What the grey literature can contribute to addictive behaviour disorder classification •

Abstract

This commentary examines the proposal made by Brand et al. (2022) regarding a framework outlining relevant criteria for considering possible behavioural addictions within the current World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) category of ‘other specified disorders due to addictive behaviours’. We agree with the framework as it highlights the clinical perspective requiring agreed-upon classifications and criteria to produce effective diagnostic procedures and efficacious treatments. Additionally, we propose to add the need of recognising potential addictive behaviour through the inclusion of a fourth meta-level criterion: ‘grey literature evidence’. Utilising non-academic evidence can provide validity in the social context where the behaviour takes place, and it can support authorities in taking action to prevent and treat the resultant behavioural problems. The inclusion of the proposed fourth criterion will aid comprehensibility of the current proposal and provide clarity, as indicated in the present commentary, which includes the fourth criterion analysis for problematic pornography use, shopping/buying and social networking site use.

Behavioral addictions in the ICD-11: An important debate that is anticipated to continue for some time

“…The third debate paper also concentrates on CSBD and concluded that there is currently not enough empirical support for considering CSBD a behavioral addiction ( Sassover & Weinstein, 2022 ). Of the eleven commentaries, seven relate to CSBD ( Borgogna & Aita, 2022 ; Briken & Turner, 2022 ; Bőthe, Koós, & Demetrovics, 2022 ; Castro-Calvo et al., 2022 ; Jennings, Gleason, & Kraus, 2022 ; Lew-Starowicz & Coleman, 2022 ; Rumpf & Montag, 2022 ) and four to the meta-level criteria ( Griffiths, 2022 ; Gullo, Wood, & Saunders, 2022 ; Kuss & Lopez-Fernandez, 2022 ; Stein & Lochner, 2022 ), although there are also commentaries which included both a discussion of the meta-criteria and related topics and a discussion of specific criteria for CSBD (e.g., Borgogna & Aita, 2022 ; Griffiths, 2022 ; Jennings et al., 2022 ; Rumpf & Montag, 2022 ). This overlap is not surprising given that CSBD (or problematic pornography use or “pornography-use disorder” more specifically) is one example of a potential disorder to be considered as “other specified disorders due to addictive behaviors” in the debate paper on meta-criteria ( Brand et al., 2022 ).…”