Addiction- modification Aversion therapy

Question 1

What is aversion therapy?

Answer 1

Works on classical conditioning
An addict will learn to associate the thing that they are addicted to with an unpleasant stimuli
This addiction will then turn to an unpleasant response ultimately stopping addiction

Question 2

2 components of aversion therapy?

Answer 2

Antabuse (disulfiram)
Rapid smoking

Question 3

How does antabuse work?

Answer 3

Antabuse acts as an aversive stimulus ultimately affecting how the body metabolises alchohol
Usually alchol is broken down by acetaldehyde and then further broken down by an enzyme in the liver called aldehyde deyhydrogenase
-Antabuse causes a reaction called disulfiram reaction stopping this enxyme fro working and causes a build up of acetaldehyde in bloodstream

Question 4

Diagram of antabuse?

Answer 4

Ethanol–> ADH (the alcohol dehydrogenase/ fast)–> Acetaldehyde–> ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenase/disulfiram ADLH) slow–> Acetate
-Building toxin and unable to breakdown as enzyme is stopping it

Question 5

What does antabuse cause?

Answer 5

Occurs in 10 minute of drinking alcohol causes vomiting creating an association
-Leading to person a person avoiding contact with the behaviour and may avoid triggers associated with addiction e.g. pubs
-Affects of drugs are sweating, heart palpitations, headaches and vomiting

Question 6

Classical conditioning schedule for antabuse?

Answer 6

Before
UCS ————> UCR
antabuse vomiting
NS alcohol—-> no response
DURING
UCS + NS—> UCR
antabuse + alcohol= discomfort
AFTER
CS ———-> CR
Alcohol ——> Discomfort

Question 7

NICE guidlines for antabuse?

Answer 7

Antabuse treatment can begin after the individual has undergone withdrawal
200mg daily but increased if reaction to alcohols not adversive enough
-Should remain under 2 week supervision for the first 2 months then monthly for next 4 month
-Be cautious with certain foods and mouthwash that may contain alcohol

Question 8

What is rapid smoking?

Answer 8

Smokers sit in a closed room and take a puff on a cigarette every 6 seconds until they finish number of cigs or until they feel sick
-Smokers develop aversion due to strong association
-Very popular in 1970s USA but not today

Question 9

Evaluation- Researchers?

Answer 9

Niederhofer and Staffen 2003
Jorgensen et al 2011

Question 10

Evaluation- research support Niederhofer and Staffen 2003?

Answer 10

Compared antabuse to a placebo and assessed their participants using self report method of and screening for 90 days
Antabuse patients had higher abstinence rates than placebo

Question 11

Evaluation- research support- Jorgensen et al 2011?

Answer 11

People taking antabuse had more days until relapse and had fewer drinking days
However- people may be able to figure out placebo

Question 12

Evaluation- research support, counter arguments?

Answer 12

Studies looking at antabuse in the long term are rare and they tend to lack scientific rigour as they are full randomised control trials guessing placebos
-Few comparison studies between antabuse and other treatment for alcoholism and they often take place on small samples
-Difficult to carry out placebo studies as patients will be aware with condition they are in if they drink and no adverse effects are experienced so unethical

Question 13

Evaluation- research support rapid smoking?

Answer 13

Limited and less popular
However done by McRobbie

Question 14

Evaluation- research support McRobbie?

Answer 14

Did a study on 100 smokers attending accession clinic where rapid smoking compared with a control condition those who wanted a video about giving up smoking
-The ones taking part in rapid smoking significant decrease the urge after 24 hrs and a week

Question 15

Evaluation- research support McRobbie counter argument?

Answer 15

After 4 weeks the difference between rapid smoking and abstinence rates were unclear but reducing urges early may kick start progress than other techniques applied

Question 16

Evaluation- practicle issues: treating the symptom not the cause?

Answer 16

Only end up treating behaviour, starting drinking due to stress, depression or peers after creating an aversion
Problems still aren’t cured so can substitute addict in order of managing stress individuals may actually need therapy
Underlying problem in cognitive bias

Question 17

Evaluation- ethics side effects?

Answer 17

Alcohol and antabuse nausea is not a side effect as this is intentional as well as rapid smoking is unpleasant
-Antabuse- drowsiness, tiredness, headache, taste in mouth, skin and rash, acne
-Weigh up pros and cons for alcohol and these symptoms
-Increase in lung cancer and damage

Question 18

Evaluation- ethics?

Answer 18

Have no free will to withdrawal
Having to wait a while to get it removed

Question 19

Evaluation- ethics what is covert sensitisation and why can this be an ethical alternative?

Answer 19

Imagine feelings of being sick or vomiting when having the urge to drink
Tom Kraft- quick and highly effective treatment and more ethical

Question 20

Evaluation- social implications?

Answer 20

Drinking and smoking cost UK economy a lot
Any treatment that is able to reduce the rates of these addictions may be able to prevent a lot of the harm caused to save money

Question 21

Evaluation- social implications Devlin?

Answer 21

Dramatic increase in spending than other drugs than to treat alcholism
In 2008 £2.25 mill up from 1.08 mill in 1998

Question 22

Evaluation- social implications Alcohol concern?

Answer 22

Small amount compared with money spent on treating alcoholism on NHS investment in treatment and prevention saves money in long run