Exam 1: Drug Abuse and Addiction

Question 1

chronically relapsing disorder characterized by:

• compulsion to seek out and consume drug
• cravings
• loss of control to limiting intake
• emergence of negative emotional state when access to drug is prevented

Answer 1

addiction

Question 2

physical dependence

Answer 2

abstinence leads to highly unpleasant withdrawl symptoms (opposite drug effects) to motivate person to return to drug use

Question 3

remission

Answer 3

drug free period

Question 4

relapse

Answer 4

drug use occurs despite negative consequences

Question 5

gateway theory

Answer 5

starting with a less severe drug that leads to you trying more severe forms of the drug
- all people who have done heroin have done marijuana (marijuana would be gateway drug)

Question 6

Pathological drug use cycle

Answer 6

1. periods of preoccupation of drugs and anticipation of upcoming use
2. periods of drug intoxication some cases bingeing
3. periods following drug use, withdrawal symptoms and negative mood

Question 7

ICD

Answer 7

WHO-developed by global agency
different criteria for clinical diagnosis and research use
ALL languages
general classifications for ALL diseases

Question 8

DSM-5

Answer 8

APA-developed by single nation
1 version
english
ONLY psychological/psychiatric disorders

Question 9

substance use disorders by DSM are characterized by individuals who:

Answer 9

• physical dependence
• desire to reduce drug use
• significant time spent seeking and using drugs
• use continues despite significant problems

Question 10

severity component to DSM diagnosis

Answer 10

mild: individuals who meet only 2 or 3 criteria
moderate: individuals who meet 4 or 5 criteria
severe: individuals who meet 6 or more criteria

Question 11

3 stage addiction cycle

Answer 11

1. intoxication
2. shift in taking drug for its positive effects to taking them to avoid the unpleasant aspects of withdrawal
3. preoccupation and anticipation stage onsets

Question 12

time during which the drug creates an impaired state

Answer 12

intoxication

Question 13

what is addiction related to?

Answer 13

• anatomical characteristics of the brain
• functional connectivity in circuits
• changes in neurotransmitter concentrations

Question 14

acute drug effects that produce a maladaptive and impaired state

• changes in neuroplasticity
• impairment of vision and balance

neurobiology: reward circuitry - motivation

Answer 14

intoxication

Question 15

repeated drug use results in physical or psychological withdrawal effects

neurobiology: amygdala, hypothalamus, insula, autonomic nervous system

Answer 15

withdrawal

Question 16

behavior orients from seeking natural reinforcers to seeking drug reinforcers

neurobiology: prefrontal cortex, amygdala, thalamus, hippocampus

Answer 16

preoccupation and anticipation

Question 17

most drugs of abuse affect _______ directly or indirectly

Answer 17

mesolimbic dopamine pathway

Question 18

most drugs of abuse affect _______ directly or indirectly

Answer 18

mesolimbic dopamine pathway

Question 19

where are the cell bodies of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway?

Answer 19

ventral tegmental area (VTA)

axons project to the nucleus accumbens (ventral striatum)

Question 20

natural rewards and addictive drugs both cause…

Answer 20

dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens

Question 21

stimulating the mesolimbic dopamine pathway produces ____

Answer 21

positive reinforcement

- signals positive outcomes

Question 22

how to addictive drugs shape behavior?

Answer 22

they mimic the effects of natural rewards

Question 23

what brain mechanism controls “wanting” the drug

Answer 23

mesolimbic dopamine patwhay

Question 24

what brain mechanism controls “liking” a drug

Answer 24

PFC, opioid system, limbic areas

Question 25

what does brain imaging suggest about drug addicts

Answer 25

• functional abnormalities in PFC
  reduced basal glucose metabolism in PFC following chronic drug use (means less activity in the brain since you need glucose for energy)

Question 26

role of PFC

Answer 26

executive function (high order cognitive abilities), contributes to regulation of emotional and motivational processes

Question 27

what does PFC dysfunction contribute to

Answer 27

anticipation of drug use and preoccupation

• intrusive thoughts, craving, lack of impulse control
• cotricolimbic pathway dysfunction

Question 28

corticolimbic pathway dysfunction

Answer 28

PFC —- hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens (lets emotional state run wild)

Question 29

drug withdrawal may cause long term changes in brain that can…

Answer 29

1. down-regulate activity in mesolimbic dopamine system

2. activation of anti-reward system

Question 30

antireward system

Answer 30

• amygdala and brainstem

- inc NE and neuropeptides CRF and dynorphin

Question 31

what does inc NE and neuropeptides do

Answer 31

limits/suppresses pleasurable feelings

reduces negative consequences of drug withdrawal

Question 32

cue induced craving correlates with activation of

Answer 32

DLPFC, OFC, ACC, dorsal and ventral striata, and insula

Question 33

insula

Answer 33

implicated in motivational regulation, including drug craving and control over drug use
- does it feel good or not?

Question 34

conscious awareness of inner states (butterflies in stomach, racing heart, flushed skin)

Answer 34

insula

Question 35

what is addiction potential of a substance influenced by

Answer 35

route of administration

Question 36

shorter duration of action, higher addiction liability - short but intense
strongest euphoric effects due to rapid drug delivery to brain

Answer 36

IV and inhalation/smoking