A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework

TLDR

There is a growing movement that views many behaviors—including gambling, sex, exercise, video gaming, and internet use—as potentially addictive, and evidence suggests these behaviors share common features within a biopsychosocial framework. This paper argues that all addictions consist of distinct common components—salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse—and that an eclectic, pragmatic approach to studying addictive behavior is most appropriate. These commonalities may influence treatment strategies and shape public perceptions of such behaviors.

Abstract

There is now a growing movement that views a number of behaviours as potentially addictive including many that do not involve the ingestion of a drug (such as gambling, sex, exercise, videogame playing and Internet use). This paper argues that all addictions consist of a number of distinct common components (salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict and relapse). The paper argues that addictions are a part of a biopsychosocial process and evidence is growing that excessive behaviours of all types do seem to have many commonalities. It is argued that an eclectic approach to the studying of addictive behaviour appears to be the most pragmatic way forward in the field. Such commonalities may have implications not only for treatment of such behaviours but also for how the general public perceive such behaviours.