A review of pathological explanation on behavioral addictions and its comparison with drug addictions

In the past, addiction was known only by drug addictions, Currently, its definition has become much broader. Gambling, compulsive buying, video game addiction, problematic internet use, and even extreme work or sports can be classified as addictions. The existing criteria for experts in diagnosing different types of behavioral addictions are highly controversial, and this has made it difficult to define behavioral addictions. To define behavioral addictions more accurately, it is necessary to define the boundaries of behavioral addictions with other psychological disorders such as impulse control disorders, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Also, the similarities and differences between behavioral addictions and drug addictions have received much attention. Some experts consider both of these addictions to be of the same group, and some distinguish between them. Also, paying too much attention to behavioral addictions can blur the line between daily behaviors and this type of addiction. Finally, some experts believe that we should pay attention to the personality traits of people involved in these addictions and each type of addiction separately, and uniting all people and all types of behavioral addictions would be a mistake.