Question

Impulse control can be defined as an inability to control the desire for a substance or act. The lack of impulse control is seen as a factor related to substance abuse but it is not the only factor. Research information on addictions and the two types of addictions (substance addictions and behavioral addictions). Choose one substance addiction and one behavioral addiction and answer the following:

Describe each addiction including potential genetic and environmental factors leading to the addiction. Describe the common symptoms, especially those that impact the person both physically and psychologically. Describe the common treatments for the disorders.

Explain why a person with an addiction may have a difficult time accepting he or she has an addiction, seeking treatment, and abstaining from the addiction without relapsing.

Answer 1

Behavioral addiction are inherently rooted in the behavioral aspect with the absence of ingestion of psychoactive substances.

This is reward system that is recognized by the brain, and indulging in certain behaviors activates those reward centers in the brain, that give it further impetus, and make the behavior almost addictive. One such example can be pathological gambling. It comes within the gamut of behavioral addiction and impulse control disorder.

Genetically, research has identified certain allele variants in candidate of Pathological gambling that have been corresponding with neurotransmitter system that give genesis to these disorder. For environmental factors it was identified that there weren't any particular factors, but the loss of control in actual environment and the need to reinstate control was hypothesized to be one of the drivers of Pathological gambling.

This disorder can be treated by the aid of either CBT or REBT.

Now for substance addiction. Where the ingestion of substances is involved it is apparent that these substance provide a form of reward and a form of instant gratification, the allure of which drives the behavior further without the individual indulging in it realizing the dire consequences that might follow. This leads them onto the conduit of addiction.

The ego syntonic nature of this is quite prevalent in substance addictions. Environmental factors with reference to substances is quite common and known, it starts during adolescence with various factors like acceptance in groups, peer pressure etcetera. It persists later due to penchant and gradual dependency.

For instance, if we take alcohol addiction, genetically it is estimated that heredity functions almost 50-60% of th time in alcohol addiction. Also lower frequenceis of ADH1B*2 AND ADH1C*1 alleles are higher amongst people with alcohol addcition.

Rehab centres with similar techniques as in behavorial addictions can be employes for alleviating of this as well.

People take time accepting as they think their behavior is ego syntonic, only when they begin moving towards the ego dystonic do they realise they have a problem. This is a long and arduous process that requires love and support and the will to see through it. Relapses are almost inevitable in most cases, as the dependency and need for instant gratification reaches a high.