Aversion Therapy For Alcohol Abuse Flashcards
What is aversion therapy based on?
This therapy is based on the learning approach and more specifically classical conditioning (learning through association).
What is aversion therapy a form of and what does it involve?
Aversion therapy is a form of behaviour therapy in which an aversive (causing a strong feeling of dislike or disgust) stimulus is paired with an undesirable behaviour in order to reduce or eliminate that behaviour.
What is an example of an undesirable behaviour?
Substance misuse is one type of undesirable behaviour.
Where is aversion therapy for aversion therapy administered?
Aversion therapy for alcohol misuse is usually administered in a clinical setting and under supervision.
What can alcohol be paired with and what does this do?
Alcohol can be paired with an emetic drug (which induces vomiting) so that the patient associates alcohol with vomiting and it becomes a conditioned response.
What is the drug that can be used?
Disulfiram
How can Disulfiram be used?
It can be used as an emetic with alcoholics.
What happens when one takes disulfiram.
When disulfiram is administered the user will experience severe negative reaction to alcohol similar to the experiences of a severe hangover.
How long do the effects of disulfiram last?
for a period of 30 minutes to several hours.
What do the symptoms of disulfiram include?
Symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and throbbing headache.
Why is there no tolerance of disulfiram?
There is no tolerance to disulfiram as the longer it is taken the stronger its effects
When may disulfiram not be taken?
Disulfiram is not given if alcohol has been consumed in the last 12 hours
