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This article summarizes several studies on various topics. The first study examines the relationship between internalizing symptoms and problematic pornography use in college students, finding that higher levels of internalizing symptoms are associated with higher levels of problematic pornography use. The second study focuses on sleep-wake disorders among veterans with opioid use disorder, revealing that 24.4% of veterans with opioid use disorder have a sleep disorder, with obstructive sleep apnea being the most common type. The third study explores the association between cannabis use and lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts, finding that cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. Another study examines the impact of mandatory buprenorphine training and the removal of the X-waiver on prescribing patterns for physicians, showing that while there was an increase in knowledge and a decrease in concern about legal consequences after training, there were no significant differences in buprenorphine prescribing patterns. The fifth study focuses on emergency department patients with illicit fentanyl use and co-occurring psychiatric disorders, highlighting the prevalence of illicit fentanyl use and the need for routine assessments and treatment for mental health and substance misuse in this population. Lastly, a study examines the burden of emergency admissions and hospitalizations for nonfatal acute iatrogenic events in people with sickle cell disease and opioid dependence or tolerance, emphasizing the need for improved interventions and better access to care for this population. The first article also highlights the need for further research to improve opioid treatment strategies and [Extracted from the article]

Compulsive behaviour, an apparently irrational perseveration in often maladaptive acts, is a potential transdiagnostic symptom of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction, and may reflect the severe manifestation of a dimensional trait termed compulsivity. In this Review, we examine the psychological basis of compulsions and compulsivity and their underlying neural circuitry using evidence from human neuroimaging and animal models. Several main elements of this circuitry are identified, focused on fronto-striatal systems implicated in goal-directed behaviour and habits. These systems include the orbitofrontal, prefrontal, anterior cingulate and insular cortices and their connections with the basal ganglia as well as sensoriomotor and parietal cortices and cerebellum. We also consider the implications for future classification of impulsive-compulsive disorders and their treatment., (© 2024. Springer Nature Limited.)

Background and aims: Compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) has been a long debated issue. While formerly the discussion was about whether to regard CSBD as a distinctive disorder, the current debate is dealing with the classification of this phenomenon. One of the prominent voices in this field considers CSBD as a behavioral addiction and proposes CSBD to be called and diagnosed as sexual addiction (SA). This present debate paper will review the existing evidence supporting this view and it will argue against it. Results: We have found that a great deal of the current literature is anecdotal while empirical evidence is insufficient. First, the reports about the prevalence of CSBD are contradictory. Additionally, the field mainly suffers from inconsistent defining criteria of CSBD and a consensus which symptoms should be included. As a result, the empirical evidence that does exist is mostly about some symptoms individually and not on the disorder as a whole construct. Conclusions: We conclude that currently, there is not enough data supporting CSBD as a behavioral addiction. Further research has to be done, examining CSBD phenomenology as a whole construct and based on a homogeneous criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 5th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions was held in Cologne, Germany, April 23–25, 2018. It featured one of the largest concentrations of papers on pornography and sexual research presented in a single venue to date. Several key themes emerged from the conference. The theoretical basis for developing pornography and sexuality studies as components within the behavioral addiction research landscape is beginning to mature. Core components are the I-PACE theory and the development, validation, and employment in field studies of a steadily growing set of assessment tools including the Problematic Pornography Use Scale, the Brief Pornography Screener, and the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory. The field also benefitted from a keynote speech and a formal pro/con debate. The other principal debate was around the imminent release of ICD-11 by the World Health Organization and the way that Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) would be handled. There was a selection of papers looking at the debate from a variety of theoretical and practical points of view. Fieldwork from Poland suggested that well over 80% of people seeking treatment for CSBD had a problem with pornography use, rather than issues from acting out with real sexual partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on the legacy of the three previous conferences since 2013, the 2017 International Conference on Behavioral Addictions (ICBA) offered one of the largest selections of original academic research into compulsive sexual behavior and pornography use ever presented. This review gives a flavor of the best papers and the key contributions to our fast-evolving understanding of compulsive sexuality and pornography use. This report is not fully comprehensive as the use of parallel sessions meant that we could not see all relevant papers. The Journal of Behavioral Addictions has published all abstracts in a special edition (volume 6, supplement 1). A single strand of the parallel sessions was wholly dedicated to research into sex and pornography. Taken collectively, the presentations demonstrated the strengths of several national research teams, in particular those from Germany, Poland, Hungary, Israel, and the United States. The plenary given for the sexual strand by Matthias Brand explored the I-PACE model (Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution) in specific Internet addictions, including for cybersex addiction. This suggested that the theoretical framework for studying and understanding sexual addictions is becoming more mature and robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two papers on the psychoanalytic treatment of addiction are important contributions and provide us with newly organized tools and techniques. Emphasizing the dissociative reactions in this area also highlights the issues we encounter in the analysis of the addictive type of personality. Both the transferences and the countertransferences need special attention because they are difficult for every patient and analyst. Thus we are alerted to these individuals' great neediness and dependency and their desperate defenses against confronting the core problems. After all, their personalities are dominated by their need to escape, deny, or block their lifelong misery. Hence, the burden is for the analyst to deal with his or her own feelings of boredom or helplessness, and the challenge is to handle the patients in a supportive and yet interpretive way in the interactional and relational cooperation. These new insights and review of old principles will reward the reader. