cognitive approach to alcohol

• initiation of alcohol and the cog app:

  • addiction can be explained by early trauma

  • they may turn to drugs or alcohol to relieve pain
  • this is called self medication model as has a soothing function and doesnt need help from a professional to do so
• initiation of alc and cog app

  • self medication is used to manage negative emotional states and the choice of drug isnt random.
  • alcohol is used by those with anxiety as has a relaxing effect
• maintenance of alc and cog app

  • lack of skills to cope with stress or in a social situation
  • self-regulation disorder
  • used to overcome problems
• relapse of alc and cog app

  • using alcohol to self medicate can lead to symptoms worsening as not knowing how much to take
  • A person dependent on alcohol who reduces or ceases their use will experience withdrawal symptoms which increases stress
• eval of cog app to alc

  + evidence to support the role of early trauma - FELITTI found there was a positive correlation between their traumatic childhood experiences and with alcohol.
• eval

  + research confirms a link between self-medication and risk of addiction showing that self medication is a risk factor for the development of an alcohol addiction
• eval

  --evidence to show that an underlying mental disorder does not cause addiction - depression does not cause alcohol abuse but instead alcohol abuse caused them to have a greater risk of depression
• eval

  --lack of evidence for the role of specificity in the model - LAMBKE found that people with mental disorders prefer drugs used by their peers - claiming that the model might be wrong in claiming that people self medicate with drugs to address their specific symptoms