Aversion Therapy - Apomorphine

• What is aversion therapy?

  > based on classical conditioning

  > aims to remove undesirable behaviors

  > uses an emetic drug: apomorphine (replaces feelings of euphoria)
• How is apomorphine administered?

  > prescribed by doctor

  > injected before addict injects heroin to create feelings of nausea
• What is apomorhpine?

  an emetic drug that replaces feelings of euphoria with nausea after injecting heroin
• What does the therapy aspect involve?

  > receives regular therapy sessions, an hour long

  > part of a treatment program which often includes counselling
• PARAGRAPH 1

  AO1

  • classical conditioning

  AO3 +

  • Beil & Trojan: 59 heroin addicts and 56 alcoholics were given apomorphine, 65% were drug free for up to 6 months, 41% longer than 6 months

  Development point +

  • apomorphine was more successful for the alcoholics than the heroin addicts

  AO3 -

  • Amato et al: reviewed 52 studies and found that high doses of methadone were more effective than alternative therapies

  Development point -

  • large sample of 52 studies, findings are generalisable to a large population of heroin addicts
• PARAGRAPH 2

  AO1

  • apomorphine

  AO3 +

  • time: quicker than methadone, reduces likelihood of addicts dropping out

  AO3 -

  • side effects: intrusive, feelings of nausea and withdrawal
• PARAGRAPH 3

  AO1

  • therapy sessions

  AO3 +

  • eclectic approach: counselling alongside drug treatment, most effective when combined

  AO3 -

  • apomorphine alone does not address personal and social issues, palliative - addict may not know any coping skills so they will be susceptible to relapse
• CONCLUSION

  AO3 +

  • covert sensitisation: addict is not made physically sick instead they imagine being sick, more ethical

  AO3 -

  • high level of social control: have to follow doctors orders for treatments to work