Journal of Behavioral Addictions最新文献

Background and aims: Moments of impaired control are common in problematic gaming and pornography use. Previous research has mostly focused on general self-control deficits in laboratory or cross-sectional settings. As a novel approach, we examined craving and inhibitory control in daily life as dual mechanisms of moments of impaired control in the natural environment by combining laboratory tasks with ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

Methods: In this pre-registered study, 118 participants (M = 26.16 years, SD = 7.72 years, 75 males, 42 females, 1 divers) with nonproblematic, risky or pathological pornography use or gaming (ngaming = 74, npornography = 44) based on a standardized diagnostic interview, completed a cue-reactivity paradigm, craving assessments, Stop-Signal Task, and seven days EMA of craving, behavior-specific inhibitory control, and moments of impaired control (July 2023-July 2025).

Results: Average frequency of moments of impaired control was predicted by average craving intensity in real life. Intraindividual likelihood of experiencing a moment of impaired control was predicted by reduced behavior-specific inhibitory control in real life. Laboratory craving predicted real-life craving intensity which was linked to real-life behavior specific inhibitory control ratings. Findings generalized across both behavior groups.

Discussion and conclusions: Craving emerged as an overall (between-person) risk factor, whereas behavior-specific inhibitory control as a situation-specific (within-person) mechanism in moments of impaired control in potentially addictive gaming or pornography use. Prevention, treatment, and future research should address within versus between-person processes and continue combining laboratory tasks with EMA to clarify how lab-indexed mechanisms translate into real-world impaired control.

This commentary critically considers the case for including non-digital gaming within the scope of gaming disorder. The ICD-11 category for gaming disorder refers to gaming (i.e., 'digital gaming' or 'video-gaming') which may be predominantly 'online' (i.e., over the internet) versus 'offline'. Non-digital forms of gaming (i.e., gaming that does not involve any electronic devices and is not conducted over the internet) are not explicitly recognized. We suggest that gaming in both digital and non-digital formats is an activity of relevance to addiction studies and public health, and that an exclusive focus on digital gaming may overlook potential non-digital game-related risks and harms. We refer to popular collectible card games (e.g., Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering [MtG]) and tabletop games (e.g., Warhammer 40K), as these activities seem to have the most in common with online games, particularly in relation to similarities to digital monetization schemes (e.g., loot boxes). We call for research to investigate the relative costs and benefits of engagement in non-digital gaming activities. If highly involved players of non-digital games tend to not report gaming disorder symptoms or harm, then it may be worthwhile examining how these players differ from digital game players. Finally, investigating non-digital gaming may produce new insights into developing effective interventions and preventive measures for problematic digital gaming.

Background: Despite the rapid growth in gaming consumption and associated harms in adolescents, data-driven research to identify brain networks underlying problematic gaming remains limited. This study aimed to identify neural networks predictive of problematic-gaming severity in youth using connectome-based predictive modelling (CPM), a machine-learning approach that employs whole-brain functional connectivity data.

Methods: From the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study at the two-year follow-up, 1,036 participants (Mage = 12.0, 60.7% male) were studied. CPM with 10-fold cross-validation was applied to problematic-gaming scores and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data collected during the performance of a reward-processing task. To determine generalizability, additional CPM analyses were performed using other task-based (e.g., those relevant to response inhibition, emotion regulation, and working memory) and resting-state fMRI data.

Results: CPM successfully predicted problematic-gaming scores (r = 0.12, p = 0.002). Predictive networks involved several connections within and between canonical networks implicated in visual processing (visual area 2 and visual association networks), cognitive control and executive functioning (frontoparietal and medial frontal networks), and relevance and motor response (salience and sensorimotor networks). CPM predicted problematic-gaming scores across all analyzed brain states and found shared predictive canonical networks, indicating generalizability. Applying the final reward-processing model to other task-based and resting-state fMRI data also successfully predicted problematic-gaming severity.

Conclusions: The identified large-scale networks predictive of problematic-gaming severity in adolescents may serve as promising targets for personalized and novel interventions. Before using these results to guide clinical advances, future research should use external samples to evaluate replicability of the identified network.

Background and aims: Problematic pornography use (PPU) has been associated with impaired risk-based decision-making, possibly stemming from disrupted feedback processing. However, the underlying cognitive and neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined behavioral risk-taking and feedback-related electrophysiological responses in individuals at risk for PPU.

Methods: Thirty-five male university students at risk for PPU (M = 20.51, SD = 0.89) and thirty-four matched controls (M = 20.79, SD = 1.70) completed the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) while EEG data were recorded. Self-report questionnaires assessing impulsivity traits were also administered.

