The process addictions and the new ASAM definition of addiction.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Editorial/expert commentary with no primary data
PubMed 22641960 · doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.662105
What was done
This is an editorial discussing the conceptual basis and rationale behind the American Society of Addiction Medicine's (ASAM) 2011 definition of addiction, summarizing perspectives linking substance use disorders and behavioral (process) addictions.
What was found
The abstract reports no empirical data, statistical findings, or quantitative numbers. It describes the 2011 ASAM definition of addiction as a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry, noting that developing neurobiology supports the inclusion of process addictions such as food, sex, shopping, and gambling.
Why it matters
It highlights the formal conceptual transition within addiction medicine toward recognizing behavioral compulsions alongside substance use disorders within a unified neurobiological framework.
Limits
This publication is an editorial providing narrative commentary and opinion without presenting original empirical data, systematic review methodology, or quantitative analyses.
Cited by
- supports Addiction is defined clinically as the continued, compulsive use of a substance or behavior despite harm to self or others.