Week Four - Addictive Behaviours Flashcards
When can a drug produce dependence?
When dependence is defined as the manifestation of a withdrawal syndrome upon cessation of drug use.
Define addiction
A current pattern of maladaptive behaviour that includes drug seeking despite negative consequences ad very often, relapse
What term does the DSM 5 use to define addiction disorders
Substance use disorders
What are the 10 classes of drugs in the DSM 5?
Alcohol Caffeine Cannabis Hallucinogens Inhalants Opioids Sedatives Hypnotics Stimulants (e.g., meth, coke) Tobacco
How many criteria span substance use disorders?
11 - not all need to be met
What is the range of criteria scale for SUD?
2-3 = mild 4-5 = moderate 6+ = severe
What are the 3 characteristics of drug addiction?
Relapsing disorder characterised by:
- compulsion to seek and take the drug
- loss of control in limiting intake
- emergence of negative emotional state (e.g., anxiety) when access to drug is prevented
What is one of the major objectives of current research regarding drug use?
To understand the psychological and neural mechanisms that mediate the transition from occasional, controlled drug use, to the loss of behavioural control that results in chronic addiction
Drug addiction has aspects of what 2 disorders?
Impulse control and compulsive disorders
How are impulse control disorders characterised?
By an increasing sense of tension or arousal before committing an impulsive act - there is pleasure or relief at the time of committing and there may/may not be regret or guilt following the act
How are compulsive disorders characterised?
By anxiety and stress (with recurrent thoughts or obsessions) followed by compulsive repetitive behaviour and relief from the stress by performing compulsive behaviour
Explain positive and negative reinforcement in relation to impulse control and compulsion disorders
The search for PR (pleasure) is more associated with impulse control disorders whereas NR (relief of stress/anxiety) is more closely related to compulsive disorders
Explain the transition from impulse to compulsion disorder
Individuals transit from an impulsive disorder to a compulsive disorder as there is a shift rom PR driving the behaviour to NR driving the behaviour. Becomes less about the positive associations and more toward relieving the negative
Explain the Incentive Sensitisation Theory
Often when a drug is administered repeatedly, its effects will not remain constant
(tolerance: a decrease in the effectiveness of a drug that is administered repeatedly)
(sensitisation: an increase in the effectiveness of a drug that is administered repeatedly)
When first used, a drug produces a moderate amount of wanting and liking. With repeated use, tolerance for liking develops and so liking decreases. The wanting mediatior becomes sensitised and so wanting the drug increases
Explain the allostasis and NR theory
The initial acute effect of the drug is believed to be opposed or counteracted by the homeostatic changes in the system that mediate the primary drug effects
