Question

1.Why is addiction considered a brain disorder and not just a bad habit? What is the difference between an addiction and a habit? In what ways are addiction and habit related? To get you started on this question, think about some of the course concepts we’ve had so far: How does classical/Pavlovian conditioning or instrumental/operant conditioning fit into the addiction puzzle? What are rewards, punishers, reinforcers,? How does craving and tolerance relate to addiction? (Hint: see the NOBA “Psychopharmacology” and “Conditioning and Learning” chapters.)

2.Schizophrenia and depression are very different disorders, and this is reflected in different potential causes and effects on the brain. What is the most compelling evidence for you that schizophrenia and depression are disorders of the brain? What treatment for these disorders do you feel most hopeful about, and how does this treatment address the physiological causes?

Answer 1

1.Why is addiction considered a brain disorder and not just a bad habit? How does classical/Pavlovian conditioning or instrumental/operant conditioning fit into the addiction puzzle? What are rewards, punishers, reinforcers,?

Addiction is thought of as a brain disorder in which there Is a compulsivity such that the person would be inclined towards the rewards in stimuli that are generated after consumption. When a person is exposed to such addictive stimuli, there would be development of an addictive stimulus and a compulsivity in maintaining that stimulus. Characterisation of addictive stimuli is because these are reinforcing behaviors, since, a person would obtain repeated exposure to these behaviors which are rewarding. Thus, getting Conditioned in carrying out these behaviors. Rewards are the feeling of pleasure, positivity and the feeling of high self esteem and being desirable. Reinforcing stimuli is where there would be repeat of behaviors with an increased probability.

2. What is the difference between an addiction and a habit?

The difference between addiction and habit is that addiction is more of a compulsivity whereas, habits are behavior patterns that occur as a result of act repetition. If a habit is stopped, it will not cause horrible effects on the body and it could be controlled. Whereas, addiction, if stopped, would result in terrible effects in the nosy and this is difficult to be controlled.

3. How does craving and tolerance relate to addiction?

Craving and tolerance related to addiction as when a person has once had the rewarding stimuli, in the form of pleasure, they would want to experience the same feeling again and again. As a result of this, they would use again and again. Similar to body being tolerant to a particular drug, as a result of which, the same concentration of drug would not create a Similar effect, as a result of which the concentration would have to be increased to create the same effect. In addiction as well, repeated use would not create the same effect at the same concentrations, thus p, resulting in an increased concentration to produce the same effect, leading to addiction.

4. What is the most compelling evidence for you that schizophrenia and depression are disorders of the brain?

Schizophrenia and depression are disorders of the brain because it is now known that schizophrenia may also be partially a genetic condition. Further, MRI and CT have reported that there are changes in the structure of brain, where, there are visualisations of 25% decreased gray matter in the frontal as well as the temporal lobes. PET scans have also shown real time blood flow metabolisms which are different from normal brain metabolisms.

5. What treatment for these disorders do you feel most hopeful about, and how does this treatment address the physiological causes?

Most effective treatment approaches are through combinations of therapies and medications that control anti-psychotic episodes as well as tremors. Also, rehabilitation and most importantly cognitive behavioural therapies.