7. Addictive Disorders

Question 1

DSM definition

Answer 1

a “maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:

Question 2

Manifestations (4)

Answer 2

• Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work etc
• Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous
• Recurrent substance-related legal problems
• Continued substance use, despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance

Question 3

Important considerations re:substance disorders

Answer 3

• Who is taking the drug?
• What drug are they taking?
• When and where are the drugs being used?
• Why is the person taking the drug?
• How is the drug taken?
• How much of the drug is taken?

Question 4

Potency

Answer 4

the amount of drug necessary to cause an effect

Question 5

Toxicity

Answer 5

the capacity of a drug to do damage or cause adverse effects in the body

Question 6

Acute Toxicity

Answer 6

Behavioral – “intoxication” that impairs the user’s actions and increases the danger to themselves or others
Physiological – overdose that causes the user to stop breathing or for their heart to stop

Question 7

Three Basic Processes of Substance Dependence

Answer 7

-Tolerance
Repeated exposure results in a lesser effect
-Physical dependence
Withdrawal syndrome
-Psychological dependence
Observable behavior of frequently using drugs – reinforcement plays a role with this

Question 8

Australian stats RE: Alcohol 2011/12

Answer 8

82.4% of Australians aged 18 years and over had consumed alcohol in the past year

Question 9

Alcohol effects

Answer 9

A CNS depressant AND stimulant

Question 10

short term effects of moderate alcohol intake

Answer 10

-Disinhibition
- Social setting and mental state
Euphoric, friendly, talkative
Aggressive and hostile
-Interfere with motor activity, reflexes and coordination

Question 11

Lethal level of alcohol

Answer 11

Lethal level of alcohol is between 0.4 and 0.6% by volume in the blood

Question 12

Higher doses of alcohol can lead to

Answer 12

`At higher doses
Difficulty in walking, talking, and thinking
Induces drowsiness and causes sleep
In large amounts – severe depression of the brain systems and motor control area of the brain
Lack of coordination, confusion, & disorientation
Stupor, anesthesia, coma, and even death

Question 13

Heavy chronic drinking can lead to

Answer 13

Seriously damages the heart
Kidney and liver damage
Mental disorders, irreversible damage to the brain and peripheral nervous system
Lowered resistance to pneumonia and other infectious diseases
Irritation of the gastrointestinal tract

Question 14

Stimulants

Answer 14

Stimulants work by increasing neural activity in the brain. They have the short-term effect of making one feel lively, talkative, confident and euphoric.

Question 15

What are some stimulants?

Answer 15

Amphetamines (speed)
Ecstasy (an hallucinogenic amphetamine)
Tobacco

Question 16

Depressants

Answer 16

Depressants work by depressing the central nervous system. They can therefore induce a state of relaxation or sedation as well as reducing the intensity of pain and of emotions such as fear, anger or anxiety.

Question 17

What percentage of Australians have reported trying cannabis?

Answer 17

34%

Question 18

Four important cognitive-emotional factors in pathological gambling

Answer 18

• Reward and punishment process in behavioural conditioning
• Higher salience leading to cravings
• Impulsivity
• Impaired decision making