Behavioral Addictions: Criteria, Evidence, and Treatment 1st Edition

Very informative.

Through a rigorous academic review of the current state of knowledge on behavioral addictions, this book inadvertently demonstrates that we are still in its infancy. The books’ subtitle promises the reader “criteria, evidence and treatment”, and on that the discussions are probably split 40%-50%-10% respectively. This books strength is in reviewing and critiquing the many studies on behavioral addictions (gambling, sex, food, buying, exercise, Internet). As the esteemed authors point out, many of these studies have employed widely different methodologies and criteria for ‘addiction’. What I felt was missing was a thorough attempt by most of the authors to synthesize the literature in their respective domain and present us with a coherent picture for treatment.Some chapter stood out, such as the introductory discussion on the relationship between addictive behavior and impulsivity/compulsivity. Stefanie Carnes contributed a thorough and compassionate chapter on working with partners of sex addicts. Helen Fisher provided a fascinating (and divisive, given her emphasis on neurobiology) chapter on evolutionary influences.In summary, this book presents an excellent literature review. It remains timid in unifying the disparate research and in moving this field forward – something that disappointed me greatly. Only moderate attention (and ink) is devoted to treatment, although the references will guide you to those sources. Finally, for an expensive textbook by Academic Press, I was shocked to find some references missing in the references section. Overall good, but not exceptional.

Informative, thorough , well written

This text was more statistical driven with info. Not a fan of that, but maybe because I was in my last semester of Grad school and my brain was tired.

Great reference on behaviours.applaud highly

Brand new book spine broke on book