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Addiction: definition and implications.

A Goodman1

  • 1Minnesota Institute of Psychiatry, St. Paul 55105.

British Journal of Addiction
|November 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A new definition of addiction is proposed, focusing on powerlessness and unmanageability in behavior patterns. This scientifically useful definition aims to integrate addiction into psychiatric theory and practice.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Science
  • Addiction Studies

Background:

  • The integration of addiction into psychiatric theory and practice is hindered by the absence of a scientifically useful definition.
  • Existing frameworks lack clarity for precise diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a scientifically useful definition of addiction.
  • To establish diagnostic criteria for addiction in a format analogous to DSM-III-R.
  • To explore the theoretical and practical implications of the proposed definition.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a new definition for addiction.
  • Specification of diagnostic criteria based on powerlessness and unmanageability.
  • Exploration of the definition's implications for psychiatry.

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Main Results:

  • A proposed definition of addiction characterizes it as a process involving behaviors used for pleasure or escape.
  • Key criteria include recurrent failure to control the behavior (powerlessness) and continuation despite negative consequences (unmanageability).
  • The definition is presented in a format similar to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third revision, with modifications (DSM-III-R).

Conclusions:

  • The proposed definition offers a scientifically useful framework for understanding and diagnosing addiction.
  • This definition facilitates the integration of addiction into psychiatric theory and practice.
  • Further exploration of the definition's implications is warranted for clinical and research applications.