Lead: Current Advances in Behavioral Addictions: From Fundamental Research to Clinical Practice

Lead: Current Advances in Behavioral Addictions: From Fundamental Research to Clinical Practice

Get ready to dive into the latest advancements in behavioural addictions in this week's episode of 'This Week in Addiction Medicine' from ASAM. Host Zach Caruso discusses a narrative review from the American Journal of Psychiatry, focusing on five prevalent behavioural addictions. These include gambling disorder, internet gaming disorder, compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, compulsive buying-shopping disorder, and problematic use of social media. Each of these addictions often co-occurs with psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety.

While gambling disorder is the only one officially recognised as a clinical disorder in DSM-5, internet gaming disorder is still under research. The episode highlights the lack of approved medications for these addictions, with cognitive behavioural therapy being the most supported treatment option so far. You'll also hear about the latest study in JAMA Network Open that questions the accuracy of genetic risk algorithms for predicting opioid use disorder.

The discussion extends to a Cochrane review on the effectiveness of incentives for smoking cessation, showing high certainty that incentives improve long-term quit rates. Zach also covers a meta-analysis in Tobacco Control, revealing that bans on tobacco advertising and promotion significantly reduce smoking prevalence and initiation. The episode wraps up with fascinating insights into ongoing research on psychedelics for psychiatric applications and the public health risks posed by counterfeit pills.

If you're interested in the latest research and practical advice on addiction medicine, this episode is a must-listen.