Behavioural Addiction In Women

Behavioural Addiction in Women gives insight into ongoing research efforts and clinical developments across the globe, focusing specifically on women with behavioural addictions. The book brings together an international network of clinicians and researchers to offer a unique transcultural female perspective on female-specific aspects of addiction, which is underrepresented in the available literature. By compiling both research and clinical spotlights focusing on women with behavioural addictions across the six continents, the book is an important first step towards building a shared knowledge base on the subject, starting from the importance of female-specific diagnostic criteria, to new therapeutic strategies, prevention programs, and harm reduction approaches. This book will help us gain a better understanding of ongoing work and where to allocate our attention and efforts for helping a vulnerable, and - in many areas of the world - still underserved, and economically disadvantaged, population. The book will be of great interest to researchers and clinicians in the field of addiction.

DSM-V broke new ground in May of 2013, designating a new disorder called "behavioral addiction." Clinicians immediately wanted to know: how is a behavioral addiction different from an impulse control disorder? What are the criteria for determining that some behaviors are addictions rather than impulses? What, if anything, does this mean in terms of effective treatment?Behavioral Addictions is the first and most authoritative text ever written on the subject of behavioral addictions. This comprehensive work explains the criteria used to determine addiction, the evidence for identifying assorted behaviors as addictions, and the evidence-based treatment for each.With contributions from preeminent experts covering an exhaustive list of behavioral addictions, this book is unique in its coverage of behavioral addictions, their criteria, and treatment. It is a valuable and timely resource for any clinician treating addictions. A guide to understanding the new DSM-V designation of behavioral addiction Defines the criteria for behavior to be considered an addiction designation Discusses the evidence for behaviors meeting addiction criteria Identifies what is now, likely will be, and is not a behavioral addiction per evidence Discusses behaviors formerly considered impulse control disorders Presents evidence-based treatment for each behavioral addiction

Providing essential theoretical and practical guidelines for clinicians, educators, policymakers, and public health professionals, The Handbook of Addiction Treatment for Women is a comprehensive resource of the most current research and knowledge from recognized experts in the field of addiction and treatment. This much needed guide offers an historical context on the issue of women and addiction, examines the myriad challenges of the female addict, and includes recommendations for choosing a course of treatment that will meet the specific needs of an individual woman addict. "The Handbook of Addiction Treatment for Women brings to the field the thinking of researchers and practitioners in a very readable, practical compendium. This book is for anyone who cares about women with addictions." —Mary Beth Johnson, director, Addiction Technology Transfer Center, National Office "This is a wonderful book that addresses an unusually diverse set of issues, some of which are often neglected. It is not only useful to clinicians, but also to educators, researchers, policymakers, and anyone responsible for treatment program design." — Joan E. Zweben, clinical professor of psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco; executive director, East Bay Community Recovery Project and 14th Street Clinic, Oakland, California

Addicted? presents different ways to recognize the early and often subtle signs of addiction—much in the same way we learn to detect the early signs of cancer. But, unlike cancer, where people rush to get treatment as soon as they recognize the signs, an addiction typically is faced with great guilt and ambivalence. Addicted? provides questionnaires that screen for a wide array of chemical and behavioral addictions at all stages of development, and ends with a step-by-step guide for how to prepare oneself or someone else to overcome addiction.

This book explains the rationale for changes in the DSM-5(R) related to incorporating behavioral addictions alongside substance use disorders; it also illuminates the significance of including the construct of behavioral addictions in this widely used psychiatric diagnostic manual. The chapters herien describe eight behaviors often considered addictions, including gambling disorder, internet gaming disorder, internet addiction, food addiction, hypersexuality, shopping addiction, exercise addiction, and tanning addiction. Also examined are prevalence rates in epidemiological samples, risk factors, and promising treatment approaches. The result is an easy-to-use resource and guide for clinicians, students, and researchers.

