ADDICTION: Characteristics

Question 1

Definition of Addiction

Answer 1

A chronic relapsing brain disease characterised by compulsive drug seeking and use despite anticipation of negative consequences.

Question 2

SMTWCR
[Saturday Morning Toast With Coffee, Roger]

Answer 2

GRIFFITHS
Salience / Mood Modification / Tolerance / Withdrawal / Conflict / Relapse

Question 3

Griffiths Salience

Answer 3

The behaviour / substance has become the most important thing in a person’s life

• Dominates a person’s thoughts / feelings / behaviours

Question 4

Griffiths Mood Modification

Answer 4

When a person engages in addictive stimulus, it will change their mood

• Either positively or negatively

Question 5

Griffiths Tolerance

Answer 5

A person builds tolerance to the addictive stimulus

• As time passes, they need to engage more in the addictive behaviour

Question 6

Griffiths Withdrawal

Answer 6

If the behaviour is stopped, an individual will experience withdrawal symptoms

PHYSICAL: Headaches / constipation

PSYCHOLOGICAL: Irritability / moodiness

Question 7

Griffiths Conflict

Answer 7

INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT: Addicts experience conflict with their social support groups due to their addiction

INTRAPSYCHIC CONFLICT: Addicts experience conflict within themselves (Want to stop engaging in addictive stimulus but struggle to)

Question 8

Griffiths Relapse

Answer 8

Addicts tend to return to the addiction after seemingly successful treatment

• More common in chemical addictions

Question 9

Walters 4 Ps

Answer 9

Preoccupation

Persistence

Progression

Perceived

Question 10

Walters Preoccupation

Answer 10

Addict is engrossed by their addictive stimulus

Question 11

Walters Persistence

Answer 11

Addict continues to engage in addictive stimulus despite difficulty & conflict

Question 12

Walters Progression

Answer 12

Addict continues to engage in addictive stimulus more and more as tolerance increases

Question 13

Walters Perceived

Answer 13

Addict feels that they have lost control when they may not have

Question 14

Characteristics - Internet Addiction Definition

Answer 14

DSM-V lists Internet addiction as a formal disorder though recommends more research should be carried out
Chinese Government - Recognised internet addiction as a disorder in 2008 (effected 24/632 million Chinese internet users)
- Many teenagers were sent to controversial boot camps to try wean them from the addiction

Question 15

Characteristics - Internet Addiction Support

Answer 15

Lin et al. - People who use the internet excessively show similar brain abnormalities to those with substance addictions

Griffiths - It’s important to distinguish between an addiction to the internet and an addiction which takes place online (internet addiction vs online gambling addiction)

Question 16

Characteristics DSM Categories of Addiction

Answer 16

• 10 categories of addictive substances
• Only behaviour recognised as an addiction is gambling [Others require more evidence]
• Substance use disorders = Addictions
• Substance induced disorders = Symptoms caused by substances (intoxication / withdrawal)
• 11 criteria for diagnosis, person must meet the following to be diagnosed as…
• 2-3 symptoms = mild addiction
• 4-5 symptoms = moderate addiction
  
  • 6+ symptoms = severe addiction

😟 Limited in its ability to diagnose behavioural addiction
- Excluding gambling, no behavioural addiction has a set diagnostic criteria

Question 17

DSM Name

Answer 17

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Question 18

Characteristics - General Issues of Researching Addiction

Answer 18

SELF-REPORT: - Addicts may be reluctant to be honest (addiction is often embarrassing & can negatively affect a person’s life)
- Addicts may not accurately recall what they do / have done or feel / have felt

VALIDITY: Due to ethical consideration, researchers cannot ask individuals to engage in addictive behaviours to measure its effects

SAMPLING: Difficult to obtain a representative sample for addiction research / Research often requires addicts to be compared against a matched control group to assess the effects of addiction