15th International Conference on Addiction & Psychiatry

An addictive behavior is a behavior, or a stimulus related to a behavior (e.g., sex or food), that is both rewarding and reinforcing, and is associated with the development of an addiction. Some of the most common types of behavioral addictions are: ·          Sex. ·          Gambling. ·          Internet. ·          Shopping. ·          Video games. ·          Plasticsurgery . ·          Binge eating/food addiction. ·          Thrill-seeking activities. Addictive behavior is defined by  compulsive drug use despite negative physical and social consequences and the craving for effects other than pain relief . The addiction components model operationally defines addictive activity as any behavior that features what I believe are the six core components of addiction (i.e., salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, conflict, and relapse) .

While most neurological conditions are not inherited, some, like Alzheimer’s disease epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease to name a few, may run in families. At North Shore, genetic testing is available for these hereditary neurological disorders and others. The specific causes of neurological problems vary, but can include genetic disorders, infections, lifestyle or environmental health problems including malnutrition, and brain injury, spinal cord injury or nerve injury. Physical symptoms of neurological problems may include the following: Partial or complete paralysis, Muscle weakness, Partial or complete loss of sensation, Seizures , Difficulty reading and writing, Poor cognitive abilities, unexplained pain, Decreased alertness Currently, doctors consider such damage irreversible. However, researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have discovered a new type of human immune cell that appears to prevent and reverse damage in the optic nerve and spinal cord .

In a few years, men who consume more than 40 grams of sugar daily are very likely to be diagnosed with depression . Sugar dependence. According to research, sugar has a higher potential for addiction than hard narcotics like cocaine. You could develop depression and other mood disorders if you are a sugar addict. Cravings and weariness are typical signs of sugar withdrawal, but some people also experience anger, depression, and other undesirable symptoms. Sugar-rich diets have been associated with cognitive decline, unfavorable neuroplasticity , and emotional problems like anxiety and depression. Consuming sugar makes people more impulsive eaters. According to studies, 80% of persons who gave up sugar and other harmful foods reported that their mental health had significantly improved. Researchers that looked at the group discovered that patients had less despair and anxiety, as well as less mood fluctuations and greater mental focus. Among the most typical signs of sugar addiction