Addictive Behaviors (Gambling-Internet) in Patients with Psychoactive Substance Use disorder

Abstract

ddiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors (ASAM, 2015). Certain non-substance behaviors-such as gambling, Internet use, video-game playing, sex, eating, and shopping bear resemblance to alcohol and drug dependence. “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders” in DSM-5, was newly introduced diagnostic category. Current evidence points to overlaps and differences between behavioral and substance-related addictions in phenomenology, epidemiology, comorbidity, neurobiological mechanisms, genetic contributions, responses to treatments, and prevention efforts (Yau and Potenza, 2016). Gambling disorder (GD) is the only best arguably studied behavioral addiction to date in the main section of DSM-5 (non-substance-related disorders). Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a possible candidate for future inclusion in the addictions category in DSM-5 (Potenza, 2014).