Results: At the behavioral level, individuals in the PPU risk group exhibited significantly more balloon explosions and lower total earnings than controls, while no group difference was found in the adjusted number of pumps. At the neural level, there were no group differences in the feedback-related negativity (FRN), suggesting intact early evaluation of feedback valence. However, the PPU risk group exhibited significantly reduced P300 amplitudes in response to negative (loss) feedback, suggesting impaired attentional allocation and feedback integration, which may reflect a diminished capacity to adapt behavior based on aversive outcomes. Furthermore, individuals at risk for PPU reported elevated levels of impulsivity, particularly in emotion-driven components such as positive and negative urgency.

Conclusion: This neurocognitive profile may contribute to the persistence of maladaptive behaviors despite adverse consequences and highlights potential intervention targets to improve feedback sensitivity and self-regulation in individuals with PPU.

Background and aims: Gambling disorder (GD) follows a non-linear progression over time. Beyond shifts between disordered and non-disordered gambling statuses, the presence of each DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for GD may fluctuate throughout a gambler's trajectory. This study aimed to identify clusters of gamblers based on the evolution of the nine GD diagnostic criteria over time and to characterize these clusters using clinical variables.

Methods: Data were drawn from the JEU cohort (NCT01207674), a multicenter study of adult gamblers with and without GD, featuring a five-year follow-up. Participants completed structured clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires at baseline and annually. The analysis included only individuals who completed at least one follow-up assessment and met at least one GD diagnostic criterion during the study period (n = 209). A mixture model was applied to estimate the probability of meeting each GD criterion over time.

Results: Four distinct clusters emerged, characterized by a gradient of GD severity and specific criterion-based evolutions. Some criteria fluctuated alongside overall GD severity, while others, particularly "loss of control", persisted even when severity decreased. Additionally, three criteria ("lying", "jeopardization" and "bailout") were more likely to be present only in the two most severe clusters.

Discussion and conclusions: This study confirms that, beyond the fluctuations of GD states, the presence of individual criteria also varies over time. These findings provide new insights into the dynamic progression of GD and may help tailor therapeutic approaches to better address the specific needs of gamblers at different stages of the disorder.

Background and aims: This study aimed to identify the differences in characteristics between high- and low-risk smartphone users among individuals with insomnia symptoms using digital phenotyping and clinical assessments.

Methods: A total of 246 participants with insomnia symptoms (M = 31.14, SD = 10.09) were monitored for four weeks using the smartphone application and wearable devices. The participants were divided into high-(n = 141) and low-risk (n = 105) smartphone overuse groups based on a Smartphone Overuse Screening Questionnaire. Clinical scale results and wearable data were analyzed using ANCOVA and logistic regression, controlling for age, sex, and BMI.

Results: After covariate adjustment, the high-risk group showed significantly greater biological rhythm disruption (K-BRIAN: LS-mean difference = 6.86, p < 0.000), more severe insomnia (ISI index: aOR: 2.63, p = 0.0005), and poorer sleep quality (PSQI-K: aOR: 2.41, p = 0.0015). Psychological distress, including depression (PHQ-9 index: aOR: 2.77, p = 0.0001) and anxiety (GAD-7 index: aOR: 1.59, p = 0.0059), was more pronounced in the high-risk group. Bedtime procrastination (BPS index: aOR: 1.96, p = 0.0173) and stress reactivity to insomnia (FIRST index: aOR: 1.67, p = 0.0574) were significantly elevated. Digital phenotyping revealed persistent differences in minimum daytime heart rate and exercise intensity patterns, while many activity-related measures lost significance after adjustment.

Discussion and conclusions: Smartphone overuse is independently associated with severe circadian disruption, insomnia, and psychological distress. The integrated assessment approach revealed critical biomarkers and behavioral patterns. Targeted interventions focused on circadian stabilization and behavioral sleep patterns may improve sleep quality and mental health outcomes in this population. Longitudinal research is needed to establish causality.

Background and aims: Dark patterns are online platform design features that influence consumer behaviour to the advantage of the interface designer. In online gambling, such designs may exacerbate gambling-related harms, particularly among vulnerable consumers. This study aims to provide the first scoping review of dark patterns in online gambling.

Methods: Following established scoping review frameworks, we systematically searched databases and grey literature using terms related to dark patterns and online gambling. The review protocol was preregistered.

Results: Included articles (n = 16) addressed a variety of gambling-related dark patterns: hidden gambling management tools, inducements with complex conditions, minimum balances required to withdraw funds, unnecessary frictions involved in closing an account, high defaults in stake, deposit, reality check and deposit limit settings, and urgency-based gambling prompts. To address inconsistent terminology across studies, we synthesised existing literature by mapping identified dark patterns to a transdisciplinary framework, providing greater conceptual clarity and direction for future research.

Discussions and conclusions: The potential for harm from dark patterns is evident, yet evidence on behavioural impacts is limited, hindered by restricted access to proprietary gambling operator data. Research in this area is sparse and fragmented, often using inconsistent terminology. Future studies should empirically investigate the influence of dark patterns on consumer behaviour, especially among vulnerable populations, and evaluate safer design alternatives. We recommend mandating gambling operators to collaborate with researchers to assess platform safety, and shifting the burden of proof onto operators to demonstrate that their platforms prioritise consumer safety and foster responsible gambling environments.

