Understanding and Treating Behavioral Addictions: A Comprehensive Guide

Written by Michael S. Ascher, “The Behavioral Addictions” is a pioneering work that delves into the diagnosis and treatment of patients struggling with behavioral addictions. These addictions, often resembling severe substance use disorders, can have devastating consequences on individuals and their loved ones.

Characteristics of Behavioral Addictions

Similar to substance use disorders, behavioral addictions exhibit specific characteristics, including:

• Tolerance: The need to engage in the addictive behavior at higher frequencies or intensities to achieve the same effect.
• Withdrawal: Feelings of restlessness, irritability, and discontent following abrupt discontinuation of the behavior.
• Obsessive thinking and planning: Preoccupation with obtaining or engaging in the addictive behavior, leading to negative consequences in finances, health, relationships, and more.

Although not all behavioral addictions are recognized by the DSM-5, both substances and behaviors can hijack an individual’s pleasure-and-reward brain circuitry, causing immense suffering.

A Comprehensive and Engaging Resource

This case-based volume offers a unique blend of informative, accessible, and entertaining content, making it an invaluable resource for clinicians and researchers alike. The book covers a range of behavioral addictions, including:

• Exercise addiction
• Food addiction
• Gambling addiction
• Internet gaming addiction
• Internet surfing addiction
• Kleptomania
• Love addiction
• Sex addiction
• Shopping addiction
• Work addiction
• Tanning addiction
• E-mailing/texting addiction

The book’s introductory chapters provide a thorough overview of the relationship between behavioral addictions and substance use disorders, as well as neurobiological, theoretical, clinical, and forensic perspectives on the topic.

Real-Life Case Studies and Practical Applications

Each chapter focuses on a real-life case study of a patient struggling with a behavioral addiction. Accompanying videos demonstrate clinician-patient interactions, offering a unique perspective on assessment, treatment, and intervention strategies. Key points for review and multiple-choice questions are included at the end of each chapter to facilitate learning and retention.

“The Behavioral Addictions” is not simply an exaggeration of everyday social and personal issues; rather, it presents clinicians with unique and poorly researched challenges in everyday clinical practice. This comprehensive guide helps readers determine the fine line between healthy and unhealthy levels of participation in a behavior and provides evidence-based strategies for effective intervention and treatment.