Rachel suffers from alcohol addiction - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 17 - 2018 - Paper 2

One significant biological explanation for Rachel's alcohol addiction lies in the impact of alcohol on neurotransmitters in her brain.

Alcohol is known to act as a depressant, playing a crucial role in inhibiting the neurotransmitter serotonin. This decrease in serotonin levels can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety, causing Rachel to feel unwell when she cannot consume alcohol at the beginning of her day. The withdrawal symptoms Rachel experiences further illustrate this connection, as they severely affect her ability to function normally at work.

Additionally, alcohol increases the amount of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, in Rachel's brain. This heightened GABA presence creates a calming effect, making Rachel increasingly dependent on alcohol to manage her stress and anxiety. As her brain adapts to the presence of alcohol, it undergoes physiological changes, reinforcing her need to drink in the morning to feel "normal." Moreover, the fact that both of Rachel's parents struggled with alcohol addiction suggests a potential genetic predisposition, heightening her vulnerability to developing similar patterns of drinking behavior.