Addiction is a brain disease

14 important questions on Addiction is a brain disease

What are the two main views on addiction?

Drug is the driving force
Individual is the driving force

What are the drug-centered views on addiction?

Negative reinforcement-> anhedonia view
Positive reinforcement-> euphoria
Neuroadaptation model

How is addiction maintained in the negative model?

Addiction behaviour is maintained because the aversive symptoms associated with withdrawal are alleviated by the drug.
Self medicate symptoms
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What are shortcomings of the negative model?

Drugs are self-administered in the absence of withdrawal symptoms
There are many drugs used medically  that produce withdrawal symptoms
Relief of withdrawal is minimally effective in treating addiction
High tendency to relapse

What is the positive reinforcement model?

Addiction behaviour is maintained because of the euphoric state drugs induce, not because of alleviation
Drugs act as positive reinforcers

What are shortcomings of the positive reinforcement model?

No clear relationship between the ability of drugs to produce euphoria and their addictive potential
Negative consequences of drug use seem enormous relative to pleasure effect
Drug taking can be maintained in the absence of subjective pleasurable effects

What is the leading hypothesis regarding addiction?

The neuroadaptation model, addictive behavior is cause by progressive and persistent changes in the brain resulting from repeated drug/alcohol consumption.

How come the drugs becomes increasingly attractive in the neuroadaptation model?

Neuronal system mediating the motivational effects of drugs gradually becomes hypersensitive to drugs. This sensitization phenomenon makes drugs more attractive.

What is the cause of relapse regarding the neuroadaptation model?

Development of addictive behaviour is a pathological learning process and relaps is caused by retrieval of drug-associated information that is persistently stored in the brain.

What enhance cue sensitivy?

Abstinence

What is considered to be the final common pathway of relapse?

mPFC glutamate projections to accumbens

Where do synaptic protein changes occur after re-exposure to heroin?

in the mPFC, it downregulates ampa receptors

What gets modulated by dbs in addiction?

the NAc and thereby the reward circuit might improve symptoms. it reduces connectivity between dorsal mpfc and NA core

What are co-mobordity and risk factors in drugs abuse?

Mental disorders such as:
Depression
Anxiety disorder
PTSD

Personality traits:
Antisocial
Sensation seeking
Impulsivity

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