WEEK 9 - NEUROBIOLOGY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Question 1

drug addiction/substance abuse

Answer 1

chronically relapsing disorder that is characterised by compulsion to seek the drug, loss of control in limiting intake, emergence of negative emotional state when prevented access to drug

Question 2

order of abuse

Answer 2

occasional –> abuse –> addiction; and impulsivity –> compulsivity

Question 3

common types of drug users

Answer 3

tobacco > heroine > cocaine > alcohol > cannabis

Question 4

substance use

Answer 4

chemical compounds that are ingested to alter mood or behaviour - does NOT affect social or occupational functioning

Question 5

substance intoxication

Answer 5

Intoxication - impaired judgement, mood changes, impaired motor ability

Question 6

dependence

Answer 6

tolerance and withdrawal

Question 7

early symptoms of opiate withdrawal

Answer 7

agitation, anxiety, insomnia, sweating

Question 8

late symptoms of opiate withdrawal

Answer 8

diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, dilated pupils

Question 9

vulnerability to addiction factors

Answer 9

individual differences in temperament, comorbidity, social development, genetics, protective factors

Question 10

biological basis models for addiction cycle stages

Answer 10

animal lab models used to assess: binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative effect, preoccupation/anticipation

Question 11

neuronal circuits of addiction

Answer 11

binge intoxication - reward circuits; withdrawal effect - stress/arousal circuits; preoccupation/anticipation - limbic forebrain

Question 12

reward circuits

Answer 12

involve dopamine - mesolimbocortical pathway, ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens, cortex and hippocampus

Question 13

stress/arousal circuits

Answer 13

extended amygdala is key role in fear conditioning/emotional component of pain perception

Question 14

preoccupation/craving

Answer 14

key in relapse - limbic forebrain

Question 15

opioids

Answer 15

peptide neurotransmitters, has major medical uses but high potential fo abuse

Question 16

endogenous opioids

Answer 16

bind to opioid receptors and involved in response to stress, endocrine and immune function, mood and addictive behaviour

Question 17

pharmacokinetics of opioids

Answer 17

Heroin injected IV rapidly enters the blood

Question 18

modes of treatment for opioid dependence

Answer 18

detox, methadone maintenance, opioid antagonists

Question 19

alcohol

Answer 19

earliest drug that is commonly used - fermentation product of yeast

Question 20

pharmacokinetics of alcohol

Answer 20

5% beer, 10-12% wine, 40% liquor; reaction to alcohol intake varies to individuals

Question 21

metabolism of alcohol

Answer 21

balance between absorption and metabolism determines effects of alcohol consumption; 90% liver and 10% other organs

Question 22

GABA and alcohol

Answer 22

alcohol increases inhibitory effects of GABA - benzodiazepines work to increase efficiency of GABA

Question 23

modes of treatment for alcohol dependence

Answer 23

pharmacology (drugs for withdrawal effects, naltrexone) and non-drug approaches (individual psychotherapy, AA meetings, behavioural therapy)