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a 2010 online Reuter's news article, Andrew Stern claimed that Tiger Woods placed the condition known as 'sex addiction' in the spotlight. Accordingly, this article discusses the extent to which 'sex addiction' is discursively produced within, and by, the media and explores the extent to which Stern's claim can be substantiated. This paper presents an analysis of articles retrieved from nytimes.com that were published between February 18th, 2009, and February 20th, 2011. It goes on to summarize four key findings: (1) 'sex addiction' was more directly and openly discussed as a concept in the year following Stern's article than it was in the year prior; (2) 'sex addiction' was discursively constructed as a male problem and regarded as an underlying reason for them to commit extramarital affairs; (3) in the year before Stern's article 'sex addiction' was discursively positioned as a social problem; and (4) in the year following Stern's article, 'sex addiction' was also discursively positioned as a medical problem. The paper concludes that the concept of 'sex addiction' is discursively constructed, and that Tiger Woods did, indeed, place a spotlight on the topic. As a result, the author argues that the media has a significant impact on the production, interpretation, and understanding of what many consider to be a sexual problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health disorders are manifested in families, yet cannot be fully explained by classical Mendelian genetics. Changes in gene expression via epigenetics present a plausible mechanism. Anxiety often leads to avoidant behaviors which upon repetition may become habitual, maladaptive and resistant to extinction as observed in obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). Psychophysical models of OCD propose that anxiety (amygdala) and habits (dorsolateral striatum, DLS) may be causally linked. The amygdala activates spiny projection neurons in the DLS. Repetitive amygdala terminal stimulation in the DLS elicits long term OCD-like behavior in mice associated with circuitry changes and gene methylation-mediated decrease in the activity of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). Treatment of OCD-like grooming behavior in Slitrk5, SAPAP3, and laser-stimulated mice with one dose of RG108 (DNA methyltransferase inhibitor), lead to marked symptom improvement lasting for at least one week as well as complete reversal of anomalous changes in circuitry and PP1 gene methylation.

The Journal of Behavioral Addictions featured a debate on the topic of "behavioral addictions in ICD-11" in 2022. Three main debate papers were published and a total of eleven commentaries. One main topic of considerations in the three debate papers and in the majority of commentaries was compulsive sexual behavior disorder. The debate was balanced, collegial and conducted at a high scientific level. Although there are some disagreements regarding specific details, all authors consider more research on behavioral addictions as important. This scientific debate has been and continues to be enormously important to behavioral addiction research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine recovery through lived experience. It is part of a series that explores candid accounts of addiction and recovery to identify important components in the recovery process. Design/methodology/approach: The G-CHIME model comprises six elements important to addiction recovery (growth, connectedness, hope, identity, meaning in life and empowerment). It provides a standard against which to consider addiction recovery, having been used in this series, as well as in the design of interventions that improve well-being and strengthen recovery. In this paper, a first-hand account is presented, followed by a semi-structured e-interview with the author of the account. Narrative analysis is used to explore the account and interview through the G-CHIME model. Findings: This paper shows that addiction recovery is a remarkable process that can be effectively explained using the G-CHIME model. The significance of each component in the model is apparent from the account and e-interview presented. Originality/value: Each account of recovery in this series is unique and, as yet, untold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work has identified that metacognitive thought results in desire-based thinking and perpetuates the magnitude and severity of maladaptive behaviour including problematic social media use, and also that one's ingroup identity is related to increasing problematic behaviour. No evidence has ascertained the relative contribution of these as related differential factors in the experience of problematic social media use. The current study explored the comparative importance of components of desire thinking, positive and negative metacognitions and dimensions of ingroup identity on degree of problematic use among 147 current Instagram users. Results showed that for predicting general problematic Instagram use negative metacognitive beliefs and the verbal perseverance component of desire-based thinking were significant. Importantly, however, different factors appeared to be important for predicting distinct aspects of problematic Instagram. For compulsivity indicators, negative metacognitions and verbal perseveration were essential, whereas for the withdrawal component identity centrality (and no other dimensions of identity) and imaginal prefiguration emerge as the sole independent predictors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Rituals are common among healthy individuals and across cultures and often serve adaptive purposes. In individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), rituals become compulsive, time-consuming and distressing, and may lead to functional impairment. Previous research has examined the functions and characteristics of compulsive rituals, but there is paucity of in-depth, first-person reports about this topic., Method: We used a qualitative approach to explore thoughts, feelings, and behavioral patterns that characterize OCD rituals. Ten individuals with OCD participated in a semi-structured interview that focused on their most prominent compulsive ritual. The interviews were subjected to a thematic analysis., Results: Eight themes emerged from the analysis and were organized in two main categories: Micro Level perspective, comprising triggers, attention, emotional changes, and stopping criteria; and Macro Level perspective, comprising feelings and perceptions, change over time, motives, and inhibitors. The findings shed light on the role of fixed rules and feelings of "completeness" in OCD rituals, the