The DOI matches its Crossref record; 127 of the 127 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Behavioral Addictions as Mental Disorders: To Be or Not To Be?
Open accessAbstract
Should excessive and problematic engagement in nonsubstance use behaviors be mental disorders? The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) repositioned gambling disorder in the substance use disorders section and introduced Internet gaming disorder in the research appendix; the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) is also considering it. This article outlines pros and cons of considering behavioral addictions as mental disorders and also reviews the DSM-5 decision-making processes. It focuses on three conditions: gambling disorder, Internet gaming disorder (IGD), and Internet addiction (IA). We detail assessment methods and prevalence rates for these conditions and outline psychiatric comorbidities, demographic and biological risk factors, and promising treatment approaches. We also briefly discuss other putative behavioral addictions: eating/food, sex, exercise, shopping, and tanning “addictions.” Overall, data are inconclusive, and consistent terminology and methodology are needed to define and evaluate these conditions more fully prior to considering them mental disorders.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Petry et al. (2018), consideran que el problema de adicción al internet es un punto mundialmente preocupante, manifestando indicios del 0.8% en países como Islandia, 6.3% en China y un significativo 22.2% en Irán.”
From Social media addiction among students at a national university in Junín (Peru) (2023) · cites this paper as Petry et al. (2018)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Defining empirically supported therapies.
Chambless, D. L., & Hollon, S. D. (1998) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.66.1.7 · Cited by 3,067 · cited 2×
“No intervention meets criteria as empirically validated (Chambless & Hollon 1998) for gambling disorder.”
BackgroundDevelopment of a Facebook Addiction Scale
Andreassen, C. S., Torsheim, T., Brunborg, G. S., & Pallesen, S. (2012) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/02.09.18.pr0.110.2.501-517 · Cited by 1,884
Development and Validation of a Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS)
Kwon, M., Lee, J.-Y., Won, W.-Y., Park, J.-W., Min, J.-A., Hahn, C., Gu, X., Choi, J.-H., & Kim, D.-J. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056936 · Cited by 1,670
DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale
Hasin, D. S., O’Brien, C. P., Auriacombe, M., Borges, G., Bucholz, K., Budney, A., Compton, W. M., Crowley, T., Ling, W., Petry, N. M., et al. (2013) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12060782 · Cited by 1,622
Self-citation(1998) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 1,425
Pathological Video Game Use Among Youths: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study
Gentile, D. A., Choo, H., Liau, A., Sim, T., Li, D., Fung, D., & Khoo, A. (2011) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2010-1353 · Cited by 1,314
Petry, N. M., Stinson, F. S., & Grant, B. F. (2005) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.v66n0504 · Cited by 1,245 · cited 5×
“A uthor M anuscript A uthor M anuscript A uthor M anuscript A uthor M anuscript of periods of gambling disorder over the course of their lifetimes, about half persist with problems (Petry et al. 2005).”
BackgroundInfluentialSelf-citationPathological Video-Game Use Among Youth Ages 8 to 18
Gentile, D. A. (2009) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02340.x · Cited by 1,107
Lorains, F. K., Cowlishaw, S., & Thomas, S. A. (2011) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03300.x · Cited by 1,006
DSM-IV pathological gambling in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication
Kessler, R. C., Hwang, I., LaBrie, R., Petukhova, M., Sampson, N. A., Winters, K. C., & Shaffer, H. J. (2008) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291708002900 · Cited by 928 · cited 4×
“Several demographic characteristics are risk factors for gambling disorder, including male gender (Kessler et al. 2008, Petry et al. 2005), and younger age (Kessler et al. 2008).”
BackgroundInfluential
Research works printed but not linked: 7
- Ahmadi K, 2014, Acta Med. Iran, 52, 467
- Gerstein D, 1999, Gambling Impact and Behavior Study: A Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission
- Liu J, 2010, Chin. Med. J. (Engl.), 123, 1904
- Macur M, 2016, Zdr. Varst., 55, 202
- Ólason DT, Barudottir SK, Gretarsson SJ. 2005. Prevalence of pathological gambling among adults in Iceland . Presented at Conf. Res. Soc. Sci., 6th, Reykjavík, Icel.
- Petry NM, 2016, Behavioral Addictions: DSM-5 and Beyond
- TNS Emnid, 2011, Spielen mit und um Geld in Deutschland
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–254 of 254
Evaluation of the Brief Internet Gaming Screen–8 in a U.S. based clinical inpatient sample.
