AU PSYC 304 FINAL 4 2026 PRACTICE TEST
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED PSYCHOLOGICAL
PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS BREAKDOWN
FULL REVIEW
◉ Drug overdose. Answer: - Taking a dangerously high dose of a
drug that overwhelms the body's normal physiological systems
- Can be life threatening.
- Opioids: Overdose typically occurs through respiratory depression.
- Stimulants: Overdose typically results from excessive stimulation
of the brain and cardiovascular system, which can cause seizures,
stroke, or a heart attack.
◉ Psychoactive drugs summary
Changing neurotransmitter levels in the synapse:
- Stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines) and MDMA increase
monoamine signalling in the synapse.
Direct receptor action:
- Nicotine: agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
,- Opioids: receptor agonists
- Psychedelics: serotonin receptor agonists
- Ketamine: glutamate (NMDA) receptor antagonist
Broad modulators:
- Alcohol: enhances GABA inhibition and reduces NMDA glutamate
signalling, while also affecting dopamine and other systems.
- Cannabis (THC): activates CB1 cannabinoid receptors, which
regulate release of several NT (including GABA, glutamate, and
dopamine).. Answer:
◉ Drug use vs drug addiction. Answer: Many people use
psychoactive drugs recreationally and may even use them frequently
while still controlling their intake.
Drug use does not necessarily mean addiction.
Addiction involves loss of control over use and continued use
despite negative consequences.
Addiction affects millions of people and carries significant personal
and societal costs.
,◉ Substance use disorder. Answer: Addiction is defined as substance
use disorder (SUD) in the DSM-5.
Criteria for diagnosis is the same for all substances and refers to a
pattern of use that causes significant impairment or distress. - list of
criteria - usually have to have more than one
Diagnosis requires persistent problems that interfere with daily
functioning, not occasional symptoms.
Severity levels:
- Mild: 2 to 3 criteria
- Moderate: 4 to 5 criteria
- Severe: 6 or more criteria
◉ Categories of symptoms - consider symptoms and 4 different
areas criteria can be distributed -. Answer: one is impaired control -
can't control consumption - might try to control but then use
substance anyways
social problems (ex. Maybe don't show up to work)
risky use (sometimes using drug may occur in settings in which it is
risky. (maybe using needles that aren't clean)
, Physical dependence (idea of tolerance - needing more of the drug to
get similar effects and withdrawal as well)
◉ Models of drug abuse: moral model. Answer: - Blames the
individual, attempts to punish them
- Drug abuse as a failure of moral character or lack of self control
- Often including religious undertones - maybe because didn't pray
enough
- Approaches from this framework seem minimally successful
according to available evidence - not targeting neurobiological
routes and praying won't really help
- Missing the neurobiological roots of addiction
◉ Models of drug abuse: disease model. Answer: - The person who
abuses drugs requires medical treatment.
- Drug abuse is a medical condition as any other.
- This perspective supports medical research and healthcare
approaches to substance abuse. - a positive outcome
- This model does not fully explain how addiction occurs.
- No single abnormal physical or biochemical cause has been clearly
identified.
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED PSYCHOLOGICAL
PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS BREAKDOWN
FULL REVIEW
◉ Drug overdose. Answer: - Taking a dangerously high dose of a
drug that overwhelms the body's normal physiological systems
- Can be life threatening.
- Opioids: Overdose typically occurs through respiratory depression.
- Stimulants: Overdose typically results from excessive stimulation
of the brain and cardiovascular system, which can cause seizures,
stroke, or a heart attack.
◉ Psychoactive drugs summary
Changing neurotransmitter levels in the synapse:
- Stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines) and MDMA increase
monoamine signalling in the synapse.
Direct receptor action:
- Nicotine: agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
,- Opioids: receptor agonists
- Psychedelics: serotonin receptor agonists
- Ketamine: glutamate (NMDA) receptor antagonist
Broad modulators:
- Alcohol: enhances GABA inhibition and reduces NMDA glutamate
signalling, while also affecting dopamine and other systems.
- Cannabis (THC): activates CB1 cannabinoid receptors, which
regulate release of several NT (including GABA, glutamate, and
dopamine).. Answer:
◉ Drug use vs drug addiction. Answer: Many people use
psychoactive drugs recreationally and may even use them frequently
while still controlling their intake.
Drug use does not necessarily mean addiction.
Addiction involves loss of control over use and continued use
despite negative consequences.
Addiction affects millions of people and carries significant personal
and societal costs.
,◉ Substance use disorder. Answer: Addiction is defined as substance
use disorder (SUD) in the DSM-5.
Criteria for diagnosis is the same for all substances and refers to a
pattern of use that causes significant impairment or distress. - list of
criteria - usually have to have more than one
Diagnosis requires persistent problems that interfere with daily
functioning, not occasional symptoms.
Severity levels:
- Mild: 2 to 3 criteria
- Moderate: 4 to 5 criteria
- Severe: 6 or more criteria
◉ Categories of symptoms - consider symptoms and 4 different
areas criteria can be distributed -. Answer: one is impaired control -
can't control consumption - might try to control but then use
substance anyways
social problems (ex. Maybe don't show up to work)
risky use (sometimes using drug may occur in settings in which it is
risky. (maybe using needles that aren't clean)
, Physical dependence (idea of tolerance - needing more of the drug to
get similar effects and withdrawal as well)
◉ Models of drug abuse: moral model. Answer: - Blames the
individual, attempts to punish them
- Drug abuse as a failure of moral character or lack of self control
- Often including religious undertones - maybe because didn't pray
enough
- Approaches from this framework seem minimally successful
according to available evidence - not targeting neurobiological
routes and praying won't really help
- Missing the neurobiological roots of addiction
◉ Models of drug abuse: disease model. Answer: - The person who
abuses drugs requires medical treatment.
- Drug abuse is a medical condition as any other.
- This perspective supports medical research and healthcare
approaches to substance abuse. - a positive outcome
- This model does not fully explain how addiction occurs.
- No single abnormal physical or biochemical cause has been clearly
identified.
