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Behavioral Addictions: It's Not All About the Substance!

CE Hours 2

About this course

Mental health and medical professionals have focused so much on the substances involved in addictions that we often don't even use the word addiction. The failure to use the word addiction is ultimately a huge mistake because we have not been addressing behavioral addictions. Gambling, gaming disorder, sexual compulsive disorder, and eating disorders can also fall within the umbrella of addiction. This event will review what is known about the current epidemiology of behavioral disorders and addiction. Participants will explore the neurobiological changes and evidence base for behavioral addictions including gambling disorder, internet gaming, and binge eating. Additionally, this event will review validated tools to detect behavioral addictions and distinguish their symptoms from other psychiatric disorders. Participants will also learn to utilize behavioral interventions and pharmacological treatments appropriate for various addictions, such as gambling and gaming. This continuing education event is appropriate for psychologists, counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, creative arts therapists, and psychoanalysts.

Learning Objectives

  • Discuss Behavioral Addiction Mechanisms: Explore the neurobiological changes and evidence base for behavioral addictions including gambling disorder, internet gaming, and binge eating.
  • Identify and Screen Clients: Use validated tools to detect behavioral addictions and distinguish their symptoms from other psychiatric disorders.
  • Apply Evidence-Based Treatments: Utilize behavioral interventions and pharmacological treatments appropriate for various addictions, such as gambling and gaming.

Learning Levels

  • Beginner
  • Intermediate

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for behavioral health workers, psychologists, social Workers, counselors, and MFTs.

Course Instructor(s)

  • Emily Brunner, MD DFASAM

    Dr. Emily Brunner is both certified in family medicine and a distinguished fellow in the field of addiction medicine. She has experience treating addiction in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She is an experienced speaker and specializes in trauma-informed clinical treatment of substance use disorders with a comprehensive and compassionate approach. Dr. Brunner has been involved in leadership of the Minnesota Society of Addiction Medicine and is now on the national board of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Disclosure

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests). The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer: PLANNERS AND REVIEWER The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships. FACULTY The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

References

  • American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2023). The ASAM criteria. https://www.asam.org/asam-criteria/about-the-asam-criteria
  • Mohammad, S., Jan, R. A., Alsaedi, S. L., & Jabir, S. A. M. (2023). Symptoms, mechanisms, and treatments of video game addiction. Cureus, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.36957
  • Seel, C. J., Jones, M., Christensen, D. R., May, R., Hoon, A. E., & Dymond, S. (2024). Treatment of harmful gambling: A scoping review of United Kingdom-based intervention research. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1), 392. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05843-8
  • Sutrisno, W., & Saputra, M. (2025). Understanding online pornography addiction: A systematic review of behavioral impacts, screening tools, and therapeutic interventions. Entertainment Computing, 54, 100956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2025.100956
  • Yau, Y. H., & Potenza, M. N. (2015). Gambling disorder and other behavioral addictions: Recognition and treatment. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 23(2), 134-146. https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000051

CE Process Info

Content

  • Materials
    4 parts
    • Behavioral Addictions: It's Not All About the Substance Presentatiuon
    • Audio Only
    • Shared Screen With Speaker View(CC)
    • Shared Screen With Gallery View
Behavioral Addictions: It's Not All About the Substance!
You Have Completed This course
$10
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    2
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    May 15th, 2026

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