These notes include everything you will need to know for the paper 3 exam on addiction. They are beautifully formatted in colour, with illustrations and concisely include both AO1, AO3 and extension points for A* grades.
This topic includes:
1- Describing Addiction
2- Risk Factors in The Development of Addiction
3- Explanations for Nicotine Addiction: Brain Neurochemistry
4- Explanations for Nicotine Addiction: Learning Theory
5- Explanations for Gambling Addiction: Learning Theory
6- Explanations for Gambling Addiction: Cognitive Theory
7- Reducing Addiction: Drug Therapy
8- Reducing Addiction: Behavioural Interventions
9- Reducing Addiction: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
10- Applying The Theory of Planned Behaviour to Addiction
11- Applying Prochaska’s Model of Behaviour to Addiction
, Psychology Year 2 Addiction Samuel Nesbitt
1- Describing addiction
What is addiction?
A disorder in which an individual becomes obsessively engaged with a pleasurable substance or behaviour resulting
in negative consequences – marked by physical/psychological dependence, tolerance and withdrawal.
Dependence
• Physical – The physiological need to take a substance, resulting in withdrawal effects.
• Psychological - The psychological need to take a substance because its use is rewarding, even despite it causing
harmful consequences.
Tolerance Withdrawal syndrome
• Repeated exposure to a drug causes a reduction in • A set of symptoms that develop when the
response so that a larger dose is needed to get the addicted person attains from or reduces their
same effects. drug use.
• Cross-tolerance: When tolerance of one drug reduces • They have the opposite effects of the drug
sensitivity to another. E.g. anxiety, irritability etc.
• Motivation to continue to avoid withdrawal Is a
Tolerance occurs when:
secondary form of psychological dependence.
• Enzymes metabolise the drug more efficiently over
time, meaning the effects last more quickly.
• Drugs reduce the density of receptors for that drug,
reducing the response of normal dose.
DSM-5: Diagnostic Criteria for Substance Use Disorder.
1. Impaired control:
• Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than the you meant to
• Wanting to cut down/stop but not managing to
• Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from drug use.
• Cravings and urges to use the substance
2. Social Impairment:
• Disruption to work/school/ family as result of drug.
• Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships
• Giving up important social, occupational or recreational activities because of drug
3. Risky Use:
• Using substances again and again, even when it puts you in danger
• Continuing to use, even when you know you have a physical or psychological problem with the drug
4. Pharmacological Indicators:
• Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance)
• Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance.
2
, Psychology Year 2 Addiction Samuel Nesbitt
2- Risk Factors in The Development of Addiction
1. Genetic Vulnerability
A genetic vulnerability is any inherited predisposition that increases the risk of a disorder or a condition. It helps
explain why some people become dependent to a drug and other don’t.
A1 Variant of DRD2 Gene CPY2A6 Enzyme
• People born with fewer dopamine receptors in • Metabolises nicotine.
mesolimbic pathway are more likely to • People born with fully functioning CYP2A6
compensate by engaging in substances/ enzyme metabolise nicotine more quickly so
behaviours that increase dopamine activity. more likely to develop metabolic tolerance.
Research Support Limitation
• Pianezza – People with fully functioning CYP2A6 • Twin studies not 100% - link to diathesis stress
enzyme smoked considerably less. model
• Kendlar – Twin studies for Cocaine addiction. • Gender differences
MZ: 35% and DZ: 0% • Van-Den Bree - 79% concordance in males,
• Slutske -Twin studies for gambling only 49% in females
MZ: 49% and DZ: 21% • Indirect effects
• Vink et al – studied 1,572 Dutch twins for tobacco • Reductionist
• Likelihood was 75% genetic factors. • Deterministic
2. Stress
Stress is a state of arousal that arises when we believe we cannot cope with a perceived threat. Addictive
behaviours distract you and allow you to forget about stressful situations. E.g. relationship problems.
Self-Medication Model Childhood Stress
• People intentionally use a substance or engage in a • Addiction develops in response to a vulnerability in
behaviour to ‘treat’ the psychological symptoms childhood (e.g. sexual abuse/trauma) and a later
they experience because of everyday stress. stressful life event (e.g. PTSD)
• E.g. Gambling acts as a distraction and • . This causes neurological damage to the brain which
smoking helps them to relax. alters the way rewards are perceived and
interpreted (e.g. heightens reward of drugs)
Research Support Limitation
• Epstein – Strong correlation between childhood • Proximate vs ultimate – Ways people cope with
abuse rate and adult alcohol addiction stress is determined by personality type
• Correlational – not possible to conclude that stress E.g. Type A – higher levels of physiological arousal
directly causes addiction so more likely to use substances as coping strategy
Research shows that childhood abuse often leads to Genetic therefore influences personality which
onset of psychological disorders – e.g. BPD which influences stress
may lead to dependency (impulsivity/emotional
dysregulation)
3
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