Addiction 24: Understanding Behavioural Addictions with Professor Mark Griffiths

A really terrific episode, and I write that with absolutely no bias whatsoever. And this episode comes to you thank to GLI and their kind sponsorship – what a bunch of absolute legends.

Hosts Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford (not a doctor) are joined by the legendary Professor Mark Griffiths to explore the complex world of behavioural addictions. Mark is an esteemed researcher with over 39 years in the field and with his guidance we delve into his addiction components model, distinctions between disorder and addiction, and the nuances of diagnosing activities like gambling, social media use, and work.

What we talk about, but in a list:

• The addiction components model: six core features defining addiction
• Distinction between problematic behaviour and addiction
• Operational definitions across DSM, ICD, and screening tools like PGSI
• The role of conflict, salience, tolerance, withdrawal, relapse, and mood modification
• The importance of context and individual differences in addiction diagnosis
• The evolving definitions and societal perceptions of addiction
• Challenges with current screening instruments and over-inflation of problem classifications
• The gaps in recognizing behavioural addictions such as workaholism and social media use

Choice quotes:

• "Addiction is not just about the behaviour itself, but the context and individual differences that shape it."
• "The addiction components model helps us understand the core features that define addiction."
• "Screening tools often over-inflate problem classifications, leading to misdiagnosis."
• "Understanding the role of conflict and intra-psychic struggles is crucial in diagnosing behavioural addictions."
• "The evolving definitions of addiction reflect societal perceptions and the challenges of psychiatric classifications."

Chapters (but add a minute because of the intro and all the razzamatazz)

(00:00) - Welcome and guest introduction: Professor Emeritus Mark Griffiths

(02:12) - Mark shares about his prolific research career and citations

(06:50) - Early innovations: first papers on internet and online gambling addiction

(13:14) - Explaining the addiction components model

(17:29) - Tolerance and withdrawal in behavioural addictions

(19:27) - The role of conflict and intra-psychic struggles

(21:39) - Differences between problem gambling and gambling addiction

(26:08) - Critique of screening tools like PGSI and issues with over-inflation

(30:19) - Episodic gambling and behavioural patterns

(37:29) - The operationalization of DSM criteria into clinical assessments

(42:24) - Recognition of gaming disorder in ICD-11 and emerging behavioural addictions

(44:46) - Work addiction and personality traits: conscientiousness and perfectionism

(48:36) - The influence of context on addiction: relationships, responsibilities, and life stages

(55:48) - Dependence versus addiction: physiological dependency explained

(58:36) - Future of psychiatric classifications and societal perceptions

(61:49) - Closing remarks and upcoming discussions

Resources & Links:

GLI: https://gaminglabs.com/

IDC-11: ICD-11 Gaming Disorder

DSM-5: DSM-5 on Behavioral Addictions

Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI): https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/publication/problem-gambling-screens

Mark Griffiths on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-griffiths-b3576115/

Addiction: An Hour With Auer is a weekly podcast where hosts Dr Michael Auer – he of the title – and Jon Bruford talk about addiction in all its forms. Not just gambling addiction, they discuss all forms of addiction with experts, academics and researchers from around the world.

This episode comes to you courtesy of the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

Dr Auer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-auer-51a48a/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Podcast homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/addiction/

Media behemoth homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Other podcasts we do:

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/the-gambling-files/

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/dessert-island-discs/