It is important to be aware of the importance of understanding the client’s cultural belief system as they feel it is, through their eyes. When we look at the psychological dimension, it also allows us to understand and work more effectively in helping individuals, families and communities thrive and flourish in a positive way. When we understand the impact of our perception, purpose of rewards, motivation, expectancy, and maturation, it helps us to find solutions to the addictive behaviours that may not have been an option previously.
Trauma and Life Stressors
Realizing a neurobiological or genetic susceptibility to addiction could empower life planning and the avoidance of high-risk scenarios. Individuals involved in treatment could learn effective coping strategies, modify proximal environmental triggers, and achieve other social goals. These perceptions may greatly affect addiction recovery rates (Godin and Kok 1996). As Hall and colleagues (2003a) remark, “A ‘disease’ that can be ‘seen’ in the many-hued splendor of a PET scan carries more conviction than one justified by the possibly exculpatory self-reports of individuals who claim to be unable to control their drug use” (p.1485). A neurobiological perspective has the potential to provide many benefits to people with addiction in terms of psychopharmacological and other treatment options. However purely reductive, neurobiological explanations of addiction occlude a comprehensive understanding of the added influence of psychological, social, political, and other factors.
- Action, subjective experience of action, and consequently responsibility for action is mediated by many factors, including psychological phenomenon such as an individual’s emotional processes.
- The Psychodynamic Model of Addiction reminds us of the importance of early life experiences and unconscious processes in addiction.
- Systems theory, therefore, balances reductionism and the intrinsic heterogeneity within systems.
- Nine (60%) participants were receiving buprenorphine, 6 (40%) were receiving methadone, and zero were receiving naltrexone.
- The relationship between Shared Decision-Making and continuing engagement in MOUD at a given clinic was expressed by some participants who shared that they were less likely to continue care when they do not have input into medication and treatment decisions.
Causes of Addiction: Biopsychosocial Model, Personality Theories and Neuropsychology
For instance, the genetic predisposition to addiction can shape personality traits and influence social behaviors. It’s like a domino effect, with one factor setting off a chain reaction that ripples through all aspects of a person’s life. The importance of this model in addiction treatment and research cannot be overstated. By considering biological, psychological, and social factors, clinicians can develop more comprehensive and effective treatment plans.
2.1. Personality Factors and Addiction
For example, alcohol may be used to numb feelings of sadness, while compulsive internet use may serve as a distraction from feelings of loneliness or inadequacy. We’ve all heard the saying “you are the company you keep,” and when it comes to addiction, this can be particularly true. The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the 15 interviewees who answered the advertisement for this study and provided their valuable insight into what it’s like to receive care in Vermont. The belief that providers monitoring care could help prevent recurrence, as https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ well as inconsistent expectations for abstinence across clinic staff, and substance testing errors with faulty equipment and mislabeling samples were mentioned minimally. Themes related to Shared Decision-Making included Medication Decisions, Collaborative Care, and Shared Decision Making. The main theme of Medication Decisions included Dose Changes and Medication Type (O).
This holistic approach to understanding the development and progression of substance use disorders emphasizes the need to address multiple factors in both prevention and treatment programs (Skewes & Gonzalez, 2013). As we continue to explore and refine our understanding of addiction through various Theories of Addiction, the biopsychosocial model stands as a testament to the power of integrative, holistic thinking. It challenges us to look beyond simple explanations and quick fixes, encouraging a more nuanced, comprehensive approach to one of the most pressing health issues of our time.
Cognitive Factors
Many individuals struggling with addiction have a history of trauma or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or the loss of a loved one (Hays-Grudo et al., 2021). These experiences can create deep psychological wounds that make it difficult for individuals to manage stress and regulate their emotions. For example, variations in genes related to the dopamine system—such as the dopamine receptor D2 gene (DRD2)—can affect the brain’s reward system (Deak & Johnson, 2021). Dopamine, often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, plays a central role in reinforcing behaviors.
The biopsychosocial model didn’t spring forth fully formed like Athena from Zeus’s head. Rather, it evolved gradually as researchers and clinicians grappled with the limitations of earlier, more narrow approaches. In the 1970s, George Engel proposed this model as a way to understand health and illness more broadly. It wasn’t long before addiction specialists recognized its potential to shed light on the complexities of substance use disorders.
Consequences of Impaired Cognitive Control
The integration of shared decision making in medical care also must pull in the other PCC domains such as Individualized Care, where the patient is bringing their individual needs into the conversation for the shared decision making process to occur 19. By addressing cognitive deficits, addiction treatment can empower individuals to regain control of their thoughts, behaviors, and, ultimately, their recovery journey. By understanding the ways addiction disrupts these processes, treatment approaches can be tailored to strengthen cognitive skills and promote long-term success.
It is the integration of biological data and psycho-social, narrative, family information, and clinical phenomenology that will make way for more precise forecasting and earlier diagnosis than is possible today. This is one path to follow for new opportunities for treatment and intervention directed toward prevention. Accordingly, an analysis of the ethical, legal and social issues around other problems of addiction, such as prescription opiate misuse for pain management, may also be examined within the context of our proposed framework. “HAT is not simply a pharmacotherapy; it is a treatment approach that is situated within a context involving neighborhood factors, the local drug scene, housing, policing, medical care, and other treatment services. Its role and effectiveness is entangled with the ancillary services available, drug policies, and treatment philosophy” (p.262).
Accordingly, this cybernetic brain-environment interaction may trigger strong somatic signals such as desire, urge and anticipation (Verdejo-Garcia and Bechara 2009). In effect, this process may limit autonomy as it allows for “preference reversals” (Levy 2007a) to occur in situations where an individual would rather not use. The biomedical model focuses primarily on genetic and biochemical causes of addiction, while the biopsychosocial model considers mental health, environmental, and social influences in addition to biological factors. In the end, the biopsychosocial model reminds us that addiction is not just about the substance. It’s about the person using the substance, their unique experiences, their brain chemistry, Sober Houses Rules That You Should Follow their thought patterns, their relationships, and their environment. By embracing this complexity, we open the door to more compassionate, effective approaches to prevention, treatment, and recovery.