nature of emotional and attentional characteristics during rituals performance, and the evolution of compulsive rituals over time., Limitations: This study used a qualitative approach based on a small number of participants, which limits the generalizability of the findings., Conclusion: Our results, if replicated, may have clinical implications. The reported patterns of anxiety reduction during ritual performance may contribute to the fine-tuning of CBT for OCD. The findings concerning the nature of attention during ritual performance and the development of rituals over time may be important for understanding the mechanisms that maintain compulsive rituals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Theoretical frameworks of behavioral addictions mostly acknowledge the role of stress in the development and maintenance of these disorders, models of compulsive buying-shopping disorder (CBSD) however rarely incorporated stress. The association between stress and CBSD has not been reviewed yet., Methods: A scoping review was conducted to evaluate empirical results on the association between stress and CBSD. A comprehensive search string was employed in three databases., Results: 16 studies were included. Correlative studies suggested significant correlations between general perceived stress and CBSD symptom severity. Studies involving mean comparisons found higher general perceived stress levels in persons with problematic buying-shopping behavior/CBSD compared to control participants (large effects). Mixed results were found in studies involving regression/structural equation models and ecological momentary assessments. One study with a stress/negative mood induction observed more CBSD symptoms in a high stress group compared to a low stress group., Discussion: The studies are heterogeneous concerning design, samples and measures. Only very few studies surpass the level of cross-sectional correlative data which limits the ability to draw clear conclusions. Future research should study the impact of experimentally induced stress on CBSD symptoms, examine the relationship between stress and CBSD longitudinally and assess objective stress markers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Habits are familiar behaviors triggered by cues, not outcome predictability, and are insensitive to changes in the environment. They are adaptive under many circumstances but can be considered antecedent to compulsions and intrusive thoughts that drive persistent, potentially maladaptive behavior. Whether compulsive-like and habit-like behaviors share neural substrates is still being determined. Here, we investigated mice bred to display inflexible reward-seeking behaviors that are insensitive to action consequences. We found that these mice demonstrate habitual response biases and compulsive-like grooming behavior that was reversible by fluoxetine and ketamine. They also suffer dendritic spine attrition on excitatory neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Nevertheless, synaptic melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), a factor implicated in compulsive behavior, is preserved, leading to the hypothesis that Mc4r+ OFC neurons may drive aberrant behaviors. Repeated chemogenetic stimulation of Mc4r+ OFC neurons triggered compulsive and not inflexible or habitual response biases in otherwise typical mice. Thus, Mc4r+ neurons within the OFC appear to drive compulsive-like behavior that is dissociable from habitual behavior. Understanding which neuron populations trigger distinct behaviors may advance efforts to mitigate harmful compulsions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The article presents information about a study, which examined the social nature of Internet addiction. It explored the influence that personal relations and communications within Internet chat rooms has on a user's Internet Predisposition--a concept developed to refer to what psychologists have vicariously termed as Internet addiction. Two measures of Internet Predisposition were utilized: a quantitative measurement based upon time spent in chat rooms and the Internet, and a four item Internet Predisposition Scale (IPS) developed by the authors. Results of the study indicate that the IPS is significantly correlated with certain personal relations and communication variables. It further revealed stronger correlation between these factors and the IPS in comparison to the quantitative measurement of Internet addiction. The study also examined the moderator influence of gender, locus of control, and sociability on the relationship between Internet addiction and chat room personal relationships and communications. Gender was shown to have the strongest moderator influence upon these relationships.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine recovery through lived experience. It is part of a series that explores candid accounts of addiction and recovery to identify important components in the recovery process. Design/methodology/approach: The G-CHIME model comprises six elements important to addiction recovery (growth, connectedness, hope, identity, meaning in life and empowerment). It provides a standard against which to consider addiction recovery, having been used in this series, as well as in the design of interventions that improve well-being and strengthen recovery. In this paper, a first-hand account is presented, followed by a semi-structured e-interview with the author of the account. Narrative analysis is used to explore the account and interview through the G-CHIME model. Findings: This paper shows that addiction recovery is a remarkable process that can be effectively explained using the G-CHIME model. The significance of each component in the model is apparent from the account and e-interview presented. Originality/value: Each account of recovery in this series is unique and, as yet, untold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship obsessive compulsive disorder (ROCD) is a disabling presentation of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) that has recently received increased research attention. ROCD refers to obsessive preoccupation, doubts, and compulsive behaviors focusing on one's relationship and relationship partner's qualities and attributes). In this paper, we present ROCD through a case study, describe its phenomenology and evaluate the impact of ROCD symptoms on sexual functioning. We then describe processes that may underlie dysfunctional sexual behavior in ROCD drawing on cognitive-behavioral models of ROCD and contemporary theories of sexual response. Conceptual links between ROCD and related constructs to various propensities of sexual behavior are discussed and treatment suggestions are outlined. This paper describes the phenomenon of relationship obsessive compulsive disorder (ROCD), via a case description that presents the reader with the possible effect of ROCD on sexual functioning. We them suggest possible cognitive-behavioral mechanisms that might explain the association between ROCD and sexual dysfunction, and finally, outline several treatment implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the main keywords and