7120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Nucleus Accumbens, Drug Tolerance
21 Jun 2018
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LECTURE 11 – PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS (chapter 14)
Substance abuse and addiction
- Antagonist
oDrug that blocks a neurotransmitter
oSomething that goes against another thing
- Agonist
oDrug that mimics or increases an effect
- Affinity
oTendency to bind to a receptor
- Efficacy
oTendency to activate the receptor
The nucleus accumbens
Cravings
- Insistent search for the activity/substance
oDistinctive feature of addictions
oReally look for it, seek it out
- Even after long period of abstinence, visual cues can trigger a craving
oSee it, want it and crave it
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- studies in rats show repeated exposure to an addictive substance alters receptors to become
more responsive to the addictive substance
oLess responsive to other types of reinforcement
oGet addicted, work for the drug
Tolerance and withdrawal
- Tolerance
oDecrease in effect as an addiction develops
oDrug tolerance is learned (somewhat dependent on situation)
Removed from situation, tolerance is less?
oCan be weakened through extinction procedures
Repeatedly exposed to situation, but no access to substance
Situation becomes less of a trigger or conditioned stimulus
- Withdrawal
oBody’s reaction to absence of the drug
Get the shakes
headache
Predispositions
- Genetic influences
oTwin studies confirm strong influence on genetics on vulnerability to alcohol/drugs
oMany addiction-linked genes have been identified, each with a small effect
Environmental influences
- Prenatal environment contributes to risk for alcoholism
- Childhood environment
oCareful parenting supervision decreases likelihood of developing impulsive behaviour
that leads to abuse
- Type 1 alcoholics develop alcohol problems gradually, after age 25 – more stress related
oMore environmentally influences, ie drinking because work was hard
- Type 2 associated with early onset – usually men with a family history of alcoholism
oMen are more predisposed to develop addictive behaviour
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Behavioural predictors of abuse
- Monitoring response of young people to predict risk of later problems
- Research findings
oSons of alcoholics show less than average intoxication after drinking a moderate amount
of alcohol
Already have a tolerance, more likely to turn to it as a stress reliver
oAlcohol decreases stress for most people, but more so for sons of alcoholics
Treatments
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
oContingency management includes rewards for remaining drug free
- Biggest scare
oAccident violation
Eg accidentally drink then keep going, because why not, there’s no going back
- Medication
oAntabuse
Results in sickness eg nausea, soon after drinking
If one doesn’t drink, no illness
If one wants to drink they find a way to not take the pill and drink
Medications to combat opiate abuse
- Methadone as a safer alternative to heroin
oSimilar to heroin and morphine
Activates same brain receptors and produces same effects
oCan be taken orally, absorbs slowly, and leaves brain slowly
Rush and withdrawal both reduced
Mood disorders
- Major depression symptoms
oPerson feels sad and helpless most of the day every day for long periods of time
oPerson does not enjoy anything and cannot imagine enjoying anything
oFatigue, feelings of worthlessness or contemplation of suicide
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Antagonist: drug that blocks a neurotransmitter, something that goes against another thing. Agonist: drug that mimics or increases an effect. Affinity: tendency to bind to a receptor. Insistent search for the activity/substance: distinctive feature of addictions, really look for it, seek it out. Tolerance: decrease in effect as an addiction develops, drug tolerance is learned (somewhat dependent on situation) Removed from situation, tolerance is less: can be weakened through extinction procedures. Repeatedly exposed to situation, but no access to substance. Situation becomes less of a trigger or conditioned stimulus: body"s reaction to absence of the drug. Genetic influences: twin studies confirm strong influence on genetics on vulnerability to alcohol/drugs, many addiction-linked genes have been identified, each with a small effect. Childhood environment: careful parenting supervision decreases likelihood of developing impulsive behaviour that leads to abuse. Type 1 alcoholics develop alcohol problems gradually, after age 25 more stress related: more environmentally influences, ie drinking because work was hard.
