If we retrace this brief overview of addiction-related conditions, I previously explained how not only substances can trigger the reward circuits, but also certain behaviors. I also mentioned that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) describes only one type of non-substance-related disorder, namely Gambling Disorder.
In the previous posts, we looked at some introductory concepts for Substance-Related Disorders, namely: the reward circuit and addiction. The clinical framework of these disorders is complex but also repetitive. I say this because the criteria used to diagnose, for example, an alcohol use disorder or a cannabis use disorder are quite similar—the main differences lie in the physical symptoms that develop in cases of intoxication and withdrawal from one substance versus another.
In the previous post, I introduced the concept of addiction, simplifying it like this: the substances that can cause addiction have in common the activation of the reward circuit. Before moving into the clinical aspects, I think it’s useful to first familiarize ourselves with some important terms: tolerance, intoxication, withdrawal, and craving.