research topics used in research on problematic smartphone use (PSU) among children (6-12 years old), including parental factors. Methods: The publication period for the literature was set from January 2007 to January 2022, as smartphones were first released in 2007. In total, 395 articles were identified, 230 of which were included in the final analysis. Text network analysis was performed using NetMiner 4.5. Results: Research on this topic has steadily increased since 2007, with 40 papers published in 2021. Eight main research topics were derived: group 1, parental attitudes; group 2, children's PSU behavior and parental support; group 3, family environment and behavioral addiction; group 4, social relationships; group 5, seeking solutions; group 6, parent-child relationships; group 7, children's mental health and school adaptation; and group 8, PSU in adolescents. Conclusion: Parental factors related to PSU have been studied in various aspects. However, more active research on school-age children's PSU needs to be conducted due to the paucity of research in this population compared to studies conducted among adolescents. The results of this study provide useful data for selecting research topics in the field of PSU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While some Jewish immigrant autobiographies have received broad critical attention, a few important autobiographical endeavours have been underrepresented or almost forgotten. Autobiographies written by Jewish female writers who immigrated to America from Russia, Poland, or Galicia often draw a bifurcated picture of their struggles in callous New York sweatshops, or, on the contrary, they exalt the Jews' notable success while blending in the American melting pot. Scarce studies, however, have been devoted to the dislocation and uprootedness of female immigrants and to the nostalgic feelings they have experienced during their absorption into American reality. This paper intends to resuscitate the forgotten voice of a Jewish immigrant female writer, Rose Gollup-Cohen. Moreover, using primarily psychoanalytical methodology and a feminist theory, the paper focuses on the nostalgic feelings that immigrants reverted to. Finally, it deals with both the therapeutic and the destructive powers of compulsive writing and shows how the writing process assists an immigrant writer when coping with distress experienced in her new homeland, but, on the other hand, it also demonstrates how compulsive writing may lead to obsessive behaviours, resulting in losing awareness of one's surroundings, neglecting one's family, and even to depression and suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quad bikes are popular recreational, four-wheeled bikes in the Middle East. Injury prevention programs targeting quad bike crashes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) need evidence about the risk factors and behaviours associated with these crashes in the target population. This is a protocol for a study aiming to investigate quad bike rider behaviours and to assess the risk factors associated with related injuries in the UAE., Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study aiming to describe a seasonal sport in a desert environment. With an estimated sample size of 451, the survey will follow a three-stage, location-based sampling strategy using the line-transect method. A sampling frame of desert locations with high injury incidences was developed, using Dubai ambulance injury records. Further expansion of the sampling frame was participatory, involving police, enthusiasts, emergency responders and gas station employees. The data collection will be limited to the winter months in fifteen high-injury desert locations across three major Emirates in the UAE. Trained researchers will observe the riders directly in the desert to note their riding habits, followed by a researcher-administered interview on riding and injury history. The interviews will be administered in Arabic and English using Qualtrics software on handheld tablets with offline and online entry mode. In addition, paper-based entry with the same format will be used as a contingency in busy quad bike locations., Conclusion: The objective of this study protocol is to develop a comprehensive survey that will furnish substantial evidence for the formulation of effective injury prevention strategies. To enhance the credibility of the recorded riding behaviors, field observations will be employed. The uniqueness of this study lies in its innovative sampling strategy, custom-tailored to accommodate the highly mobile and transient population of desert bikers in the UAE., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Menon et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Addiction is a widespread problem affecting people from different regions, generations, and classes. It is often analysed as a problem consisting in compulsion or poor choice-making. Recently, however, integrated analyses of compulsion and choice have been called for. In this paper, I argue that the capability approach highlights the well-being loss at stake in cases of addiction, whether they are described as stemming from compulsion, poor choice-making, or some combination thereof. The relevant capabilities obtain when combinations of individual, socio-political, and environmental factors jointly facilitate abstention. On this complementary evaluative analysis, people's capabilities to abstain are shown to be undermined by how different kinds of factors interact with each other. The upshot is that without committing to an empirical view of the nature of addiction that must capture each case, the capabilitarian analysis helps highlight a central goal of addiction-related well-being policy-work, namely to promote people's genuine opportunities to abstain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To provide a scientific report using peer-reviewed scientific papers that will demonstrate the implications of brain function and plasticity and its correlation to Subluxation and hence the implications of brain function enhancement through chiropractic adjustments. Methods: Analysis was undertaken of the literature reporting on brain plasticity related to brain function and its dependance on chemical changes within the brain. These were found to be highly related to a wide array of clinical outcomes. The literature demonstrates that now we can identify the chemical changes within the brain that are highly related to the same peripheral changes and central nervous system changes that we see with subluxation. Hence, the literature goes on to indicate that correction of these peripheral changes and central nervous system changes will in fact create changes in the biochemical function in the brain affecting brain plasticity for the better. It is inferred that the correction of brain plasticity will have outcomes affecting the entire body including brain function itself improving conditions such as anxiety, depression, addiction, personality conflicts, and learning disabilities. There is a question as well in most literature where it is suggested that changes in the brain chemistry and plasticity could very