Diez, S. L., Brailovskaia, J., Kaufmann, D., Husain, O., Rae, C. D., & Cash, H. (2023) · Technology Mind and Behavior · doi:10.1037/tmb0000112
Protocolo de tratamiento de las adicciones comportamentales
Hodann-Caudevilla, R. M., Rodriguez, M., Molina-Ruiz, R. M., & Pérez-Lombardo, M. (2023) · Medicine - Programa de Formación Médica Continuada Acreditado · doi:10.1016/j.med.2023.08.015
Identification, epidemiology, etiology, and treatment of gambling disorder
Khouzam, H. R. (2023) · International Journal of Research in Psychiatry · doi:10.22271/27891623.2023.v3.i2a.40
Harvey, L. R., & Kullock, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.013.42
Psychological Portrait of a Modern Young Gambler
Tarasova, S. (2023) · Lecture notes in networks and systems · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-48020-1_7
Ninnoni, J. P., Ijere, I. N., Iloma, D. O., Armah‐Mensah, I., Commey, I. T., Agyemang, S. O., Nsatimba, F., & Attipoe, E. K. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3915722/v1 · Cited by 1
Smartphone use and social media addiction in undergraduate students
Parasin, N., Watthanasuwakul, M., Udomkichpagon, P., & Amnuaylojaroen, T. (2024) · F1000Research · doi:10.12688/f1000research.128545.2
Deepening the analysis of the vice/mental disorder relationship
Sadler, J. Z. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.003.0008
Vice and mental illness—an ancient-to-modern iconography
Sadler, J. Z. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.003.0004
Introductions literal and metaphorical
Sadler, J. Z. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.003.0001
The public interest context of the VMDR
Sadler, J. Z. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.003.0007
Conceptual paradoxes in vice and mental disorder
Sadler, J. Z. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.003.0003
Forty theses: Conclusions, implications, and prescriptions
Sadler, J. Z. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.003.0009
(2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.002.0004
The legal and criminal justice context of the VMDR
Sadler, J. Z. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.003.0006
Building a moral-medical psychiatry
Sadler, J. Z. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.003.0005
(2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.002.0006
Vice and the DSMs—the problems
Sadler, J. Z. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198876830.003.0002
The licensing effect in gambling choice: A daily diary studyPreprint
Wu, R., & Clark, L. (2024) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/u5hdf · Cited by 1
Genes and Genetic Testing in Addiction Medicine
Blum, K., Madigan, M. A., Fuehrlein, B., Thanos, P. K., Lewandrowski, K., Sharafshah, A., Elman, I., Baron, D. A., Bowirrat, A., Pinhasov, A., et al. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-95702-1.00227-x
Neurobehavioral Mechanisms of Kleptomania
Asaoka, Y., Won, M., Lee, Y., & Goto, Y. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-32035-4_41-1
Behavioral Addiction Treatment Centers in the Hospitals of Türkiye: A Web-Based Research
KESKİN, A. D., Öztürk, N., Düştü, F., & Yilmaz, B. (2024) · Evaluation & the Health Professions · doi:10.1177/01632787241301807
Reward Processing in Binge-Type Eating Disorders
Schmidt, K., & Bodell, L. P. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-32046-0_77-1 · Cited by 1
The licensing effect in gambling choice: a daily diary study
Wu, R., & Clark, L. (2025) · Addiction Research & Theory · doi:10.1080/16066359.2025.2486964
Avoidance of Harmful Substances and Behaviours
Hillyard, M. (2025) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009391573.015
Ortorexia y adicción en población adulta: revisión sistemática
García, N. F., Gran, B. C., & Makeienko, M. (2025) · Revista Mexicana de Trastornos Alimentarios/Mexican Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.22201/fesi.20071523e.2025.2.851
Çokluk, G. F., & Dokmetas, M. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5371075
The Impact of Constipation as a Microbiota-related Marker on Antihypertensive Treatment Response
Arslan, G. Y. (2025) · Bulletin of Cardiovasculer Academy · doi:10.4274/kvbulten.galenos.2025.18480
Reward Processing in Binge-Type Eating Disorders
Schmidt, K., & Bodell, L. P. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-73363-5_77
Carrasco-Reig, M., Vilar, M. M., González‐Sala, F., & Esparza-Reig, J. (2025) · Revista Española de Drogodependencias · doi:10.54108/10120
