Negotiating the Relationship Between Addiction, Ethics, and Brain Science PMC

Changes in brain function and structure in addiction exert a powerful probabilistic influence over a person’s behavior, but one that is highly multifactorial, variable, and thus stochastic. Philosophically, this is best understood as being aligned with indeterminism, a perspective that has a deep history in philosophy and psychology [84]. In modern neuroscience, it refers to the position that the dynamic complexity of the brain, given the probabilistic threshold-gated nature of its biology (e.g., action potential depolarization, ion channel gating), means that behavior cannot be definitively predicted in any individual instance [85, 86]. A common criticism of the notion that addiction is a brain disease is that it is reductionist and in the end therefore deterministic [81, 82].

Psychological

  • Viruses, including those that may reside in human tissue, often require antiviral drugs for their elimination.
  • Second, Hunt identifies a “strong” rights account that acknowledges a basic right to use drugs.
  • Culture is very personal and we need to allow it to be whatever the person identifies it as.
  • Lately, this model has received persuasive criticism that has caused a fading of its scientific reliability.

All sociodemographic and biopsychosocial characteristics, as well as other substance dependence or abuse were tested independently in unadjusted models to examine the relationship of each characteristic on opioid misuse. All characteristics tested with exception of residence at some level were found to be a significant factor predictive of opioid misuse. We hypothesized that sociodemographic factors, while crucial to the comprehensive risk model, would not be critical predictors, when they were included with socioecological and health factors, or with other substance dependence or abuse.

How Clients and Patients Can Use the Biopsychosocial Model

the biopsychosocial model of addiction

The early finding that cognitive therapy for depression was effective, and moreover, more effective than an antidepressant medication (Rush, Beck, Kovacs, & Hollon, 1977), reinforced the signal that the BMM was not enough, at least not for modeling and treating depression. This ‘ends up with’, as currently understood in the science, is not a matter of logic or scientific law, but is entirely contingent—accidental. In this sense, biopsychosocial systems theory is unlike some traditional philosophical systems, which start with axioms and deduce the rest, or which elucidate natural law that covers everything. So when we move from defining key features of biology, in Chapter 2, to defining key features of psychological and hence social phenomena in Chapter 3, there is a gap, evident at the start in Sect. 3.1, one which cannot be filled in by logic or natural law, but only by contingent facts of evolution, development and change.

the biopsychosocial model of addiction

A revitalized biopsychosocial model: core theory, research paradigms, and clinical implications

The ACE study has demonstrated associations between adverse childhood experiences, such as physical and emotional neglect and abuse, and a large range of physical as well as mental health outcomes (e.g. [19]). Such moves are, no doubt, enabled by the BPSM’s lack of scientific content, which makes it a poor tool for vetting knowledge claims. It is important to note that what is at stake here is not just our usage of the term “disease” per se. It implies that the cause of the problem is more or less known and http://rupest.ru/ppdb/4-tert-butylphenylethyl-alcohol.html that it is organic in nature. This, in turn, implies that the problem is not a case of malingering, primarily psychological in nature, or under the patient’s direct control, and that, therefore, the patient is entitled to the sick role and its benefits. Calling a problem “a disease” also generally brings it under the jurisdiction of physicians, whose primary expertise is in the body and its defects, thereby encouraging pursuit of characteristically medical modes of treatment and management.

  • Although wayward discourse could be used to psychologize what are really best understood as organic diseases (Weiner 2008), medicalization appears to be the greater threat.
  • Parts of biology measured up, as biochemistry, evolutionary biology didn’t; psychology struggled; and the social sciences were so far off the mark that new views of science including alternatives to causal explanation were needed.
  • The hard work of obtaining, paying for, and using substances becomes all-consuming [37, 47].
  • Models in which regulation/dysregulation are prominent are now to be found not only in biomedicine, but also in clinical psychology and psychiatry (Kendler & Woodward, 2021; Liu, Chua, Chong, Subramaniam, & Mahendran, 2020).
  • This overview of BPSM research paradigms with examples of major research programs has to briefly mention that the two life sciences that have accelerated the most in recent decades – genetics and neuroscience – are suited to a biopsychosocial theoretical framework.
  • By receiving a hostile patient with respect,55 it clarifies for the clinician that the patient’s emotions are the patient’s—and not the physician’s—and also sets the stage for the patient to reflect as well.

