Models of Aetiology of Addiction - Substance Use Disorders

Models of Aetiology of Addiction

·        Disease model: emphasises the biological and genetic basis of addition. Loss of control is a central feature 

·        Self-medication hypothesis: use specific pharmacological effects to self medicate for psychological disturbance and painful affects

·        Biopsychosocial model: Multifactorial causality, interaction of genetic predisposition, biological factors, and psychological and sociocultural factors 

·        Biological model: impact on mesolimbic reward system – extends from the ventral tegmentum to the nucleus accumbens, with projections to areas such as the limbic system and the orbitofrontal cortex

Factors influencing behaviour*

·        Early childhood learning: modelling by parents and significant others

·        Current environment: reinforcement or punishment for different practices (especially if immediate)

·        Views/knowledge/beliefs about risk: usually over-rate our health and under-rate the risks

·        Our resources (usually an excuse)

·        Physical environment (work/home)

·        Social influences (friends/media)