greater risk of overdose. If the individual returns to taking a drug they will need more of it to feel the same effects and therefore less likely to overdose. People also need to be monitored for issues with liver function. If opioid dependent= withdrawal. It also treats the symptoms not cause.
soical implocations aganosit antagnosit
eSample attention is common. Some p expensive failure and costs to society money and also drug users on benefits. It suggested greater success would be activated by funding rehabilitation units. However, drug scope disputed the claims, saying that the report overestimated the cost.
Methadone and criminality. According to a report by the National Treatment agency (2009). treating heroin users with methadone has an immediate positive effect on society by reducing their criminality. They suggest that rates of offending are reduced by half when addicts are in treatment. However, CFPS claimed that drug-related reoffending has continued to rise despite the availability of drug treatments for methadone
