Behavioral addictions: where to draw the lines?
Behavioral addictions can present in a variety of subtle and deceptive patterns. Because of the intense shame, guilt, and embarrassment felt by patients, it may fall to providers to utilize screening tools and deeper interviewing techniques to uncover the extent of these behaviors. Identifying when the line is crossed from recreation/habit to psychopathology relies on understanding current diagnostic criteria and consideration of cultural, ethnic, and local community standards. Individuals are also likely to cross back and forth between this line of pathology and habit, further clouding provider’s opinions of diagnosis; therefore, tracking and monitoring these symptoms over time is critical to establishing patterns of use and documenting ongoing consequences. Treatment for these conditions is emerging slowly, and treatment outcomes for these conditions appear to be similar to those with other addictive disorders.
UCLA Gambling Studies Program, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. tfong@mednet.ucla.edu
Timothy W
TW
Fong
Rory C
RC
Reid
Iman
I
Parhami
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult