Psychiatric Models of Addiction

Question 1

What are the core features of addictive behaviour?

Answer 1

Salience (importance, dominance)
Mood modification (rush, escape)
Tolerance (escalation for effect, increasing intensity, recklessness, destructiveness)
Withdrawal (unpleasant emotional/ physical effects )
Conflict (interpersonal, intrapsychic, loss of control)
Relapse (repeated reversions to excess)

Question 2

What is habit formation?

Answer 2

An acquired behaviour pattern regularly followed until it becomes involuntary
Acquired by learning mechanisms
Associative and instrumental learning
Automaticity

Question 3

What is the biopsychosocial model?

Answer 3

Concerned with the interaction of biological factors (physical health, genetics), psychological factors (mental health) and social factors (finances, social support)

Question 4

What are the biological/ physical factors associated with substance misuse?

Answer 4

Current non-prescribed drug use
Current prescribed drug use
Physical dependency (withdrawal symptoms, tolerance) 
Drug use history
Drug treatment history
Injectin behaviours
High risk sexual behaviour
General physical heatlh
Physical treatment goals

Question 5

What is involved in the psychological factors in formulation?

Answer 5

Full personal/ developmental history
Functional analysis of current drug use
Belief about drug use
Coping skills/ styles
Cognitive functioning
Current/ past psychological problems
Current/ past psychiatric problems
Current/ past contact with MH services
Psychological treatment goals

Question 6

What social factors are involved in formulation??

Answer 6

Exploring significant relationships
Housing
Employment
Financial
Legal
Social treatment goals