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Release date:
2023
Column Information
Behavioral addiction is a form of addiction that involves a compulsion to engage in a rewarding non-substance -related behavior – sometimes called a natural reward – despite any negative consequences to the person's physical, mental, social or financial well-being. Addiction canonically refers to substance abuse; however, the term's connotation has been expanded to include behaviors that may lead to a reward (such as gambling, eating, or shopping) since the 1990s. A number of dopaminergic genes such as the dopamine D2 receptor gene polymorphisms as well as other dopaminergic regulator gene transcription factors like ΔFosB has been identified as a necessary common factor involved in both behavioral and drug addictions, which are associated with the same neurochemical mechanisms and neuroadaptations in the reward system involving reward deficiency or even adolescent neurodevelopmental reward sufficiency or high dopaminergic function may load onto aberrant unwanting seeking behavior.