Biological Approach

Question 1

Smoking

Answer 1

Initiation -
Boardman et al - 348 indentical twins, 321 same sex fraternal twins (667) - 42% heritability
Vink et al - 1572 Dutch twin pairs - 44% heritability

Maitanence -
Vink et al - nicotine dependence influenced primarily by genetics - tobacco use influence by genetic differences in nicotine metabolism
Nicotine activates nAchRs which leads to release of dopamine - pleasurable - drop in mood is alleviated by smoking another cigarette

Relapse -
Xian et al - 54% of quit failure due to heritability

Uhl - attempted to identify specific gene clusters associated with quit success with aim of matching specific treatments

Question 2

Gambling

Answer 2

Initiation -
Shah et al - evidence of genetic transmission in men in twin study
Black et al - first degree relatives of pathological gamblers more likely to suffer pathological gambling than distant relatives

Maitanence -
Associated with under active pituitary adrenal response
Paris - measures gamblers cortisol levels before/after a vid of their preferred method of gambling and neutral stimulus - path gamblers showed no diff

Relapse - poor tolerance for boredom may contribute to repetitive gambling - path gamblers have sig higher boredom proneness scores

However doesn’t account for social influences etc

Zuckermann - individual differences in the need for optimal stimulation - sensation seekers look for varied experiences - lower anticipation of risk