Week 10 - Addiction and society Flashcards
Is addicition recognised by health professionals as a mental health condition in its own right?
Yes
In which period of life does addiction often begin?
Adolescence
When does grey matter development peak?
Early adolescence
Is there a difference between genders for when grey matter development peaks?
Yes - the peak happens a couple of years later in boys in relation to girls
Activity in which area of the brain decreases during adolescence?
The medial prefrontal cortex
Where is the medial prefrontal cortex located?
In the middle of the prefrontal cortex
Why do we think that activity in the medial prefrontal cortex decreases during adolescence?
Because adolescents and adults use different cognitive strategies in making decisions
What is the limbic system involved in?
Emotion and reward processing
What are the two different forms of punishment?
- Positive punishment
- Negative punishment
What is meant by the term positive punishment?
Where something is added to discourage behaviour
What is meant by the term negative punishment?
Where something is removed to discourage behaviour
What is meant by the term positive reinforcement?
Where something is added to encourage good behaviour
What is meant by the term negative reinforcement?
Where something is removed to encourage behaviour
What is another way that addiction is often referred to as?
A disorder encompassing dysregulated motivation
What is addiction often characterised by?
Uncontrollable desiire and routines of reward-seeing / reward-taking
What is meant by the acronym SUD?
Substance use disorder
How many common criteria are there for substance use disorders (SUDs)?
11
What would two to three symptoms of SUD (substance use disorder) be classed as?
Mild SUD
What would four to five symptoms of SUD (substance use disorder) be classed as
Moderate SUD
What would six or more symptoms of SUD (substance use disorder) be classed as
Severe SUD
What are the four groups that each of the 11 criteria for a diagnosis of SUD can be categorised into?
- Impaired control
- Negative impact on everyday life
- Risky use
- Symptoms associated with physiological adaptations
What are the 11 criteria for substance use disorders?
- Tolerance
- WIthdrawal
- Taken more/longer than intended
- Desire/unsuccessful efforts to quit/stop
- Great deal of time taken by activities related to use
- Use despite knowledge of associated problems
- Miss important activities due to use
- Recurrent use causing failure to fulfill important obligations
- Recurrent use resulting in physically dangerous behaviour (eg driving)
- Continued use despite recurrent associated social problems
- Craving for the substance
Does the DSM-V group all substance use disorders under the same classification?
No
Are there any particular behaviours required in order for a diagnosis of SUD to be given?
No
Why is it important that there are not specific behaviours that are required in order for a diagnosis of SUD to be given?
Because some things associated with addiction are not necessarily present for all individuals
What are the four ways of classifying drugs?
By:
- source
- mechanism of action in the brain
- therapeutic use or effect
- legal status
What is meant by the term psychoactive substances?
Compounds that alter cognition, behaviour, perception or mood
What are the four natural narcotics?
- opium
- morphine
- codeine
- thebaine
What are the four semi-synthetic narcotics?
- heroin
- hydromorphone
- oxycodone
- etorphine
What are the five totally synthetic narcotics?
- pentazocine
- meperidine
- fentanyl
- methadone
- propoxyphene
What is a receptor?
A naturally occuring protein that binds to and interacts with other molecules, initiating a biological effect
What are the three endogenous opiods?
- enkephalins
- endorphins
- dynorphins
What are exogenous opiods?
Naturally occurring signalling molecules in the body that have a variety of important functions, including the inhibition of pain
In general, what does the term opiod refer to?
All drugs that share the mechanism of action of binding to opiod receptors
In general what does the term opiate refer to?
Naturally occurring opiod-type drugs, ie drugs that are derived from the poppy plant
Of all the drugs which have the potential to cause harm, which is the worst?
Alcohol
How much of the world’s population is estimated to have an alcohol or illicit drug use disorder?
2% generally but 5% in some countries
What is the mechanism of action of cocaine?
It affects dopamine transporter function
What is the mechanism of action of LSD?
It affects serotonin transporter function
What is the mechanism of action of methadone?
It affects opiod function
What is the mechanism of action of MDMA?
It affects serotonin function
Is a person’s weight any indication of food addiction?
No, it is defined by behavioural-cognitive states
Does pathological gambling only occur if a person enjoys gambling?
No
