Skip to main content

Module

PSY3040 : Psychobiology of Drug Addiction

  • Offered for Year: 2020/21
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Mohammed Shoaib
  • Lecturer: Dr Domhnall Jennings
  • Owning School: Psychology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0

Aims

The module will provide an overview on the current status of research in the field of drug addiction. With a diverse set of psychological theories proposed to explain addictive behaviours, the aim of the module is to focus on the current research in the drug addictions, understand some of the basic concepts within drug taking, appreciate the importance of the research methods used to model addiction in laboratory animals and also the translation to human psychopharmacological studies that utilise neuroimaging and pharmacogenetics.

Outline Of Syllabus

The psychopharmacology of drug action will be covered with specific lectures on the various classes of drugs of abuse, their molecular and cellular mechanisms of action and how they all work within a unitary circuit to induce dependence. Aspects of comorbidity along with individual vulnerability will be presented. Finally, the different approaches taken to treat drug addiction will be reviewed, using both pharmacological and behavioural strategies.

Topics include:

      Drug use and addiction – Aspects of harm and classification of drug addictions (DSM-V)
Learning theories in addiction – operant and classical conditioning
Primary reinforcement vs Habitual drug taking in humans
      Neuropharmacology of psychomotor stimulants, caffeine & alcohol
      Neuropharmacology of opioids, nicotine and alcohol and cannabinoids
Animal models of drug addiction
      Comorbidity: overlap of neural circuits with psychiatric disorders
      Impact on cognitive processes: relevance to self-medication
Behavioural traits predisposing drug addictions/Individual vulnerability
      Treatment – Pharmacological and Behavioural Interventions

Teaching Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Assessment Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Reading Lists

Timetable