'[6] Furthermore, addictive behavior describes patterns characterized by a loss of control and a compulsion to accept a reward despite severe consequences.
This shift broadens the scope of addiction to include excessive shopping, internet usage, computer gaming, gambling, and sex.
[12] These behaviors often follow a three-step cycle consisting of preoccupation (anticipation), binge intoxication, and withdrawal effect, with reinforcement playing a central role in each stage.
[14] Brain imaging techniques have assisted in mapping neural circuits involved in addictive behaviors, such as reward responses, cravings, cue conditioning, and withdrawal symptoms.
[15] Addiction hijacks the brain’s reward system, which normally encourages individuals to engage in survival-related activities such as socializing, eating, or achieving goals.
Consequently, the addicted individual may experience feelings of sluggishness and lack of motivation unless they consume the substance or engage in an activity to attain a sense of normalcy.
[17] Brain imaging studies demonstrates that both types of addiction activate similar regions in the mesolimbic reward pathway, a network linked to motivation and pleasure.
[18] Moreover, both involve changes in neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which are responsible for regulating mood, impulse control and reward processing.
These convergent neurochemical features suggest that substance dependence and non-substance addictions follow similar fundamental stages.
Besides dopamine, other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and opioids, contribute to initial pleasurable effects (euphoria) and are also impacted by the brain's adaptation to repeated use.
Withdrawal: Upon cessation of the behavior or the drug effect wearing off, individuals experience negative mood states, including anxiety and anhedonia, due to the dampened reward system.
Dusyfuntioning in prefrontal cortical regions impairs executive functions, making it difficult to resist craving despite adverse consequences.
For example, dopamine is released in the brain's reward system and is a motive for behaviour (i.e. the compulsions in addiction development through positive reinforcement).
A recent study aimed to examine the relationships between the big five personality traits and internet addiction within this framework.
In accordance with the study's goal, twelve papers were included in the meta-analysis, and thirteen effect sizes were derived from these investigations.
As a result, it's thought that the big five personality traits play a significant role in the development of an internet addiction.
[23] The most significant finding from the study is that, with rare exceptions, internet addiction has been primarily included as an outcome and all other ideas as predictors.
In addition to having a positive correlation, neuroticism and internalizing problems were independent predictors of internet, smartphone, and social media addiction.
[26] This has been corroborated by animal studies, revealing that biological factors may desensitize adolescents to the sedative effects of chemical substances, such as alcohol, leading to increased consumption during the teenage years,[27] In fact, drug or alcohol-induced addictive behaviors in adolescents have been linked to models discussing a stronger sensitization of the appetitive response and disrupted inhibitory control.
[32] It is a treatment tailored to the specific triggers and root causes affecting each patient (such as trauma, stress, or anxiety),[33] and that "enables people to counteract addiction's disruptive effects on their brain and behavior and regain control of their lives.