Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
An addictive personality refers to a hypothesized set of personality traits that make an individual predisposed to developing addictions.This hypothesis states that there may be common personality traits observable in people suffering from addiction; however, the lack of a universally agreed upon definition has marked the research surrounding addictive personality.
The etymology of the term addiction throughout history has been misunderstood and has taken on various meanings associated with the word. [201] An example is the usage of the word in the religious landscape of early modern Europe. [202] "Addiction" at the time meant "to attach" to something, giving it both positive and negative connotations.
Addiction is classified as a chronic brain disorder by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). [5] There are several reasons why people develop an addiction. A predisposition to the addictive qualities of substances may be inherited by some people, making it a genetic circumstance. Another cause for addictions could be the environment.
According to Statistics Canada (2018), approximately one in five Canadians aged 15 years and older experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime. [81] In Ontario specifically, the disease burden of mental illness and addiction is 1.5 times higher than all cancers together and over 7 times that of all infectious diseases. [82]
[21] Psychology Today defines addiction as "a state that can occur when a person either consumes a substance such as nicotine, cocaine, or, alcohol or engages in an activity such as gambling or shopping/spending." [22] Many functions of the brain work to prevent addictive behaviors.
Substance-related disorders, also known as substance use disorders, are a type of mental disorder that affects a person's brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances like legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. The disorders can lead to large societal problems.
Behavioral addiction is a treatable condition. [20] Treatment options include psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy (i.e., medications) or a combination of both. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common form of psychotherapy used in treating behavioral addictions; it focuses on identifying patterns that trigger compulsive behavior and making lifestyle changes to promote ...
Alcoholism often reduces a person's life expectancy by around ten years. [21] The most common cause of death in alcoholics is from cardiovascular complications. [189] There is a high rate of suicide in chronic alcoholics, which increases the longer a person drinks.