The biopsychosocial model: Its use and abuse

The risk of mortality is increased due to overdoses; there is an increased risk of acquiring bacterial infections, and other blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and HCV, as described earlier. Concurrent mental illness and addiction the norm rather than exception further characterize individuals with severe opiate addiction (Rush, Urbanoski, Bassani, et al. 2008). Psycho-social systems are concrete entities or groups whose members act in relation to each other, such as families, religious organizations, and political parties (Bunge 2004). Social processes in addiction are investigated by examining social categories such as networks, groups, organizations and subcultures that alone cannot be explained by neurobiology. Addiction consists of interacting biological and psychosocial mechanisms because the mechanism (e.g., the behaviour) contributing to addiction involves action within a social system. The larger societal structure either restricts or enhances interactions between agents in a social system (Bunge 1997).

Sociodemographic variables and factors

  • For example, as discussed in this article’s online Appendix, Maltzman argues that, due in part to “developments in biopsychosocial medicine,” a disease can be defined as a syndrome or cluster of biological and psychosocial problems; on this basis, “alcoholism is a disease” (Maltzman 1994, 13–15).
  • Using substances to cope, feel better, and belong may reduce anxiety, restlessness, disturbing emotions, and feelings of hopelessness and loneliness [14, 19].
  • The same theory-shift that transformed biology also transformed neuroscience and cognitive psychology, enabling a coherent biopsychology.
  • Once an intention has been formed for example, to use substances one is aware of the intention, though intention itself does not sufficiently cause the individual to seek out or use drugs.

The example he discussed in detail in his 1980 ‘clinical applications’ paper was of myocardial infarction [4]. However, it has become clear in the intervening decades that managing illnesses in hospital is a particular and expensive way of providing healthcare. Illness severe enough to require hospital admission has high burden of suffering http://www.lekks.ru/modules.php?name=Pages&pa=showpage&pid=55 and disability, and high costs of hospital care, including biomedical investigations and treatments. It would be better all round to prevent illness altogether, or to detect and manage it earlier to prevent worsening, and also better to provide community and social care where possible to avoid or shorten hospital admissions.

the biopsychosocial model of addiction

Behavioral analysis of drug dependence

We argue therefore for a biopsychosocial systems model of, and approach to, addiction in which psychological and sociological factors complement and are in a dynamic interplay with neurobiological and genetic factors. As Hyman (2007) has written, “neuroscience does not obviate the need for social and psychological level explanations intervening between the levels of cells, synapses, and circuits and that of ethical http://www.russsia.ru/vse-o-svadbe/svadebnyie-sapozhki-40.html judgments” (p.8). Since the so-called brain disease model of addiction does not resolve the volitional nature of substance use completely, a biopsychosocial systems approach attempts to contextualize the individual, thus providing a model to better understand both responsibility and self in addiction. The findings indicated that recovery processes are hard work, and feelings of wellbeing and success vary over time.

the biopsychosocial model of addiction

There has been significant research done on how to reduce energy consumption among Americans. These studies have shown that Americans tend to respond more positively to messages of energy conservation rather than energy efficiency. Rather than being based on science, Americans’ preference for conservation-based messages may be influenced by how we interpret and interact with the world around us. Humans have a natural aversion to loss and risk, which conservation-based messaging helps to tap into. From this perspective, original sin is considered harmful to both individuals and society as it is seen as the root cause of human brokenness, suffering, and moral decay. The statement that original sin has afflicted the entire human race and is harmful to both individuals and society is a belief held in certain religious traditions, particularly within Christianity.

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