well aid in other problems such as MS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc. Conclusions: It is reported here that there is a strong apparent connection between brain plasticity neurochemistry and Subluxation. We put forward that the chiropractic adjustment making changes in this neurochemistry will represent a profound change in brain plasticity, function, and learning. Further studies concerning this topic are needed to further corroborate our observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Theoretical models of addiction predict that an attentional bias toward substance-related cues plays a role in development and maintenance of addictive behaviors, although empirical data testing these predictions are somewhat equivocal. This may in part be a consequence of substantial variability in methods used to operationalize attentional bias. Our aim was to examine the variability in key design and analysis decisions of the addiction Stroop. Method: Using a pre-registered design, we identified 95 studies utilizing an addiction Stroop (46 alcohol, 25 smoking, 24 drug-related). We extracted key information about the design of the Stroop tasks, including; administration (paper-and-pencil vs. computerized), response (key-press vs. voice), design (block vs. mixed). For analysis decisions we extracted information on upper- and lower-bound reaction time cutoffs, removal of data based on standard error cutoffs, removal of participants based on overall performance, type of outcome used, and removal of errors. Results: Based on variability from previous research there are at least 1,451,520 different possible designs of the computerized Alcohol Stroop, 77,760 designs of the computerized Smoking Stroop and 112,640 for the Drug Stroop. Many key design decisions were unreported. Similarly, variability in analyses decisions would allow for 9,000 different methods for analyzing the Alcohol Stroop, 5,376 for the Smoking Stroop and 768 for the Drug Stroop. P-curves suggest data provided evidential value and exploratory meta-regressions suggest that the addiction Stroop effect was not associated with design and analysis decisions. Conclusions: The addiction Stroop effect is seemingly robust, however the adoption of consistent reporting guidelines is necessary to aid reliability and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While it is a generally accepted fact that many gambling screening tools are not fit for purpose when employed as part of a public health framework, the evidence supporting this claim is sporadic. The aim of this review is to identify and evaluate the gambling screening tools currently in use and examine their utility as part of a public health approach to harm reduction, providing a holistic snapshot of the field. Methods: A range of index tests measuring aspects of problem gambling were examined, including the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), among others. This review also examined a range of reference standards including the Diagnostic Interview for Gambling Severity (DIGS) and screening tools such as the SOGS. Results: The present review supports the belief held by many within the gambling research community that there is a need for a paradigm shift in the way gambling harm is conceptualised and measured, to facilitate early identification and harm prevention. Discussion: This review has identified a number of meaningful deficits regarding the overall quality of the psychometric testing employed when validating gambling screening tools. Primary among these was the lack of a consistent and reliable reference standard within many of the studies. Currently there are very few screening tools discussed in the literature that show good utility in the domain of public health, due to the focus on symptoms rather than risk factors. As such, these tools are generally ill-suited for identifying preclinical or low-risk gamblers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine recovery through lived experience. It is part of a series that explores candid accounts of addiction and recovery to identify the important components in the recovery process. Design/methodology/approach: The G-CHIME model comprises six elements important to addiction recovery (Growth, Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning in life and Empowerment). It provides a standard against which to consider addiction recovery, having been used in this series, as well as in the design of interventions that improve well-being and strengthen recovery. In this paper, a first-hand account is presented, followed by a semi-structured e-interview with the author of the account. Narrative analysis is used to explore the account and interview through the G-CHIME model. Findings: This paper shows that addiction recovery is a remarkable process that can be effectively explained using the G-CHIME model. The significance of each component in the model is apparent from the account and e-interview presented. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, each account of recovery in this series is unique, and as yet, untold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to provide a systematic meta-analysis from the year 2000 up to 2021 by reviewing relevant studies in extant literature related to the impact of social media on mental health. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts bibliometric methods and longitudinal statistical analysis to analyze extant literature. The structured literature review and meta-analysis findings on social media usage (SMU) and its impact on mental health indicate emerging research patterns in potentially leading to an integrative view. Findings: This paper highlights the importance of challenges regarding SMU and its impact on users' mental health. This study shows interesting meta-analysis on the issues such as Facebook and teenagers' mental health; Instagram and teenagers' mental health; Twitter and teenagers' mental health; and so on from the past 20 years. Research limitations/implications: This paper is a literature review on a critical social issue like SMU and its impact on users' mental health. The meta-analysis is conducted only on the indexed paper and does not take the books, blogs and other kinds of literature in this domain. The analysis is carried out only for the research articles published from 2000 to 2021. Practical implications: Social media refers to any platform involving interactive digital technologies that encourage and facilitate users' participation. SMU and its impact on users' mental health can be attributed as contributing factors to the next global crisis. Studies suggest that increased SMU can potentially make users socially anxious. This study provides input to the policymakers, scholars and practitioners to understand the gravity of the situation and develop appropriate policy to overcome the challenges. Originality/value: The rapidly evolving nature of technology and social media calls for a careful examination of its risks despite the many benefits of e-participation and digital interaction. Although there is widespread acknowledgment of the problematic revelation that the pattern of SMU closely