Recent advances in understanding how compulsivity is related to behavioural addictions over their timecourse

Behavioural addictions involve loss of control over initially rewarding behaviours, which continue despite adverse consequences. Theoretical models suggest that these patterns of behaviour evolve over time, with compulsive and habitual behaviours held to reflect a loss of behavioural control. Compulsivity can be broadly described as a propensity for (or engagement in) repetitive behaviours that are not aligned with overall goals. Here, we consider whether compulsivity is associated with behavioural addictions at different stages of their development, based on self-report and neurocognitive measures.

This review found that there is initial evidence that compulsive traits might predispose individuals to engage in problematic behaviours, and that self-report and neurocognitive measures of compulsivity are associated with severity of problematic behaviours even in the early stages of behavioural addictions. In the later stages of behavioural addiction, there is strong evidence for an association of gambling disorder with cognitive inflexibility, but less evidence for an association between compulsivity and other types of behavioural addiction.

Moving forwards, well-powered longitudinal studies, including studies using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), will be important in robustly developing our understanding of how compulsivity is related to behavioural addictions over their timecourse.