Addictive beahviour: aetiology and treatment

Addictive behaviours represent confusing and complex patterns of human activity. These behaviours include drug and alcohol abuse, some eating disorders, compulsive or pathological gambling, excessive sexual behaviours, and other intemperate behaviour patterns. These behaviours have defied explanation throughout history. We made an attempt to clarify the nature of addiction and provide an introduction to the field of addictive behaviours. The field of addictions rests upon a variety of disciplines. Medicine, psychology, psychiatry, chemistry, physiology, law, political science, sociology, biology and witchcraft have all influenced our understanding of addictive behaviour. Most recently, biological explanations of addiction has gained importance. These approaches seek to understand alcoholism, e.g., by identifying the genetic and neurochemical causes of this problem. It is interesting to recognise that as we understand more about the biology of addiction, social and cultural influences also plays an important role. Not everyone who is predisposed genetically to alcoholism develops the disorder. Some people who are not prone bio-genetically to alcoholism or other addictions will acquire the condition. Therefore, social and psychological forces also play an important role in determining addictive behaviours.