Males and females exhibit discrete attitudes and skills, experience dissimilar emotional and psychological needs, and react differently to peer pressure, lack of self-realization, or other personal and social expectations. In addition, they are differently influenced by family history, and diverge in the perception of self-image and health risks. To complicate the matter on gender dichotomy, male testosterone levels markedly vary over the course of the day, while female levels of sex hormones significantly fluctuate depending upon the menstrual cycle, the pre- or post-menopausal age, and the use of oral contraceptives. All of these factors interact with genetic background and sex hormonal fluctuations, and determine the differences observed in their predisposition to develop an addiction. This term is traditionally associated to the abuse of legal and illegal substances. However, a compulsion toward the engagement in a non-drug-related rewarding behavior, usually involving a natural reward, also activates the brain reward system and engenders persistent behavior, thus resulting in a diminished control over it. These latter behaviors are defined as “behavioral addictions”. This definition encompasses any behavior characterized by the followings: i) feeling of tension or arousal before the action; ii) gratification and/or relief at the time of performing the act; iii) inability to resist an urge or drive even against great obstacles or dangers; iv) absence of consideration for the negative consequences that may affect family, friends, and/or work. As such, behavioral addictions include compulsive food intake and sexual activity, pathological gambling and Internet addiction, excessive exercising, compulsive buying and pyromania. These behaviors, which are often classified as "impulse control disorders", result in actions that are harmful to oneself and/or others, share common features (e.g. compulsiveness, impulsivity, impaired decision-making, craving, tolerance, withdrawal, high rates of relapse), and involve dysfunction of several brain circuits. Derangement from functional neurobiological mechanisms underpinning both sensitivity to reward and inhibitory control can also lead to compulsive behaviors. For instance, pathological gambling and other impulse control disorders (e.g., hypersexuality, compulsive painting, eating and buying) are often reported in Parkinson's disease patients. Gender-dependent differences in the rate of initiation and frequency of misuse of addicting drugs have been widely described. Yet, men and women also differ in their propensity to become addicted to other rewarding stimuli (e.g. sex, food) or activities (e.g. gambling, exercising). The goal of the present Research Topic is to explore and summarize current evidence for gender (and sex) differences not only in drug addiction, but also in other forms of addictive behaviors. Thus, it will include studies showing gender-dependent differences in drug addiction, food addiction, compulsive sexual activity, pathological gambling, Internet addiction and physical exercise addiction. Psychiatric comorbidity, potential risk factors and the underlying neural mechanisms will be also examined, with particular emphasis to the role of sex hormones in modulating addictive and compulsive behaviors.

In Addictive Behaviors in Women, leading experts from psychiatry, psychology, sociology, and social work concisely review the addictive process and the characteristic behaviors of women who are dependent on alcohol and/or drugs. Topics include why women smoke, the role of personality in female addiction, sexuality issues in chemically dependent women, dieting and alcohol use in women, alcohol's role in sexual assault, and the impact of drug abuse on the family and pregnancy. Addictive Behaviors in Women illuminates the causes and effects of the many lifestyle decisions women make that lead to addiction to drugs, work, sex, gambling, or to any of the many other elective aspects of our lives. It shows how addictive decisions can be avoided and/or treated, thereby making women's lives safer, more productive, and healthier.

This book provides an overview of the state of the art in research on and treatment of gambling disorder. As a behavioral addiction, gambling disorder is of increasing relevance to the field of mental health. Research conducted in the last decade has yielded valuable new insights into the characteristics and etiology of gambling disorder, as well as effective treatment strategies. The different chapters of this book present detailed information on the general concept of addiction as applied to gambling, the clinical characteristics, epidemiology and comorbidities of gambling disorder, as well as typical cognitive distortions found in patients with gambling disorder. In addition, the book includes chapters discussing animal models and the genetic and neurobiological underpinnings of the disorder. Further, it is examining treatment options including pharmacological and psychological intervention methods, as well as innovative new treatment approaches. The book also discusses relevant similarities to and differences with substance-related disorders and other behavioral addictions. Lastly, it examines gambling behavior from a cultural perspective, considers possible prevention strategies and outlines future perspectives in the field.