mirrors mainstream addictive behavior; yet, there are only a limited number of comparative studies available. This may be one of the few studies which highlight the issue of SMU and its impact on users' mental health. Moreover, this study also adds to the body of literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pathways Model of problem gambling has become a highly influential framework in the field of gambling studies. This special issue commemorates 20 years since the publication of the original paper, highlighting the sustained impact of the Pathways Model across the broader and emergent field of behavioral addictions. As a framework, the Pathways Model set out two distinct objectives: first, to synthesize an array of risk factors and psychological processes that have been implicated in the etiology of gambling problems, and second, to characterize heterogeneity among people with gambling problems. As the articles included in this collection confirm, the three subtypes proposed by Blaszczynski & Nower continue to be an especially powerful stimulus for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract: Background and aims: This narrative review aimed to provide a brief overview of five key research ‘classics’ produced by the innovative and radical thought leader, Professor Michael Anthony Hamilton Russell (1932–2009), drawing upon his other work wherever feasible. Methods: Narrative review. From more than 250 publications, we selected papers we considered seminal texts, published in 1971, 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1991. Results: Russell was among the first researchers to explain that smoking was a dependence disorder caused by the drug nicotine decades before this was recognized formally. He therefore saw quickly the importance of delivering nicotine in a less harmful format as a way of controlling nicotine withdrawal when stopping smoking, first studying nicotine gum. In addition to pharmacotherapies, Russell's research also explored the role of behavioural support, particularly the role of general practitioners (GPs), alone as well as supported by specialist clinics; this research underpinned initiatives in England to reimburse doctors for giving advice to smokers, and to provide a national network of smoking cessation services. Research on nicotine uptake from other delivery systems and routes led Russell to theorize that the speed and dose of delivery impacted upon the effectiveness of a product to act as a substitute for smoking. He commented on the addictiveness of the high nicotine boli delivered in quick succession when smoking cigarettes and argued that alternative recreational nicotine delivery systems would need to be promoted actively to smokers in order for them to compete with cigarettes, a forerunner for contemporary debates on electronic cigarettes. Conclusions: The legacy of Russell's landmark research is seen in present‐day nicotine science, policy and discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large literature examines the addictive properties of such behaviors as smoking, drinking alcohol, gambling and eating. We argue that for some people addictive behavior may apply to a much more central aspect of economic life: working. Although workaholism raises some of the same health-related concerns as other addictions, compared to most of the more familiar addictions it is more likely to be a problem of higher-income individuals and is more likely to generate negative spillovers onto individuals around the workaholic. Using the Retirement History Survey and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we show that high-income, highly educated people exhibit behavior that is consistent with workaholism with regard to retiring--they are more likely to postpone earlier plans for retirement. The theory and evidence suggest that the presence of workaholism calls for a more progressive income tax system than otherwise, although other more targeted policies may be part of optimal policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies on the main twelve-step mutual-help (TSMH) groups (excluding Alcoholics Anonymous) and four meta-analyses exploring the correlation between (i) duration or involvement in TSMH groups and; (ii) severity of symptoms or quality of life. Systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Searches of databases (MEDLINE, PsychInfo), a register (ClinicalTrials) and citations were conducted, from inception through November 01 2022. Fifty five articles were included (24 quantitative, 27 qualitative, 4 mixed-methods), corresponding to 47 distinctive studies. 68% of these studies were conducted in North America, 17% in Middle East, 11% in the European Union and 4% in Australia. The most studied TSMH group were Gamblers Anonymous (28% of the 47 studies), Narcotics Anonymous (26%), Double Trouble in Recovery (15%), Overeaters Anonymous (19%) and TSMH groups for compulsive sexual behaviors (11%). The four meta-analyses pooled data from 9 studies. Pooled mean age ranged from 36.5 to 40.5. 80–81% of participants were male. TSMH attendance and involvement were negatively correlated with severity of symptoms (high and medium levels of evidence) and positively correlated with quality of life (low levels of evidence). Twenty-one qualitative papers reported factors influencing recovery: Social (n = 15), emotional (n = 9), spiritual (n = 8), self-identification or psychological (n = 6) factors. Review provides characteristics of TSMH groups others than Alcoholics Anonymous, with implications for both research and healthcare practice. The perspective to implement TSMH groups targeting ontological addiction, at the root of all addiction, is discussed. Protocol registration: Prospero registration number: CRD42022342605. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The literature review aimed to identify the barriers the Punjabi and/or Sikh community have in accessing support for alcohol addiction. Method A systematic review of the literature was undertaken of four scholarly databases, Google Scholar and grey literature on UK-based research conducted after 1980 into alcohol addiction in the Punjabi and/or Sikh community. Fourteen papers met the inclusion criteria outlined in the paper and were included in the review. Results Ten main barriers to accessing support were found; stigma, religion, lack of understanding of addiction, over reliance on a medical model of treatment and disregard of therapy, cultural implications of being a member of the Punjabi and/or Sikh community and the addiction community, gender and generational differences and a lack of government commitment to alcohol support for BME communities with a lack of culturally specific services. Conclusion Despite the many barriers explored, the role of stigma remained a powerful theme throughout often underpinning other barriers. A key recommendation across many papers was the need for culturally sensitive support services. Several areas for future research were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the global trend of actively promoting the participation of older adults in the digital age, the relevant negative issues featuring potential