Hi
On Mon, 4 Oct 1999, Michael J. Kane wrote:
> *Beth Benoit wrote:
> *I don't see how a "rebound effect" can be
> *considered "addiction."
>
> I wouldn't say that the rebound effect IS addiction, but rather
> that a patient's recognition of the rebound effect may lead to
> addiction. The rebound effect would better be considered
> equivalent to (conditioned) withdrawal. If a pt. makes the
> connection that withdrawal symptoms are alleviated by more
> drugs, then a resulting cycle of drugs => withdrawal => more
> drugs =>withdrawal, etc. may result.
>
> Thus, if a drug is likely to lead to a conditioned compensatory
> response, and therefore tolerance and withdrawal, then
> eventual addiction is possible, if not likely.
The material I had read long ago (and can't even remember the
person's name now) use to talk about pain addiction in terms of
negative reinforcement. That is, pain is followed by medication,
which results in alleviation of pain (i.e., removal of an
aversive stimulus or neg reinf). This can accidentally reinforce
the pain response.
Best wishes
Jim
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James M. Clark (204) 786-9757
Department of Psychology (204) 774-4134 Fax
University of Winnipeg 4L05D
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
CANADA http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/~clark
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