characteristics of addiction

Question 1

2005, griffiths–> six criteria that need to be met in order to diagnose an addiction.

Answer 1

1. salience
2. mood modification
3. tolerance
4. withdrawal symptoms
5. conflict
6. relapse

Question 2

salience

Answer 2

This refers to when the particular activity becomes the most important activity in the addict’s life and dominates their thinking, feelings and behaviour. For instance, even if the person is not actually engaged in the addictive behaviour, they will be thinking about the next time they will be.

Question 3

mood modification

Answer 3

this refers to the subjective experience that people report as a consequence of engaging in the particular activity. The person’s drug or activity of choice can have the capacity to achieve different mood modifying effects at different times. For instance, a nicotine addict may use cigarettes first thing in the morning to get the arousing ‘nicotine rush’ they need to get going for the day. By the end of the day they may not be using nicotine for its stimulant qualities, but may in fact be using nicotine as a way of destressing and relaxing.

Question 4

tolerance

Answer 4

This refers to the process whereby increasing amounts of the particular activity are required to achieve the former effects. The classic example of tolerance is a heroin addict’s need to increase the size of their ‘fix’ to get the type of feeling (e.g. an intense ‘rush’) they once got from much smaller doses.

Question 5

withdrawal symptoms

Answer 5

These refer to the unpleasant feelings, states and/or physical effects that occur when the particular activity is discontinued or suddenly reduced. Such withdrawal effects may be psychological (e.g. extreme moodiness and irritability) or more physiological (e.g. nausea, sweats, headaches, insomnia and other stress-related reactions).

Question 6

conflict

Answer 6

This refers to conflicts between the addict and those around them (interpersonal conflict) or from within the individual themselves (intrapsychic conflict), which are concerned with the particular activity. Continual choosing of short-term pleasure and relief leads to disregard of adverse consequences and long-term damage, which in turn increases the apparent need for the addictive activity as a coping strategy.

Question 7

glenn walters 1999–> 4p’s –> characteristics of addiction

Answer 7

preoccopuation
persistence
progression
perceived

Question 8

relapse

Answer 8

This refers to the tendency for repeated reversions to earlier patterns of the particular activity to recur and, for even the most extreme patterns typical of the height of the addiction, to be quickly restored after many years of abstinence or control. The classic example of relapse behaviour is in smokers who often give up for a period of time only to return to full-time smoking after a few cigarettes.

Question 9

preoccupation

Answer 9

when the addict is engrossed by their addictive stimulus

Question 10

persistence

Answer 10

continuing to engage in the addictive stimulus despite difficulty and conflict

Question 11

perceived

Answer 11

where the addict feels like they have lost control when in fact they may have not

Question 11

progression

Answer 11

continuing to engage in the addictive stimulus more and more as tolerance increases