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Treatments for addictions and impulse control disorders (Aversion Therapy,…
Treatments for addictions and impulse control disorders
Aversion Therapy
Description of Treatment: Based on classical conditioning. When someone is exposed to a stimulus which is then paired with something that causes discomfort to cause the person to avoid the stimulus. Usually the stimulus is the addiction.
Related studies/research evidence: Howard (2001) tested the effectiveness of aversion therapy by using 82 hospital patients and made them go through aversion therapy. Results showed that the thought of positive outcomes from alcohol were reduced. The patients were also more confident that they would not drink in high risk situations. Those with alcohol nausea pre-treatment and antisocial behaviour showed less effectiveness. Smith, Frawley and Polissar (1997) compared aversion therapy to counselling. 249 patients of aversion therapy were compared to those who took counselling. At 6 and 12 months after treatment the patients who took aversion therapy showed higher alcohol abstinence rates
Link to model it fits into : Behavioral model as it uses classical conditioning which is used as a treatment for addictions in this model
Evaluation of effectiveness: Reductionist as the treatment does not take biological factors into account so drugs and medicine are not used. States that we have free will because the therapy suggests that we could easily learn and unlearn addiction if we want to. Ethical issues involving harmful substance that is paired with the addiction when carrying out the therapy. Supports nurture debate as treatment involves learning by classical conditioning
Token Economy
Description of Treatment: Based on operant conditioning. A token is given out whenever a desired behaviour is showed by the patient which shapes their behaviour. Patients can then exchange these tokens for rewards. This reinforces their desired behaviour because they would want more of the rewards.
Related studies/research evidence: Petry et al (2000) researched 42 alcohol dependent adults and randomly assigned them to 2 groups. One group received standard treatmentr and the other had standard treatment and a token economy. They could get tokens by having negative breathalyzer tests. Treatment lasted 8 weeks and TE group had 84 percent of people complete the treatment whilst the other group only had 22 percent. 69 percent of people in TE group were alcohol abstinent whilst the other group only had 29 percent who were abstinent.
Link to the model it fits into: Behaviourist model as it involves operant conditioning which is used in behaviourist model treatments.
Evaluation of effectiveness: Reductionist as it does not take biological factors into treatment. Supports nurture debate because to treat the addiction they used operant conditioning/learning. Suggests free will as patients can get treated by learning whenever they want.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
Description of treatment: Modifies peoples thoughts and beliefs and corrects faulty information processing. Therapists will challenges faulty and irrational thoughts to help the patient.
Related studies /research evidence: Hodgins and Peden (2008) researched the use of CBT with kleptomania. They used covert desensitisation where the patient would associate negative images with kleptomania behaviours to reduce the behaviours. They also used imaginal desensitisation where patients would try to relax and think of them doing the kleptomaniac behaviours at the same time. These 2 cannot happen at the same time so they would hope that the relaxation takes over the impulsive behaviour. Concluded that CBT is very effective in helping addictions. .
Link to the model it fits into: Cognitive model as it tries to correct faulty information processing and irrational thoughts which is the main focus in cognitive treatments. Also fits with behaviourist model as they try to learn behaviours which will help them deal with their addiction.
Evaluation of effectiveness: Seems holistic as it takes both the cognitive and behaviourist models into account but also seems reductionist as it doesn't deal with biological factors. Ethical issues involve harm to the patient as they might have to witness negative images to avoid a behaviour as shown in Hodgins and Peden (2008). Nurture as it doesn't show any evidence that addictions are inherited. Suggests free will to addiction as patients impulsive behaviours can be treated with therapists and is not inherited.
Theory of planned behaviour
Decription of treatment: A theory that links beliefs and behaviours. Behaviour is shaped by subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and attitude towards behaviour
Related studies/research evidence: Ajzen (1991) stated that perceived control depended on particular health topic for example smoking
Link to model it fits into: Behaviourist as it has to do with the behaviours of people
Evaluation of effectiveness: Explains link between behaviour intentions and actual behaviour. Improves predictability of behaviour intentions. Unclear and unexplained cause and where beliefs come from. Behaviours may be influenced by emotion.