Internet Addiction (IA) among them has risen to be a new challenge facing the global public health. However, there is a severe lack of related research. This study aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon and process of IA among the elderly. The purpose of this paper is to introduce factors that may influence IA in the demographic. Methods: This study employed qualitative descriptive research methods to investigate older adults' perceptions and experiences of IA. Semi-structured in-depth personal interviews were conducted between March and June 2023 with 36 senior citizens from urban communities in Chongqing, Southwest China. Data were analyzed via inductive content analysis methods. Results: Through data analysis, 2 main categories concerning IA in older adults were identified: risk factors and protective factors. The risk factor categories include 5 individual factors (e.g., Internet as the major avenue for pursuing personal hobbies and interests, etc.), 3 family factors (e.g., household WIFI increasing the risk of prolonged Internet use indoors, etc.), 2 peer factors (e.g., peer recommendation and guidance as catalysts for intensified Internet engagement, etc.), 2 socio-environmental factors (e.g., the widespread daily Internet use spurs offline intolerance, etc.), and 3 Internet platform factors (e.g., the plenitude of online content triggers endless viewing/browsing behaviors, etc.). The category of protective factors encompasses 2 individual factors (e.g., a higher level of perceived risk regarding internet health hazards, etc.) and 2 family factors (e.g., more family commitment, etc.). Conclusions: Older adults' Internet addictive behaviors are shaped by multiple and complex internal and external factors. A higher level of online health risk perception is a key protective factor to effectively avoid the occurrence and deterioration of IA among the aged, a distinct finding from this study. It is believed that the "individual-family-peer-community" synergy strategy is expected to become an essential direction for IA intervention for older adults, in order to promote healthy Internet use among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Internet, with its unlimited information, revolutionary communication capabilities, and innovative potential to expand knowledge, is ubiquitous throughout the world, but it also has significant implications for users' mental health. Given the not yet clearly defined and distinguishable nosographic categories of online addiction and the resulting difficulties in describing the impact on users' mental health, the present cross-sectional study aimed to gain new insights into the relationship between Internet addiction (especially social networking site [SNS] addiction), psychological distress, and physical discomfort, as well as gender differences in impact among users. Method: A sample of 583 Italian speakers (50.8% males; 48.7% females) with a mean age of 30.96 (SD = 12.12) completed an online survey in July 2021. A set of psychometric self-report instruments was administered to assess the study variables. Mediation analyses were performed for both the whole sample and across genders. Results: The study found that men exhibited higher levels of Internet addiction and craving than women, but no differences were found for SNS addiction. Furthermore, indicators of psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, insomnia, and self-esteem) mediated the association between SNS addiction and body uneasiness, with slight differences across genders. Conclusion: This paper contributes to the existing literature on online addictive behaviors by also highlighting gender differences. The findings underscore the need for educational experiences that can prevent problematic use of the Internet and SNSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An array of software apps, from fitness to finance, enrolls behavioral economics, and economists, in their product designs, value propositions, or else sales pitches, to make products more engaging and to afford users new capabilities in their daily lives. Drawing on 30 interviews with product strategists, designers, and user researchers who work on these self-styled 'behavior change apps,' this paper empirically studies the behavioral economic proposition and its operationalization in routine practices of software development and design. Setting aside the behavioral addiction and manipulation frame that critical work on app design typically summons, I approach behavioral economics applications as market work and tease out the different, co-existing logics of attachment between products and their users, that emerge from how market actors decide what product to build, which features to have and how to design the user experience. In doing so, I show that strictly focusing on the frequency of repeated interaction is also empirically inadequate. The product is rather strategized, developed, and designed to become something that the user 'cannot do without,' not because it is addictive, but because it is made indispensable to the distributed action universe of the behavioral problem that it addresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to provide an overview of the factors affecting the subjective wellbeing of social media users in the age group of 18-40 years. The study goals include developing a framework based on a Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model and then examining the effects of psycho-social factors like social anxiety, materialism, compulsive buying, and subjective wellbeing on consumer behavior and marketing factors. Data was analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings show that adult social media users are more socially anxious and materialistic; therefore, they are more likely to buy compulsively, negatively impacting their subjective wellbeing. Further, social media was found to moderate the relationship between social anxiety and compulsive buying as well as the relationship between materialism and compulsive buying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several theories have been proposed to explain the complex diagnostic aspects related to addiction disorders and their development. Recent frameworks tend to focus on dimensional perspectives of symptoms rather than categorical systems, since substance use disorders are frequently comorbid with other psychiatric and especially personality disorders. However, useful transdiagnostic models that could integrate clinical evaluation derived from neuroscientific theories are lacking. In the present manuscript, the authors propose a model based on a new paradigm, in an attempt to better explain this complex, multifaceted phenomenon. The new paradigm presupposes that emotions and behavior are a response to risk prediction. Individuals make choices and engage in actions to manage potential risks/rewards in order to seek or maintain homeostasis in their internal and external environments -- a mechanism that the authors call predostatic (predictive mechanism with homeostatic purpose). The model considers three main modes of the predostatic mind: (1) Alarm Mode, activated by high and/or imminent