Aversion therapy

• What is aversion therapy based on?

  Classical conditioning - association between addiction and unpleasant experience is learned.
• How is alcoholism treated with this therapy?

  Antabuse causes nausea.

  Just before vomiting, the alcoholic has several alcoholic drinks.

  Neutral stimulus (alcohol) associated with unconditioned response (vomiting) which becomes a conditioned response.
• How is gambling treated with this therapy?

  Phrases on cares about gambling or non-gambling behaviour.

  Electric shock (unconditioned stimulus) given for any gambling related phrase (neutral stimulus).

  Association of gambling behaviours with pain.
• How is smoking treated with this therapy?

  Rapid smoking in closed room causes nausea.

  Nausea associated with smoking.
• What is a positive evaluation of this type of therapy?

  A holistic approach.

  Aversion therapy gets rid of the immediate urge to use the addictive substance CBT can provide long lasting support.
• What is a negative evaluation of this study?

  Poor long-term effectiveness.

  McConaghy et al: found nine years later that aversion therapy was no more effective than a placebo.