Addictive motivational scaffolds and the structure of social media
Manuali, L. (2025) · Synthese · doi:10.1007/s11229-025-05312-z · Cited by 1
Bronstein, C. (2025) · Sexes · doi:10.3390/sexes6040063 · Cited by 1
Chapter 10. Behavioral Addictions
Farhat, L. C., & Potenza, M. N. (2025) · American Psychiatric Association Publishing eBooks · doi:10.1176/appi.books.9798894550862.lg10
Binge-watching jako problemowe oglądanie seriali wśród młodych dorosłych
Rodzeń, W. (2025) · Rozprawy i Studia - Uniwersytet Szczeciński · doi:10.18276/978-83-8419-010-4
İnternet Bağımlılığının Tedavisinde Kullanılan Farmakolojik ve Psikoterapötik Yaklaşımlar
Acar, N. (2025) · Yeni Medya Dergisi · doi:10.55609/yenimedya.1745514
Szerman, N., Ferre, F., Balhara, Y. P. S., Campos, M. W., Danon, P., Vega, P., Basurte-Villamor, I., Zhao, M., & Baler, R. (2026) · International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1080/13651501.2026.2621881
Association between smartphone addiction and symptoms of depression and anxiety among young adults
Genç, D., & Eray, İ. K. (2026) · Turkish Journal of Family Practice · doi:10.54308/turkjfampract.2026.879
Wang, Z., Zhu, Z.-N., Tan, X.-J., Zhu, J., Zhang, D.-W., Li, G., & Wu, W. (2026) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-026-01656-w
Macía, L., Diego, G. A., & Estévez, A. (2026) · European Addiction Research · doi:10.1159/000552306
A Systematic Review of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Addictions
Bayram, Z. D., & Çakici, A. (2026) · Addiction Science Reviews · doi:10.35365/asr.26.1.07
Latent Class Analysis of Substance Use and Behavioral Addictions in Adolescents
Diego, G. A., & Estévez, A. (2026) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.1080/10826084.2026.2670627
Fotiou, A., Kanavou, E., Stavrou, M., Christopoulou, M., Voitsidis, P., Lappa, M., Richardson, C., & Kokkevi, A. (2026) · Europe’s Journal of Psychology · doi:10.5964/ejop.16907
Daviccino, A. T., Chibas-Muñoz, E. E., Guevara, A., Davalos, J. M. H., Escalante, S. C. L., Benítez, L. E. O., Galeano, B. D. O., Gómez, C. G. P., Lezcano, E. A. R., Paniagua, R. R. R., et al. (2025) · Revista Virtual de la Sociedad Paraguaya de Medicina Interna · doi:10.18004/rvspmi/2312-3893/2025.e12122517
Lai, W., Liu, X., Xu, Z., Kong, Z., Ren, P., Zhou, Z.-F., Yang, J.-H., Li, H., Hou, G., & Jiang, W. (2026) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2026.109108
Zhu, Y., & Yao, C. (2026) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-026-05185-y
Fleury, V., Pirondini, E., Benis, D., Corbet, T., Thorens, G., Lüscher, C., & Krack, P. (2026) · Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences · doi:10.1111/pcn.70118
Vieira, J. L., Antony, M. M., Milligan, K., Tabri, N., & Kim, H. S. A. (2026) · Journal of Behavioral Addictions · doi:10.1556/2006.2026.00064
Uzbay, T. (2026) · Journal of Public Health Policy · doi:10.1057/s41271-026-00662-5
Grunder, D., & Míguez, G. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-70581-6_585-1
Turan, A., & Yılmaz, E. (2026) · Middle East Current Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s43045-026-00671-w
Elnenny, M. R., Zaki, N., Shaker, N. M., & Mohamed, M. Y. (2026) · Middle East Current Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s43045-026-00676-5
Metadata
- Authors
- Petry, N. M., Zajac, K., & Ginley, M. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Venue
- Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2018-05-07
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 399-423
- ISSN
- 1548-5943 (ISSN-L)
- 1548-5951
- PMC
- PMC5992581
- OpenAlex
- W2801196298
- Cited by
- 254
- References
- 126
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 6
- FWCI
- 3.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Annual Review of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (P60AA003510)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (P50DA009241, K23DA034879)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Keywords
- behavioral addiction, gambling addiction, internet gaming disorder, internet addiction, DSM-5, ICD-11, psychiatric comorbidity, risk factors, treatment options, eating disorders, sexual addiction, exercise addiction, compulsive buying, tanning addiction, diagnostic classification
- MeSH terms
- Gambling, Humans, Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders, Behavior, Addictive, Video Games, Internet
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
