2-DRUGS and other states of consciousness Flashcards
fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statostistical manual of mental disorders (DMS-5)
Used by clinicians to diagnose individuals suffering from various psychological disroders
Substance use disorder
- often uses more of the substance than they originally intended to and continues to use that substance despite experience significant adverse consequences
- Compulsive pattern of drug use that is often associated with both physical and psychological dependence
Physical dependence
changes in normal bodily functions (withdrawal)
Psychological dependence
has emotional need for the drug and may us it to relieve psychological distress
Tolerance
- linked to physiological dependence, occurs when a person requires more and more drug to achieve effects previously experienced at lower doses
- Cause the user to increase the amount of drug to a dangerous level
withdrawal effects?
Withdrawal usually has symptoms opposite of the effects of the drug
DEPRESSANT
have a sedative, calming effect; suppressed the CNS
- Many depressants (alcohol/benzodiazepines) work as GABA agonists
- Associated with :
- Decreases in reaction time and visual acuity
- Lowered levels of alertness
- Reduction in behavioural control
abuse potential of CNS depressants is relatively high
fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) or fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
pregnant woman drinks alcohol, then infant is born with a cluster of birth defects
STIMULANTS
increase neural activity
dopamine systems (e.g. cocaine); adenosine (e.g. caffeine); nicotine (acetylcholine); norepinephrine (amphetamines)
- Reward systems and arousal — euphoric high
- Leads to depletion of dopamine / norepinephrine / serotonin
- Sparks further use of the substances
- Baaaad withdrawal
types:
amphetamines
methamphetamine (meth)
caffeine
nicotine
OPIOIDS
reduce pain (analgesic)— works on our natural opioid systems
- Opioid drugs mimic the endogenous opioid neurotransmitter system
- Heroine / fentanyl
- Very high chance for abuse
- Opioid withdrawal resembles the flu
- But not super life threatening!
HALLUCINOGENS
produce the most extreme alterations to consciousness—result in hallucinations
- LSD / psilocybin / phencyclidine (PCP)
- Hallucinogens tend to work on glutamate receptors
- Glutamate found in 90% of the brain
- So they tend to activate the whole part of the brain!
- Often used in traditional ceremonies
- Feeling of connectedness / oneness with everything
- Not as much abuse potential as other drugs
- There is growing evidence that a single dose of LSD / psilocybin can have therapeutic effects (depression)
- A lot of research needs to be done—trips are unpredictable
Hypnosis
when one person makes suggestions that lead to a change in another person’s subjective experience of the world, state of extreme self-focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli
Can be quite effective at pain management!
Only works amongst highly suggestible people
theories for how hypnosis works
- Dissociation
- Dissociated state of consciousness
- Performance of a social role
- Social-cognitive theory of hypnosis
- Performing the social role of a hypnotized person
- Ppls behaviour can be shaped by their expectations of how they should act in a given situation
meditation
act of focusing on a single target to increase awareness of the moment
- not an altered state of consciousness for beginnners
- But it is for well-practiced meditators
- Meditation, with roots in religion, is gaining A LOT of scientific evidence
- Helps with mood disorders
- Less activity in the default mode network
- Reduces activation of the stress pathways
- Reduced telomere shortening
- Stress management and sleep quality
- Increase in working memory
