[Behavioral Addictions in Psychosomatic Care]

It is commonly agreed, that Behavioral Addictions are accompanied by mental disorders and are still underdiagnosed. The multicenter cross-sectional study aimed at estimating the prevalence of Behavioral Addictions in a consecutive sample of patients seeking treatment for mental disorders other than Behavioral Addiction.

The study included 801 patients from eight psychosomatic university hospitals. Behavioral Addictions were assessed via standardized questionnaires.

24.1% of the sample reported at least one Behavioral Addiction. The majority of those patients reported symptoms of a single Behavioral Addiction. Questionnaire-based prevalence rates were 3.4% for Pathological Gambling, 1.9% for Pathological Internet Use, 16.7% for Pathological Buying, 5.4% for Hypersexual Disorder, and 3.5% for pathological exercising (exercise dependence). Neither center nor setting (outpatient, inpatient, day clinic) effects were observable.

Within this clinical sample, symptoms of shopping addiction are highly common in patients undergoing psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic treatment. These are rather women. Men are more likely to suffer from gambling and sex addiction. Generally, symptoms of Behavioral Addictions are commonly reported. Till today, Behavioral Addictions are often still underdiagnosed.

Patients within psychosomatic treatment commonly suffer from symptoms of Behavioral Addictions, which should be considered for treatment strategies.