Beneficial and Detrimental Effects of Genetic Explanations for Addiction

Overview

Journal Int J Soc Psychiatry

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2017 Oct 24

PMID 29058960

Citations 13

Authors

Matthew S Lebowitz

Paul S Appelbaum

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Addictions are highly stigmatized and increasingly construed as biomedical diseases caused by genes, partly to reduce stigma by deflecting blame. However, genetic explanations may have negative effects, which have been understudied in the context of addiction. How the effects of genetic explanations might differ for substance addictions versus behavioral addictions is also unknown.

Aims: This study examined the impact of genetic explanations for addiction on measures of treatment expectancies, blame, and perceived agency and self-control, as well as whether these varied depending on whether the addiction was to a substance or a behavior.

Methods: Participants read about a person ('Charlie') with either alcohol use disorder or gambling disorder, receiving either a genetic or nongenetic explanation of Charlie's problem. They rated how much they blamed Charlie for his disorder, his likelihood of benefitting from medication or psychotherapy, and how much agency and self-control they ascribed to him.

Results: Compared to the nongenetic explanation, the genetic explanation reduced blame and increased confidence in the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy. However, it also decreased the expected effectiveness of psychotherapy and reduced ascriptions of agency and self-control.

Conclusion: Genetic explanations for addiction appear to be a 'double-edged sword', with beneficial effects that come at a cost.

Citing Articles

Implications of genetic attributions for addiction among addiction professionals.

Lebowitz M, Rattenni R, Sorge S J Psychiatr Res. 2024; 180:33-38.

PMID: 39368327 PMC: 11606757. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.09.050.

Diabetes causal attributions: Pathways to stigma and health.

Persky S, Costabile K, Telaak S Stigma Health. 2024; 9(1):48-57.

PMID: 38799224 PMC: 11114425. DOI: 10.1037/sah0000312.

Should we promote alcohol problems as a continuum? Implications for policy and practice.

Morris J, Boness C, Witkiewitz K Drugs (Abingdon Engl). 2024; 31(2):271-281.

PMID: 38682086 PMC: 11052541. DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2023.2187681.

Commentary: Perspectives on ADHD in children and adolescents as a social construct amidst rising prevalence of diagnosis and medication use.

Dekkers T Front Psychiatry. 2024; 15:1383492.

PMID: 38590790 PMC: 10999669. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1383492.

Returning Genetic Information About Risk for Alcohol Use Disorder to Adolescents: Findings of a Preliminary Qualitative Study of Precision Prevention.

Weitzman E, Blakemore L, Pierce S, Kossowsky J, Levy S AJPM Focus. 2023; 3(1):100153.

PMID: 38089426 PMC: 10711383. DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2023.100153.

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