risk prediction; (2) Seek Mode, activated by long-term risk or reward prediction; and (3) Balance Mode, a self-regulating state of mind related to low risk prediction, a soothing system and a calm state. Addiction is seen as a chronic dysregulation of organism systems leading to internalizing or externalizing phenomena mainly related to the Seek and Alarm Modes, which are persistently activated by reward and risk prediction, respectively, thus hindering Balance. Addiction neuroscience research has shown that chronic drug use or engagement in addictive behaviors can lead to neuroadaptations in the brain reward circuitry, disrupting normal balance and the regulation of reward processes. This dysregulation can contribute to persistent drug-seeking/addictive behaviors despite negative consequences. This newly proposed dynamic and integrative model, named dysregulation based on externalizing and internalizing phenomena of the three main modes of the predostatic mind (DREXI3), proposes six dysregulation dimensions with basic emotional and behavioral symptoms, such as neurophysiological alterations, impulsivity, compulsion, cognitive impairment/psychosis, mood, and anxiety/anger. In this paper, the authors explain the rationale behind DREXI3 and present some hypothetical clinical examples to better illustrate the use of the model in clinical practice. The development of this innovative model could possibly guide tailored treatment interventions in the addiction field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comments three recent publications in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions (Brand et al., 2022; Gola et al., 2022; Sassover & Weinstein, 2022). It shortly discusses (1) the role of researcher biases and the significance of the naming of a disorder (here “sexual addiction” and “pornography use disorder”) for stigma and treatment, (2) the development and course of CSBD and its significance for research results, (3) the role of “Sexual” in CSBD. The paper concludes that the guidelines for CSBD give a precise description and the authors plea for an exchange between disciplines and a sex positive treatment approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balancing web personalization and consumer privacy concerns: Mechanisms of consumer trust and reactance. The study presents a framework that links web personalization to consumer decisions (i.e., website loyalty and purchase intention) through consumer trust and reactance. With electronic commerce becoming a crucial aspect of marketing strategy and customer relations (Thaichon et al., 2021), there is a growing need to develop new knowledge, models, and theories about online consumer behavior (Anesbury et al., 2016; Davydenko & Peetz, 2020). The first paper by Chen et al. (2022) " I Balancing web personalization and consumer privacy concerns: Mechanisms of consumer trust and reactance i .". [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the accomplishments of those who realise addiction recovery. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first in a series of recovery stories, where candid accounts of addiction and recovery are examined. In doing so, shared components of recovery are considered, along with the change and growth necessary to facilitate it. Design/methodology/approach: The CHIME (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment) framework comprises five elements important to recovery. It provides a standard to qualitatively study mental health recovery, having also been applied to addiction recovery. In this paper, an additional element for Growth has been introduced to the model (G-CHIME), to consider both recovery and sustained recovery. A first-hand account of addiction recovery is presented, followed by a semi-structured e-interview with the author of the account. This is structured on the G-CHIME model. Findings: This paper shows that successful and sustained recovery from alcohol addiction can be effectively explained using the G-CHIME model. Each element was well represented in the described process of reaching recovery. Originality/value: Each account of recovery in this series is unique, and as yet, untold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The prevalence of digital reading and the widespread use of social media among young people demands systematic exploration of the effects of social media addiction on students' reading practice. This paper aims to explore the effects of social media addiction on reading preferences, in-depth reading and sustained attention. Design/methodology/approach: Survey and analysis methods are employed. Findings: For many, social media provides an ideal platform of connection and expression; however, prolonged social media use holds the danger of becoming a behavioral addiction that threatens to undermine one's reading practice. Social media use tends to have a more significant impact on leisure reading than on academic reading. Obsessive engagement with social media hurts reading concentration and in-depth reading. While a majority (70.4%) of those surveyed believed that chronic social media use carries more harm than good on their learning, only half (50.1%) agreed or strongly agreed that today's students are too indulged in social media and need forceful control of it. Originality/value: Implications of the effects of social media on reading practice are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested. It is likely that social media will continue to be seductive, attracting new generations of young people. Future research should explore prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gambling disorder (GD) is a behavioral addiction that severely impacts individuals' functioning, leading to high socioeconomic costs. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NiBS) has received attention for treating psychiatric and neurological conditions in recent decades, but there is no recommendation for its use for GD. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review and analyze the available literature to determine the effectiveness of NiBS in treating GD. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we screened four electronic databases up to July 2022 and selected relevant English-written original articles. We included ten papers in the systematic review and seven in the meta-analysis. As only two studies employed a sham-controlled design, the pre–post standardized mean change (SMCC) was computed as effect size only for real stimulation. The results showed a significant effect of NiBS in reducing craving scores (SMCC = −0.69; 95% CI = [−1.2, −0.2], p = 0.010). Moreover, considering the GD's frequent comorbidity with mood disorders, we ran an exploratory analysis of the effects of NiBS on depressive symptoms, which showed significant decreases in post-treatment scores (SMCC = −0.71; 95% CI = [−1.1, −0.3], p < 0.001). These results provide initial evidence for developing NiBS as a feasible therapy for GD symptoms but further comprehensive research is needed to validate these findings. The limitations of the available literature are critically discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]