PSYC 223 - Measurement of Drug Effects (ONE)

2 factors that affect behavioral/observable drug responding

1. Sites of action

2. Level of expsosure

What does repeated exposure to drugs result in?

Enduring systemic changes that affect behavior

Why is measuring enduring systemic changes in response to drug use difficult (3 reasons)?

1. Imaging is difficult

2. Imprecise due to technological limitations

3. Costly

Prevailing theory in what we should measure

key components that can tip the scale from “using as directed” to “misuse/addiction”

3 components that should be measured to study extent of drug dependence

1. Aspects of loss of control (regulation) of intake

2. Preoccupation (habit formation, memory, reward)

3. Regulation of negative affect

4 metrics to measure in relation to drug use

1. Possession adherence

2. Known side effects

3. Before and after level of treatment outcomes

4. Levels of exposure to drugs

Possession adherence

Possession adherence: the extent to which the persons’ behavior (including medication-taking) corresponds with agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider

3 aspects of possession of adherence (and how to ensure compliance for each)

1. Initiate treatment of the prescription (pickup from pharmacy/doctor; blood tests to check for metabolites)

2. Implement the exposure using the prescribed regime (look for gaps)

3. Discontinue use when instructed (check pill count)

5 ways to assess level of exposure to drugs

1. Possession

2. Initiation (prescribed or otherwise)

3. Route of administration

4. Frequency and quantity of use

5. Intoxication (varies across recreational drugs/medications)

5 behavioral outcomes results from chronic exposure

1. Feeling that you must use the drug regularly

2. Having intense urges for the drug that block out other thoughts

3. Needing more of the drug to get the same effect over time

4. Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it

5. Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do, like stealing

Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT)

measures both one's compulsions to drink alcohol and their symptoms

_______________, _______________, and _______________ outcomes give us some idea about what may be affected in brain, but not specifically how much for each person

Behavioral, psychological, neurocognitive