Check your homework answers for the evaluation points of the Theory of Planned Behaviour:

1. Check your homework answers for the evaluation points of the Theory of Planned Behaviour:

6. Task • Complete pages 51 – 54 in your booklets on biological interventions to treat addiction.

7. Main neurotransmitters for addiction • Serotonin - helps regulate mood (e.g. anxiety and depression). Too little has been associated with depression (neurons using this found in pons) • Dopamine - plays a role in mood, particularly motivation and reward (as well as cognition, learning and memory). • Endorphins - produced in pituitary gland during exercise, excitement and pain.

8. Dopamine agonists • Dopamine antagonists

9. Treatment for smoking • NRT – replace nicotine from cigarettes with nicotine from safer sources (patches, gum, spray, inhalers). Small amounts of nicotine contained within the gum or patch which is absorbed into the blood, giving body nicotine it thinks it needs. Purpose behind NRT to slowly reduce dosage. Little by little, less nicotine until, eventually, you not needed anymore. A02 - May double rates of quitting. BUT smokers may continue to smoke in addition to intervention.

10. 2. Varenicline – drug that acts as nicotine receptor partial agonist; attaches to receptors to partially stimulate receptor, without creating full nicotine effect to alleviate craving and withdrawal symptoms and reduce rewarding effects of smoking. Secondly, blocks the ability of nicotine to stimulate the central nervous mesolimbic dopamine system. • A02 – Varenicline: side effects are common, has been associated with depression and suicide – patients need careful monitoring

11. 3. Antidepressants - e.g. bupropion and nortriptyline (tricyclic antidepressants) – inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline, allowing chemicals to stay in the brain for longer A02 - Hall et al (1988) found antidepressant nortriptyline assisted quitting, especially if used alongside CBT, BUT have more serious side effects than newer SSRIs (which are not effective in treating smoking)

12. Treatment for gambling • Opioid antagonists – prevent the pleasure experienced when gambling by attaching to (i.e. blocking) dopamine receptor sites, therefore diminishing desire to gamble (theory is that repeated lack of effects from gambling breaks the habit) A02 - Grant and Kim (2006) found gamblers experience rush of excitement and that naltrexone reduced thoughts about gambling and urge to gamble, and at higher doses, reduced actual gambling.

13. 2. SSRIs – gamblers been found to have low levels of serotonin (more likely to engage in sensation-seeking behaviour) – as serotonin is low SSRIs should be effective. A02 - Kim et al (2002) found SSRIs reduced gambling symptoms compared to placebo condition.

14. 3. Mood stabilisers (e.g. Lithium) –target impulsivity associated with impulse-control disorders such as gambling by altering the way the body breaks down neurotransmitters: increases effect of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that plays a role in stabilizing moods) and also decreases the levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, and prevents the nerve receptors from becoming overly sensitive to the effects of dopamine.

15. AO2 A02 - Hollander et al (2005) found Lithium more effective than placebo at reducing gambling urges over 10 weeks. BUT, drug group did not lose less money or gamble less than placebo group A02 – drug treatments for gambling still at early stage and remain experimental

16. Task - homework • Listen to the pod cast and fill in the missing information (page 54) on evaluation of biological interventions. • Identify the main point of each evaluation paragraph.

17. Optional - Exam question • Discuss one type of intervention aimed at reducing addictive behaviour. (4 + 8 marks)