Background and aims: Economic decision-making deviates from rational choice models and is influenced by social factors, particularly fairness considerations and belonging needs. Social exclusion and altruistic punishment are intended to promote behavioral conformity, yet paradoxically may exacerbate rather than correct targeted behaviors among individuals with addictions already experiencing chronic rejection. Several preliminary studies show that social exclusion increases money desirability in general populations, however, the interaction between acute social exclusion and economic decision-making among individuals with gambling disorders (PGs)-marked by aberrant financial decision-making-remains unexplored.

Methods: In a field study, 203 gamblers were recruited outside gambling venues and randomized to experience either social inclusion or exclusion via Cyberball, a virtual ball-tossing paradigm. Participants then completed an ultimatum game, making accept/reject decisions on fair and unfair monetary offers, followed by the Problem Gambling Severity Index.

Results: Social exclusion increased unfair offer acceptance among PGs but had no effect on low- and moderate-risk gamblers. PGs accepted more unfair offers following exclusion than inclusion. Gambling severity had no effect on unfair offers acceptance. Neither social exclusion nor gambling severity affected fair offer acceptance.

Discussion and conclusions: Social exclusion triggered utilitarian decision-making only among PGs. This selective effect suggests rejection compromises PGs' economic decision-making processes, shifting priorities toward immediate monetary gains over equitable outcomes. These findings reveal how social punishment creates self-reinforcing cycles where exclusion triggers the utilitarian mindset characterizing problematic gambling. Treatment and societal approaches relying on social consequences may inadvertently strengthen harmful patterns, highlighting the need for inclusion-based interventions.

Background and aims: The transdiagnostic Syndrome Model of Addiction considers addiction as a syndrome with multiple opportunities for expression, i.e., a common underlying disorder that may manifest in distinctive ways. Considering that testing of the model has been rare, this study examined the co-occurrence of symptoms of substance use disorders and behavioral addictions over 10 years by identifying profiles and predictors associated with group membership.

Methods: Longitudinal data (N = 4,760 males) from the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF) conducted in Switzerland were analyzed using a latent transition analysis (LTA). Symptoms of substance use (alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco) disorders and behavioral addictions (gaming and gambling) were used for identifying addiction profiles and group membership trajectories. A multinomial logistic regression model examined predictors of profile membership, while two general linear models tested whether profile membership predicted psychosocial outcomes.

Results: LTA revealed three distinct profiles of symptoms of addiction, labelled Low- (91-92% of the sample), Medium- (5-7%), and High-symptom (1-3%) profiles. Thus, frequency or intensity of addiction symptoms tended to co-occur. The stability of Low-profile membership remained consistently high over time (97%), whereas the stability of Medium- and High-profile memberships was moderate (40-49%). Sensation seeking, neuroticism, parental attitude, and poor parental monitoring were associated with Medium and High profiles compared to the Low profile. Poor relationships with parents and friends were uniquely associated with High profile, whereas hostility, sociability, and family history of mental disorders were associated with Medium profile. Education, sensation seeking, hostility, and neuroticism were associated with transitions between profiles over time. Profile membership predicted subsequent life satisfaction and negative life events.

Discussion and conclusions: Symptoms of substance use disorders and behavioral addictions tend to co-occur, and profile membership is relatively stable. However, transition to less severe profiles also occurs and is influenced by education and personality traits. Our findings have implications for preventive interventions aiming at reducing the risk of addictive disorders becoming chronic and for identifying young adults most in need of support.

Background: Impulsivity and delay discounting are considered core components of addiction and are increasingly associated with problematic mobile gaming. However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Emerging evidence suggests that altered time perception may contribute to impulsive decision-making in addictive behaviors. Therefore, the present study compared differences in time perception and delay discounting between problematic and non-problematic mobile gamers, and explored the mediating roles of impulsivity and time perception.

Methods: A total of 98 participants were recruited via an online platform and completed a battery of assessments, including the Problematic Mobile Gaming Questionnaire (PMGQ), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), a time perception task, and a Delay Discounting Task (DDT). Participants were categorized into two groups: problematic mobile gamers (PMGs; n = 21) and non-problematic mobile gamers (NPMGs; n = 77).

Results: Compared to NPMGs, PMGs showed significantly higher levels of impulsivity, delay discounting (k), and a relative error rate of time perception in 60 s (Rer60). A parallel mediation analysis showed that PMGQ score significantly predicted BIS-11 and Rer60 (β = .44 and .41, p < .001). Rer60 marginally predicted delay discounting rate (β = .18, p = .09), whereas the BIS-11 score did not. The total indirect effect was significant (β = .01, 95% CI [.0018, .0148]), with Rer60 emerging as the primary mediator.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that time perception distortion, rather than impulsivity, mediates the association between problematic mobile gaming and delay discounting.