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Expanding on the multidisciplinary stakeholder framework to minimize harms for problematic risk-taking involving emerging technologies
Commentary on: Problematic risk-taking involving emerging technologies: A stakeholder framework to minimize harms (Swanton et al., 2019)
and purposeful engagements for those who exhibit excessive use ( Quandt, 2017; Shi, Renwick, Turner, & Kirsh, 2019 ). In video gaming, motivations for use could include desires for achievement, socialization, or immersion ( Yee, 2006 ). Involving a
& Berridge, 1993 ). Thus, the examination of brain responses to Internet gaming cues among IGD may provide insight into one of the most important mechanisms of motivational and compulsive Internet gaming behavior ( Tiffany & Conklin, 2000 ). Cue
control performance can be affected by situational factors such as behavior-specific cues but also by motivational incentives ( Jones, Christiansen, Nederkoorn, Houben, & Field, 2013 ; Leotti & Wager, 2010 ). One further explanation could therefore be
sociodemographic, psychological, and motivational factors associated with GLA engagement; and (c) identify gaps and emerging areas that will require further research. The convergence of gambling and gaming is a relatively recent phenomenon. Yet, there is a growing
investigate whether addiction symptoms and time spent on games would decrease after tDCS. The secondary objective was to examine changes in self-control and motivation, both of which are associated with online game addiction ( Kim et al., 2016 ) and may be
Positive Valence Systems - stronger motivation to receive erotic rewards in CSBD individuals ( Gola
), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing techniques, and mindfulness-based approaches may be efficient in the treatment of CSBD and PPU. However, the evidence is mostly based on case reports and uncontrolled studies ( Dhuffar
Commentary on: Are we overpathologizing everyday life? A tenable blueprint for behavioral addiction research
Can the emerging domain of behavioral addictions bring a new reflection for the field of addictions, by stressing the issue of the context of addiction development?
Background
This paper is a commentary to the article entitled: “Are we overpathologizing everyday life? A tenable blueprint for behavioral addiction research”, by Billieux, Schimmenti, Khazaal, Maurage and Heeren (2015).
Methods and Aims
In this manuscript, we commented on two aspects developed by the authors. Billieux et al. (2015) propose that the recent development of propositions of behavioral addiction is driven by an unwise application of an addiction model to excessive behaviors and rests on a confirmatory research strategy that does not question the psychological processes underlying the development of the conduct. They also show that applying a process driven strategy leads to a more appropriate description of the reality of the behavior and conduct, in particular by describing a variety of motivations for the excessive behavior, which is central to understanding the nature of the conduct. We believe that this new approach, which is fruitful to the emerging domain of behavioral addictions, could also apply to the domain of addictions in general. The latter is characterized by the application of a generic biological model, largely influenced by animal models, focusing on neurophysiological determinants of addiction. This approach may have decreased the attention paid to dimensions of addictions that are more specifically human. We will firstly briefly argue on the limitation of this neurophysiological addiction model for the field of excessive behavioral conducts. Secondly, we will argue for an approach centered on the differentiation of motivations and on the adaptive dimension of the behavior when it first developed and on the evocation of a transition where the conduct became independent of its original function.
Conclusions
The emerging domain of behavioral addictions, where no animal model has been developed so far, may bring a new reflection that may apply to the domain of addictions in general, with a specific attention to human questions.
Background and aims
Problematic Internet use and excessive alcohol consumption have been associated with a host of maladaptive outcomes. Further, low (blunted) cardiovascular and stress hormone (e.g. cortisol) reactions to acute psychological stress are a feature of individuals with a range of adverse health and behavioural characteristics, including dependencies such as tobacco and alcohol addiction. The present study extended this research by examining whether behavioural dependencies, namely problematic Internet use, excessive alcohol consumption, and their comorbidity would also be associated with blunted stress reactivity
Methods
A large sample of university students (N = 2313) were screened using Internet and alcohol dependency questionnaires to select four groups for laboratory testing: comorbid Internet and alcohol dependence (N = 17), Internet dependence (N = 17), alcohol dependence (N = 28), and non-dependent controls (N = 26). Cardiovascular activity and salivary cortisol were measured at rest and in response to a psychological stress protocol comprising of mental arithmetic and public speaking tasks.
Results
Neither problematic Internet behaviour nor excessive alcohol consumption, either individually or in combination, were associated with blunted cardiovascular or cortisol stress reactions.
Discussion
It is possible that problematic Internet behaviour and excessive alcohol consumption in a student population were not related to physiological reactivity as they may not reflect ingrained addictions but rather an impulse control disorder and binging tendency.
Conclusions
The present results serve to indicate some of the limits of the developing hypothesis that blunted stress reactivity is a peripheral marker of the central motivational dysregulation in the brain underpinning a wide range of health and behavioural problems.
Background and aims
This paper offers a human rights-driven critique of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. The particular focus here is on the fact that, while the motivation behind this piece of legislation was the perceived need to address the growing phenomenon of new psychoactive substances, the broad definition of what constitutes a psychoactive substance contained therein means that it also includes psychoactive plants – herein referred to as plant medicines – within its ambit.
Methods
Through a close analysis of the parliamentary debates and related publications leading up to the Act, it is revealed that these were not part of the problem as constructed, and yet have become entangled in this legislative response to it.
Results and conclusions
It is argued that the inclusion of these plants breaches Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects both freedom of thought and religion. It is submitted that the Act should thus be amended accordingly. In support of this argument, the arbitrary difference in treatment of the psychoactive substances, alcohol and tobacco – exempted from the reach of the Act – is highlighted, as is the process by which alkyl nitrites (poppers) were also (eventually) excluded from the legislation, making the claim that much of the lucid reasoning underpinning this latter decision could be extrapolated out to plant medicines.
