Psychological Models of Addiction (pie) Flashcards
What are the markers of addictive behaviour ?
Behaviours are Chronic: Over the past 12 months:
- Strong desire/compulsion
- Compulsive, Uncontrolled activity seeking behaviour
- Continued use despite knowledge of harmful consequences
- Withdrawal
- Unsuccessful efforts to reduce/stop
- Increased neglect of alternative pleasures and increased amount of time necessary to obtain/take substance
Define addictive behaviour
Addiction: an attachment to an appetitive activity, so strong that a person finds it difficult to moderate the activity despite the fact that it is causing harm
Define what is meant by addiction potential of something e.g. a drug
The proportion of people who ever engage in an activity who become addicted
- High >20% - heroin, methadone, nicotine
- Moderate 10-20% - amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, alcohol, cannabis, benzodiazepines, inactivity, tasty food
- Low 5-10% - gambling, inhalants, steroids, stealing, violence, diving, surfing, driving fast
- Very low <5% - exercise, sex, chocolate, caffeine, work, shopping, computer games, work, self-harm, watching TV
List the different psychological models of addiction
- Moral Models
- Disease Models
- Medical Models
- Personality Models
- Behavioural Models
- Cognitive Behavioural Models
- Biopsychosocial Models
Describe the moral model of addiction
- Addictions seen as wilful violations of societal rules, a result of human weakness
- Individual is the primary causal factor – no biological basis for addiction, instead something morally wrong with addicted individual
Describe the disease model of addiction
- Primary causal factor is the individual, however, loss of control and restraint is a central premise
- The ‘disease’ of addiction is irreversible – no cure but can be arrested via total abstinence
Describe the medical models of addiction
- Similar to dispositional disease models.
- Emphasis on genetic and physiological processes in determining addiction, therefore primary causal factor is the individual.
- Tries to identify unique biological conditions which contribute to addiction i.e. disorder of brain function
- Considers the pharmacology of the substance.
Describe the personality models of addiction
- Primary causal factor is the individual as the roots of their addiction lie in their abnormal personality
- Personality traits such as poor impulse control; low self-esteem; inability to cope with stress; egocentricity; manipulative traits; and a need for control and power + a feeling of powerlessness all contribute to addiction
Describe the behavioural model of addiction
- Conditioning is the process of behaviour modification whereby an individual comes to associate a desired behaviour with a previous unrelated stimuli
- Taking substances is pleasurable and likely to lead to rewarding consequences resulting in continued/increased use
- Substance misuse is a learned behaviour therefore treatment must involve ‘relearning behaviours’
Describe the cognitive behaviour model of addiction
- Central premise – in addition to unconscious processes, perception and thought influences emotion and behaviour
- “Addictive thinking” maintains drug use
- Changes in addictive behaviour occur to due changes in motivation, cognition and appraisal
- Assumption – changing content of cognition and motivation can influence behaviour
Describe the Biopsychosocial Model of addiction
- Concerned with the interaction of biological factors (e.g. physical health, genetics), psychological factors (e.g. mental health) and social factors (e.g. finances, social support etc)
- Holistic approach, no factors are dominant
- Interaction of biological, psychological and social factors help to tell individuals story (formulation)
What is meant by psychological formualtion?
Psychological formulation – a way of understanding the development and function of SU for an individual in the context of the BPS model
In order to successfully treat addictions, an understanding of the context in which they developed and what keeps them going is essential.
