Early Brain and Biological Development and Addiction, UME Podcast Series
Summary: The podcast series has been designed to offer an introduction to the subject of early brain and biological development and its connection to addiction. The podcast series includes a set of episodes on core concepts of early childhood development which illustrate how childhood experiences shape brain development to either provide a strong foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing or confer vulnerability to disease. The early childhood development episodes also address interventions and treatments that help ensure children have the best possible start in life. The podcast series also includes a set of episodes that focus on the neurodevelopmental origins of addiction. These podcasts provide a definition of addiction as a brain disorder, and describes effective strategies to help prevent, intervene, and treat addiction. The goal of the podcast series is to give you the both the background knowledge on brain development and addiction, and the reflective skills to apply this knowledge to your practice. The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) created the podcast series as part of the Addiction e-Learning for Undergraduate Medical Education (UME), sponsored by the Norlien Foundation. The series is based on lectures from the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative, a knowledge mobilization initiative designed to translate scientific research into policy and practice. The lectures have been repurposed, with permission, for undergraduate medical education. Supplementary resources, including virtual patients and a Primer on the Neurobiology of Addiction, are also available at www.afmc.ca.
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- Artist: The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
Podcasts:
The Neuro-Developmental Pathway Origins of Addiction is the first in a series of podcasts on early brain and biological development and its connection to addiction. As such, it introduces the themes that will be addressed throughout the series, including adverse childhood experiences; brain architecture; the neuro-developmental origins of addiction; and the prevention, intervention and treatment of addiction. The podcast provides a definition of addiction, which includes substance and process addictions, and begins to explore the impact of adverse childhood experiences on the reward system of the brain. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/TcvEcD
Podcast 2, Brain Architecture and Development, highlights how the brain develops; the effect of early experiences and stress on brain development; how brain architecture regulates biological systems responsible for complex human behaviours; and how social interactions help guide development of the brain. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/V7yzz9
Podcast 3, Early Experiences and Gene Expression, highlights the concept of epigenetics and how genes are expressed through interaction with different environments. The podcast describes the long-term effects of epigenetics, and looks at how early negative experiences harm brain architecture whereas positive interactive relationships (or serve and return experiences) build resilience over time. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/R9W6zD
Podcast 4, Building Cognitive, Emotional and Social Capacities, highlights the importance of building a solid foundation of cognitive, emotional and social skills early in a child's life; the negative effects of such skills not being developed effectively; and how the serve and return interactions between a caregiver and child are the cornerstone for resilient cognitive, emotional and social capabilities. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/RBDtDq
Podcast 5, Positive, Tolerable and Toxic Stress, identifies the three types of stress that individuals encounter daily; describes how the body's allostatic response to situations of toxic stress creates the allostatic load; and identifies the sources and long-term effects of toxic stress on a person's body and life. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/RBDSGd
Podcast 6, Brain Plasticity and Behavioural Change, describes brain plasticity; its importance in the development of brain structure and processes; and its influence on behaviours. It highlights pre- and postnatal factors that influence the pruning process and brain plasticity during the early developmental years, and how the ability to change brain architecture and behaviours decreases over time. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/TuRwuo
Podcast 7, Intervention and Treatment in Children's Mental Health, highlights the importance of level, supportive environments during childhood development; examines the negative consequences of maltreatment (such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and addiction), which can continue throughout life; and identifies treatment options involving healthcare professionals, parents and children exposed to toxic stress. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/WAkhdP
Podcast 8, Different Kinds of Addiction, offers a definition of addiction. It highlights the neurobiology and behaviour patterns common to both substance and process addiction. The podcast also addresses concurrent addiction and the consequences of associated interactions. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/RGh0Zh
Podcast 9, Prevention, Intervention and Treatment of Addiction, highlights the fact that addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease and that, if its treatment is to achieve lasting success, it must be comprehensive and address the individual as a whole. The podcast describes the chronic disease management model of care and explains how a number of its principles can be applied in effective addiction intervention. It also describes the design and characteristics of a successful Physician Health Program. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/RDkVCC
Podcast 10, Early Trauma in Addiction, highlights the link between childhood trauma and addictions and describes the many ways in which trauma can manifest in an individual. The podcast illustrates how traumatic events can lead to a sensitized nervous system, and how exposure to trauma damages the limbic system, resulting in altered memory and emotional memory. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/R4QQyy
Podcast 11, Chronic Disease Management Model of Addiction Treatment: A Healthcare System Response, highlights the principles of the chronic disease management model of care, and examines the successes of Primary Care Networks and how their design and principles apply to addiction treatment.Eleventh episode in a podcast series on Early Brain Development and Addiction for Undergraduate Medical Education. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/R4QXKI
Podcast 12, Quality Improvement Strategies and Evaluation for Addiction Treatment Programs, highlights the differences between effectiveness, performance and quality in addiction treatment. The podcast describes the significance of understanding which elements of a program need to be measured and how to measure them in the evaluation process. It also addresses the importance of creating a solid link between expectations and evaluation, in order to produce practical outcomes for a program. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/TcA5nW
Podcast 13, Process Improvement in Healthcare Programs to Support Addiction Treatment, identifies the five principles of business process improvement and how these principles can be adopted to enhance addiction treatment programs. Click here to see the supplementary study guide for this podcast: http://bit.ly/QsAzzW
