PDF The Biopsychosocial Model of Addiction

As we wrap up https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ our exploration of the biopsychosocial model of addiction, it’s clear that this approach has revolutionized our understanding and treatment of substance use disorders. By considering the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors, we can develop more effective, personalized interventions. Males had lower levels of self-acceptance than females, HIV-positive than negative, less educated than more educated, and drug addicts who were alienated. High self-appraisal-high self-acceptance reduced subthreshold depression among drug addicts, and congruence between self-appraisal and self-acceptance alleviated subthreshold depression among drug addicts.

High self-appraisal-high self-acceptance alleviates subthreshold depression in drug addicts

It is important not to look at the biological dimension as neurobiology alone, but to also take into consideration aspects of health functioning such as addictive behaviour, diet, exercise, sober house self-care, nutrition, sleep and genetics. Scientists don’t yet understand why some people become addicted while others don’t. Addiction tends to run in families, and certain types of genes have been linked to different forms of addiction. “As with heart disease or diabetes, there’s no one gene that makes you vulnerable,” Koob says. The biological basis of addiction helps to explain why people need much more than good intentions or willpower to break their addictions. Overcome addiction with our family support system, and regain control of your life!

The idea that there are several factors that may contribute to one’s mental suffering is nothing new.11 Past psychologists such as Urie Bronfenbrenner, popularized the belief that social factors play a role in developing illnesses and behaviors. Simply, Engel used Bronfenbrenner’s research as a column of his biopsychosocial model and framed this model to display health at the center of social, psychological, and biological aspects. There are so many different theories about addiction because they focus on various pieces of the puzzle. Some theories say genes or brain chemistry play the most significant role, making some things feel more rewarding than others. Others highlight personality traits like impulsivity, a desire for excitement, or mental health issues stemming from past traumas.

What are the four key domains of interpersonal therapy?

By addressing cognitive deficits, addiction treatment can empower individuals to regain control of their thoughts, behaviors, and, ultimately, their recovery journey. By understanding the ways addiction disrupts these processes, treatment approaches can be tailored to strengthen cognitive skills and promote long-term success. In the end, the biopsychosocial model reminds us that addiction is not just about the substance. It’s about the person using the substance, their unique experiences, their brain chemistry, their thought patterns, their relationships, and their environment. By embracing this complexity, we open the door to more compassionate, effective approaches to prevention, treatment, and recovery. The importance of this model in addiction treatment and research cannot be overstated.

• Consistent with findings of Marchand, et al. 19, some interview themes overlapped multiple PCC framework domains (e.g., a participant experience illustrated both Individualized Care and Shared Decision-Making, i.e., changes in medication dose or type).
• The model attributes key role to biological determinants and explains disease as a condition caused by external pathogens or disorders in the functions of organs and body systems.
• This integration of relationships aids in reducing feelings of isolation that often accompany substance use disorders.
• Substances and addictive behaviors often serve as maladaptive coping mechanisms, providing temporary relief from emotional pain, anxiety, or depression (Mack, 2023).
• The environment in which a person lives plays a crucial role in shaping their risk for addiction.

Substance use disorders / Addictions as a Biopsychosocial Plus phenomenon

The presence or absence of Individualized Care and Shared Decision-Making were the second most discussed PCC domains. Fifteen semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted from August through November of 2021 regarding patient experiences receiving MOUD in 13 Vermont Hub and Spoke clinics. Emergent themes were deductively mapped to PCC domains of Therapeutic Alliance, Individualized Care, Shared Decision-Making, and Holistic Care. Addictions subvert this normally helpful process and grow stronger over time, as the reward circuits in the brain are high-jacked. The Compass Of Pleasure explains this new complex understanding clearly, but without dumbing it down.

• The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the 15 interviewees who answered the advertisement for this study and provided their valuable insight into what it’s like to receive care in Vermont.
• And social scientists are exploring innovative ways to leverage social support and address societal factors contributing to addiction.
• These experiences can create deep psychological wounds that make it difficult for individuals to manage stress and regulate their emotions.
• Such stability helps individuals to maintain psychological flexibility in the face of challenges, i.e., to be able to flexibly adjust their mindset and behavior to adapt to environmental changes.
• This study could also explore differences in subthreshold depression levels between profiles of self-acceptance, providing a basis for precise interventions.
• Indeed, in the original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, Felitti et al. (1998) found that more ACEs increased the odds of subsequent drug and alcohol use.

Importance of understanding the model

The biopsychosocial model of addiction is a holistic approach that views addiction as arising from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. This means that there isn’t just one cause of addiction but rather a combination of influences that can make someone more or less likely to develop an addiction. As we continue to explore and refine our understanding of addiction through various Theories of Addiction, the biopsychosocial model stands as a testament to the power of integrative, holistic thinking.

• While the stereotypical image of addiction might involve a person misusing substances like alcohol or drugs, addictive behaviours extend beyond substances and include activities such as gambling, internet use, and even food consumption.
• For instance, women with co-occurring alcohol dependence and depression reported an increase in days of abstinence and a decrease in depressive symptoms after undergoing IPT.
• And I woke up late in the morning and the clinic was about to close and I’m like, crap, I’m not going to get my medicine.
• Regular engagement in IPT not only fosters self-awareness and coping skills but also mitigates feelings of loneliness and depression often linked to substance use.
• It’s like a garden – the right environment can help a person flourish, but a toxic one can stunt growth and foster disease.

The Role of Interpersonal Therapy in Addiction Recovery

Previous research has also shown strong associations between medical, educational, and mental health services and substance use treatment retention. Improvement of post treatment outcomes has also been noted when treatment consists of wrap-around services such as basic needs, childcare, and family 40. While support for Holistic Care emerged less prominently than other PCC domains in the data, the Holistic Care themes that did emerge support the importance of biopsychosocial care. Additionally, participants highlighted positive experiences and appreciation when they had parental support from the clinic staff, particularly when they felt that the support given went above and beyond standard care.

This model challenges the traditional biomedical approach, which reduces addiction solely to biochemical causes and often overlooks the significant roles of psychological and sociocultural influences. It asserts that addressing a combination of these factors is essential for effective recovery and presents a more holistic view of addiction that aligns with contemporary research findings. The dimension of alienation plays an important role in the effect of drug use stereotype threat on the type of self-acceptance of drug addicts. Bandura’s theory suggests that individuals form perceptions of social groups based on others’ views, which may lead to simplified or biased information processing and prejudice.

Whole Person Healthcare The Biopsychosocial Spiritual Model of Medicine. By Doodle Med.(

Addiction is not a one-dimensional problem but a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. The biopsychosocial model provides a holistic framework for understanding and addressing addiction, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and individualized treatment. By addressing the underlying causes of addiction and fostering resilience in all areas of life, individuals can achieve lasting recovery and rebuild a life of health, purpose, and connection. This provides a foundation for a better understanding of how harmful substance use emerged and what can be done to shift their unhealthy patterns (Florin & Trytek, n.d.). The holistic and well-rounded approach to understanding both the causes of addictive disorders and the best substance abuse treatment is seen in the Biopsychosocial Model of Addiction (Florin & Trytek, n.d.).