Expanding the Scope of Dual Diagnosis and Co-Addictions: Behavioral Addictions

ABSTRACT

Addiction treatment providers are well aware that substance addictions routinely co-occur with psychiatric disorders and other substance addictions. The effectiveness of group treatment requires that all co-occurring disorders be identified. Practitioners tend to overlook the behavioral addictions that accompany substance-based and psychiatric disorders. This article provides a comprehensive overview of epidemiological data on behavioral addictions as they co-occur with substance addictions, psychiatric disorders, and other behavioral addictions. The major implications of this knowledge for the assessment and treatment of addictions are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavioral addictions
• co-occurring disorders
• co-addictions
• dual diagnosis
• epidemiology