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S63.02 - Decision making and addiction - can addicts learn to forgo immediate reward?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

C. Newman*
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

Abstract

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Decision making tasks such as the Iowa Gambling Task and Rogers' Decision Making Task have been used to consistently identify decision making problems in addict samples. The role of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (VmPFC) and Orbital Frontal Cortex (OFC) have been linked to impaired decision making through fMRI studies and comparison studies with patients who have suffered bilateral damage to the VmPFC. These regions have been associated to traits, in addicts, such as dysfunctional inhibitory control, hypersensitivity to reward, difficulties in reverse learning (or strategy shifting) and insensitivity to future consequences. Research suggests that the reported poor performance of addicts is a possible artefact of decision making tasks which encourage poor decisions initially, paired with an impaired ability to switch task strategies as experience and knowledge is gained.

Hypothesis:

Can male opiate addicts be prompted (with feedback, punishment or task practice) to switch decision making strategies in a task which initially encourages poor choices, and requires non-myopic behaviour. Sample: 60 males, >1 year heroin addiction, currently receiving stable substitute medication (no opiate use for 2 weeks minimum).

Results:

Data collection is underway and will be completed within 3 months. Current trend in collected data suggests that punishment prompts learning of optimum decision making strategies in addicts. Findings will be available by March 2007.

Type
Symposium: Alcoholism and drug addiction: Young researchers symposium
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2008
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