Behavioural addictions: definition, symptoms and treatment
The concept of behavioural addictions is a new concept in psychiatry. Indeed, it was in 2013, with the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) that the term ‘pathological behavioural addictions’ was added to the group of official psychiatric diagnoses
New developments in neurological sciences support a unified neurobiological theory that considers substance and behavioural addictions analogously
In line with this view, the DSM-5, for example, proposed the classification of ‘Pathological Internet Addiction Disorder’, a diagnosis that shares common features with Substance Dependence Disorder, such as the role of pathological dependence in modulating mood, the phenomena of withdrawal and tolerance, the presence of relapses, and the difficulty in stopping the abuse behaviour despite impairment of individual functioning.
Mark Griffith (2005) defines a behavioural addiction on the basis of six criteria: prominence (the behaviour tends to assume the greatest relevance in the person’s life, to the detriment of other thoughts, feelings and actions), influence on mood (emotional consequences of the addictive behaviour), tolerance (intensification of the behaviour to induce effects of sufficient intensity), withdrawal symptoms (unpleasant states of mind or physical consequences resulting from engaging in the behaviour), conflict (interpersonal conflicts resulting from the addiction established or incompatibility with other personal tasks or activities) and relapse (the presence of multiple relapses into the disorder after withdrawal phases).
A peculiar aspect of behavioural addictions is that they involve ‘normal’ drives (such as sex, food, love, money, etc.), which, however, become pathological to the extent that they reach a certain level of excess and danger for the person.
The distinguishing feature of behavioural addiction always remains the individual’s inability to mitigate the behaviour in spite of the negative consequences they observe in their daily functioning.
Behaviours and processes associated with behavioural addiction are aimed at giving pleasure, often represent a way out of emotional or physical suffering and are characterised by the inability to control the enactment of the behaviour and the occurrence of significant negative consequences for the person’s life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most suitable treatment for behavioural addictions
In this approach, the chains between thoughts and behaviours implemented by the patient are analysed in order to arrive at more profitable management strategies: patients undertake to get to know the characteristics of their addictions, to better identify and manage high-risk relapse situations, to implement more appropriate alternative behaviours.
Mistakes” are analysed as experiences to be learnt from, in order to consolidate the results achieved and perfect the prevention of future relapses.
The Cognitive-Behavioural approach also includes the involvement of family members and relatives, in order to promote a complete restoration of the patient’s well-being.
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