Neurobiology of Addiction, Somatic Symptom Disorder, Schizophrenia, and ASD

Psychopathology Final
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Psychopathology Final
Answer 1
Keith Klostermann and Michelle Kelley define addiction as being characterized by three primary components, namely compulsion, preoccupation, and relapse. The neurobiology of addiction focuses on identifying various neuroadaptive mechanisms within particular brain circuits, which mediate the transition from controlled and infrequent drug use to addiction (Klostermann & Kelley, 2015). The primary neurochemical process that underlies addiction is how drugs become reinforcing to users. In most cases, many drugs exert reinforcing effects on the dopamine neurotransmission system. Other addiction pathways include serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and an opioid peptide. The neurobiology of addiction portrays that the four main circuits that are responsible for addiction and drug abuse are the reward, which is in the ventral pallidum, and the nucleus accumbens (Klostermann & Kelley, 2015). The second circuit is the motivation that is in the subcallosal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex. The third circuit is the control that is in the anterior cingulate gyrus and prefrontal cortex. The fourth circuit is learning and memory in the hippocampus and amygdala. On the contrary, the sociocultural views of chemical dependency refer to the clinical diagnosis of addiction that is derived from societal norms. As such, they differ based on where and when the diagnosis is made. Addiction or drug-taking behaviors are considered as those behaviors that deviate from the socially accepted standards. The two primary things that determine whether a person is an addict are idiosyncratic viewpoints and culture (Klostermann & Kelley, 2015). In particular, addiction symptoms are culturally derived and based on a commonly held set of cultural beliefs about acceptable drug abuse. For example, in some cultures, drinking and driving, drug use in the morning, and drinking while working are considered addiction signs. In that light, the sociocultural views of chemical dependency involve beliefs by distinct groups of people. Both the neurobiology and sociocultural views of addiction depict that chemical dependency occurs when people misuse drugs beyond a specific threshold, which is determined by culture, societal norms, and brain circuits. Furthermore, individuals’ behaviors are proper measures to know whether a person is a drug addict or not.
Reference
Klostermann, K., & Kelley, M. L. (2015). Substance-related and addictive disorders. In Maddux, J. E., & Winstead, B. A. (Eds.), Psychopathology: Foundations for a contemporary understanding (pp. 285-317) ProQuest Ebook Central.

Answer 2
Based on the DSM-5, somatic symptom disorders might not accompany the diagnosed medical disease. The diagnosis is usually determined by symptoms’ endorsement but not the absence of a clear medical explanation. Predominant pain or pain disorder and hypochondriasis are two diagnostic categories. When it comes to somatic symptom disorder with pain disorder, it involves persistent pain. In this case, persistence means that the pain is predominant and that it stays for a lon...