Behavioral Addictions: What They Are, And Characteristics
When we think of an addiction, addiction to a substance generally comes to mind, such as alcohol or certain psychoactive drugs. However, addictions can go further, and the reality is that we can be addicted to practically anything.
Thus, addictions that do not involve a chemical substance are called behavioral addictions.
In this article we will talk about the most common behavioral addictions, such as addiction to gambling or new technologies. We will discuss its symptoms, its causes and its treatments (these last two aspects in a more generic way).
Before learning about behavioral addictions, we are going to explain what an addiction consists of. An addiction is a psychological disorder that implies, for the person, a strong need to consume a certain substance or perform certain actions
When it cannot do so, it manifests the so-called withdrawal syndrome, a syndrome normally characterized by symptoms opposite to those that the substance or object in question would produce. That is, if alcohol, for example, produces “depressive” symptoms (at a physiological level), the withdrawal syndrome will cause the opposite symptoms: overexcitement, nervousness… but at a level of intensity that is very annoying for the individual.
Thus, broadly speaking, an addiction involves two basic symptoms: dependence on the substance or object in question (the person “needs it”) and excessive consumption of it This consumption (or overconsumption) can be very harmful to the person, in terms of health (especially if we talk about substance addictions).
In this way, and in a very generic way, we can differentiate two large groups of addictions:
In fact, The DSM-5 itself (Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders) (APA, 2013), includes, to talk about addictions, the category of “Addictive and substance-related disorders” and within its chapter these two large groups mentioned (addictions with and without substance) are included.
Behavioral addictions: what they are, and symptoms
Now that we have seen what an addiction entails, let’s talk in more detail about behavioral addictions. Their main characteristic, as we have seen, is that they are addictions without substance. That is to say, What creates addiction is not a substance, but an object, an action, a product etc.
Let’s look at some of the most common behavioral addictions:
1. Internet game addiction
This first of the behavioral addictions is not yet considered an official diagnosis, and has been included in Section III of the DSM-5, in the section “Conditions for further studies in the future”, with the name “Internet gaming disorder” or “Internet gaming disorders.” However, many researchers consider it an existing disorder.
It consists of the addiction to those virtual games on the Internet (gambling games are not included), which They consume the user’s time between 8 and 10 hours a day Its prevalence in children and adolescents is very high (8.4% in men and 4.5% in women), especially in China and South Korea.
2. Gambling addiction
Pathological gambling is another of the behavioral addictions, contemplated in the DSM-5 itself. This pathology, in the DSM-IV-TR, was included in Impulse Control Disorders, but with the arrival of the new edition of the Manual, It is now considered an addictive disorder (without substance), as its great similarities with substance addictions are observed (dependence, tolerance and abstinence).
Thus, pathological gambling is characterized by involving maladaptive and persistent gambling behavior, together with symptoms of deterioration and stress in the individual’s life.
In addition, other types of symptoms appear (lasting at least 1 year), such as: deception of one’s own family to hide the degree of involvement with the game, worry about it, attempts to recover the lost money the next day, failure for controlling or stopping the game, restlessness or irritability when trying to stop the game, etc.
This disorder appears in 0.2-0.3% of the general adult population and its rates are higher in adolescents and university students.
3. Internet addiction
Although Internet addiction (or addiction to new virtual technologies as a whole) is not included as a disorder in the DSM-5, it is true that, given the empirical evidence, we could consider it another of the most prevalent behavioral addictions. currently.
It is a reality that more and more children and adolescents (and also adults) are addicted to the Internet, social networks, new technologies, etc. This addiction translates into a constant need to consult the Internet and/or social networks not disconnecting from mobile phones all day, etc.
That is to say, there appears an excessive consumption of new technologies and an associated concern about not being able to use them.
The most serious problem with this type of alteration is that other problems associated with said addiction appear, such as: family problems, behavioral disorders, low self-esteem, eating disorders etc.
Other behavioral addictions
We have seen some of the behavioral addictions (the best known), however there are many more, such as: sex addiction, shopping addiction…
Whether or not they are included in the DSM-5, it is an undeniable reality that these addictions appear in a large part of the population, or if not, addictive behaviors that could constitute a serious problem by interfering with the person’s daily life. .
These addictions share common characteristics, such as excessive consumption, dependence, and discomfort associated with the impossibility of consuming the object of desire / the addictive object.
Causes
Why do we become addicted to certain substances (in this case, objects or actions)? The causes will vary enormously from one person to another, although it is true that we can talk about some causes that are more typical than others: family problems, relationship problems, need to escape from reality, low self-esteem, poor impulse control low tolerance for frustration, social isolation, harassment, bullying, illusion of control, etc.
In the case of behavioral addictions, logically, being addicted to sex is not the same as being addicted to shopping or the Internet, but many times the causes are similar.
Treatment
In relation to the treatment of behavioral addictions, each treatment must be adapted to each specific case, because each person will manifest their own symptoms, added problems, concerns, etc.
However, we can speak, broadly speaking, of therapeutic options that are often used and have proven to be effective in the case of this type of addictions Some of them are:
What is clear is that, in addition to treating the core symptoms of addiction, the basis of the problem must be treated, that is, its cause. The ideal is to approach the problem from a multidisciplinary and systemic perspective, where we also work with the patient’s environment.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th. Edition (DSM-5). Washington, DC.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.
Cía, A. (2013). Addictions not related to substances (DSM-5, APA, 2013): a first step towards the inclusion of Behavioral Addictions in the current categorical classifications. Rev Neuropsiquiatr, 76(4):210-217.
Echeburúa E, Corral P. Addiction to new technologies and social networks. Addictions. 2010; 22, 91 – 96.
Echeburúa E, Corral P, Amor PJ. The challenge of new addictions: therapeutic objectives and avenues of intervention. Behavioral Psychology. 2005; 13: 511 – 525.
