We hear a lot about behavioural addictions these days - that people can become addicted not only to alcohol or other drugs, but to seemingly innocuous activities such as sex, shopping, video games, gambling, eating, and exercise. But are they really addictions? A central controversy in the field of addiction is whether the so-called “behavioral” addictions – addictions to activities such as eating, exercising, sex, video game playing, and gambling – are real addictions.
But concepts of addiction have changed over the years, and experts vary in their understanding of what an addiction is, so until a consensus is reached, the controversy is likely to continue to some extent. However, much has been learned during the past 15 years, since the last update to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) was published. With the next edition just around the corner, we may see…
