Treatment method employing deterrents to change unwanted behaviors; illustrations include electric shock for pedophiles and nausea-inducing drugs for weight loss; debates surround the ethical and effectiveness aspects.
Aversion Therapy (AT) got its name from the practice of repeatedly linking an undesirable behavior with an unpleasant experience to decrease the likelihood of said behavior. In the world of psychology, it's also known as "aversive conditioning" or "deterrent therapy." When it comes to treating behaviors related to addiction, such as smoking or alcohol use, you'll find AT being less common compared to other therapies designed for substance use disorders.
The idea behind AT is simple: by creating a negative association, we discourage or even eliminate the unwanted behavior. Road blocks like nail biting, smoking, alcohol misuse, and gambling addiction, could potentially benefit from this approach.
Here are a few examples of AT that have been tried:
- Emetic counter conditioning (ECC): Using medicines to induce nausea and vomiting, and then having a person consume different alcoholic beverages, can help reduce alcohol cravings for those dealing with AUD.
- Graphic warning labels: These disturbing images on cigarette packages found in 118 countries are a type of AT. They pair smoking with potential negative health implications.
- Rapid smoking: Puffing on a cigarette every few seconds can lead to unpleasant sensations, making the person unable to tolerate smoking, and theoretically reducing nicotine dependence. Despite promising short-term results, a 2016 review indicated that it's not an effective long-term treatment for those aiming to quit smoking.
- Rubber band aversion therapy (RBAT): RBAT is a treatment for OCD, in which a person wears a rubber band around their wrist and snaps the band each time they have an obsessive thought. The goal is for the person to associate obsessive thoughts with the pain of the rubber band. Despite research, RBAT has not been found to be an effective therapy for OCD.
Research suggests that AT can help decrease addictive behaviors in the short term, but further studies are needed to determine the long-term impacts of this method. In one study, ECC showed promise for treating AUD, with 69% of participants still sober 12 months later, and significant reductions in craving-related brain activity. However, the effectiveness of AT for other addiction-related behaviors like smoking and overeating is relatively scarce and inconclusive.
Controversy surrounds AT due to its use of punishment as a form of therapy. In the past, "conversion therapy" was used to change a person's sexual orientation, a practice that many professionals view as unethical. While it has mostly fallen out of favor, some practitioners still engage in it, and legal bans on conversion therapy are being considered in various US states.
The idea of associating bad experiences with habits is not new, but its ethics and long-term effectiveness remain under debate. For some, it's a valuable piece in the therapeutic puzzle, while others are wary of its potential drawbacks. To find the best approach for different addiction challenges, it's essential to consider a variety of treatments.
- Psychotherapy techniques like Aversion Therapy (AT) aim to decrease unwanted behaviors by creating negative associations, and it's widely used in addressing issues such as alcohol misuse, smoking, nail biting, and gambling addiction.
- Alternative treatments, such as Emetic Counter Conditioning (ECC), utilize medicines to induce nausea and vomiting in response to alcohol consumption, with the goal of reducing alcohol cravings for those with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
- The field of mental health offers a wide range of therapies and treatments, including psychotherapy, psychology, psychiatry, and health-and-wellness practices, each with its own unique approach to managing mental health and addiction-related behaviors.
- Despite its short-term success in decreasing addictive behaviors, Aversion Therapy (AT) is not without controversy, raising ethical questions due to its reliance on punishment and its history of misuse, such as in conversion therapy that aimed to change a person's sexual orientation.
