Behavior and the brain – addiction
An important note......................................................................................................................2
Week 1........................................................................................................................................3
Lecture 1 – Science of Addiction.............................................................................................3
Lecture 2 – Pharmacodynamics..............................................................................................8
General: the science of addiction.........................................................................................15
Heroin: research report........................................................................................................19
Heroin: medications to treat opioid addiction.....................................................................22
Week 2......................................................................................................................................25
Lecture 3 – Stimulants...........................................................................................................25
Lecture 4 – cannabis.............................................................................................................31
Cocaine: research report.......................................................................................................37
Methamphetamine research report.....................................................................................39
MDMA (Ecstasy) abuse research report...............................................................................42
Cannabis (marijuana) research report..................................................................................46
Week 3......................................................................................................................................52
Lecture 5 – alcohol................................................................................................................52
Alcohol’s effects on brain and behavior...............................................................................58
Addiction Research Methods................................................................................................63
Chapter 14 – psychopharmacology..................................................................................63
Chapter 15 – Imaging........................................................................................................66
Chapter 17 – animal models.............................................................................................69
,An important note
This document includes my lecture notes alongside a summary of the literature. It can be used
to study or during the open book test. You can open this document on your laptop and use the
search bar to look up information quickly. Make sure to put everything into your own words
to avoid plagiarism. There are links included to the literature and slides so that any additional
information can quickly be found. Unfortunately, I could not link to all the chapters in the
book. There are definitely no free PDF files available online. Do not go look for them.
I did not attend all the lectures. For the lectures I did not attend, I went over the slides and
summarized and explained the contents. I have tried my best to not include any information
twice to keep the document as short as possible, but it is a lot of information. This document
cost me a lot of time to create. I have kept the price low on purpose, so please do not share it
with anyone else. Please let me know of any mistakes or improvements you may encounter.
,Week 1
Lecture 1 – Science of Addiction
Link: https://canvas.vu.nl/courses/67609/files/6193428?module_item_id=979433
A drug is a chemical substance which when absorbed that alters the functioning of the body,
with exception of nutrients who are related to normal function.
A psycho-active drug is a drug that alters mood, thought processing or behavior, or is used to
handle neuropsychological illness as a result of an effect on the central nervous system.
Vitamin C -> not a psycho-active drug
Paracetamol -> is a psycho-active drug
The most used psycho-active drug in the world is probably caffeine. Comes in many different
forms.
Valium/diazepam: most popular drug of all times.
The first time that a person uses drugs is predominantly decided by environmental factors (f.e.
parties).
Addiction is not a conscious choice. People move quite gradually on the addiction continuum
or stay stable. Becoming more addicted is easier than becoming less addicted.
People don’t realize they are addicted until they cannot live without it.
Clinical definition of drug addiction
ICD or DSM classification:
No control of the drug intake behavior.
Time for drug-related activities at expense of other activities.
Continue drug intake despite clear negative consequences.
Tolerance
, Withdrawal
Tolerance: progressively decreasing responsiveness to a drug
Also: needing to take progressively more of the drug to get the same result
Withdrawal: drugs not taken for some amount of time leads to psychological of physiological
problems.
Caffeine study: caffeine – placebo – caffeine. During the placebo phase, an increase in
headache levels was recorded.
First theories:
Demon possession
Lack of morals/will power (18th-19th century)
Modern theories:
Disease model: result of biomedical process
Personality theories: addictive personality/predisposition to use drugs to deal with
emotions (attractive coping strategy)
Reinforcement theory: conditioning framework
Final common pathway theory: combination of genetic, social, psychological, and
spiritual factors within a societal context.
Dopamine might be the final common pathway of the brain.
The most effective treatment will focus on the biological, behavioral, and social and
environmental factors that affect the disease process.
How do drugs have their effects?
ADME ->
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination
Absorption
An important note......................................................................................................................2
Week 1........................................................................................................................................3
Lecture 1 – Science of Addiction.............................................................................................3
Lecture 2 – Pharmacodynamics..............................................................................................8
General: the science of addiction.........................................................................................15
Heroin: research report........................................................................................................19
Heroin: medications to treat opioid addiction.....................................................................22
Week 2......................................................................................................................................25
Lecture 3 – Stimulants...........................................................................................................25
Lecture 4 – cannabis.............................................................................................................31
Cocaine: research report.......................................................................................................37
Methamphetamine research report.....................................................................................39
MDMA (Ecstasy) abuse research report...............................................................................42
Cannabis (marijuana) research report..................................................................................46
Week 3......................................................................................................................................52
Lecture 5 – alcohol................................................................................................................52
Alcohol’s effects on brain and behavior...............................................................................58
Addiction Research Methods................................................................................................63
Chapter 14 – psychopharmacology..................................................................................63
Chapter 15 – Imaging........................................................................................................66
Chapter 17 – animal models.............................................................................................69
,An important note
This document includes my lecture notes alongside a summary of the literature. It can be used
to study or during the open book test. You can open this document on your laptop and use the
search bar to look up information quickly. Make sure to put everything into your own words
to avoid plagiarism. There are links included to the literature and slides so that any additional
information can quickly be found. Unfortunately, I could not link to all the chapters in the
book. There are definitely no free PDF files available online. Do not go look for them.
I did not attend all the lectures. For the lectures I did not attend, I went over the slides and
summarized and explained the contents. I have tried my best to not include any information
twice to keep the document as short as possible, but it is a lot of information. This document
cost me a lot of time to create. I have kept the price low on purpose, so please do not share it
with anyone else. Please let me know of any mistakes or improvements you may encounter.
,Week 1
Lecture 1 – Science of Addiction
Link: https://canvas.vu.nl/courses/67609/files/6193428?module_item_id=979433
A drug is a chemical substance which when absorbed that alters the functioning of the body,
with exception of nutrients who are related to normal function.
A psycho-active drug is a drug that alters mood, thought processing or behavior, or is used to
handle neuropsychological illness as a result of an effect on the central nervous system.
Vitamin C -> not a psycho-active drug
Paracetamol -> is a psycho-active drug
The most used psycho-active drug in the world is probably caffeine. Comes in many different
forms.
Valium/diazepam: most popular drug of all times.
The first time that a person uses drugs is predominantly decided by environmental factors (f.e.
parties).
Addiction is not a conscious choice. People move quite gradually on the addiction continuum
or stay stable. Becoming more addicted is easier than becoming less addicted.
People don’t realize they are addicted until they cannot live without it.
Clinical definition of drug addiction
ICD or DSM classification:
No control of the drug intake behavior.
Time for drug-related activities at expense of other activities.
Continue drug intake despite clear negative consequences.
Tolerance
, Withdrawal
Tolerance: progressively decreasing responsiveness to a drug
Also: needing to take progressively more of the drug to get the same result
Withdrawal: drugs not taken for some amount of time leads to psychological of physiological
problems.
Caffeine study: caffeine – placebo – caffeine. During the placebo phase, an increase in
headache levels was recorded.
First theories:
Demon possession
Lack of morals/will power (18th-19th century)
Modern theories:
Disease model: result of biomedical process
Personality theories: addictive personality/predisposition to use drugs to deal with
emotions (attractive coping strategy)
Reinforcement theory: conditioning framework
Final common pathway theory: combination of genetic, social, psychological, and
spiritual factors within a societal context.
Dopamine might be the final common pathway of the brain.
The most effective treatment will focus on the biological, behavioral, and social and
environmental factors that affect the disease process.
How do drugs have their effects?
ADME ->
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination
Absorption
