Speakers - PAWC2025

As society becomes increasingly interconnected and reliant on technology, a new landscape of behavioural addictions is emerging, driven by the brain's dopamine reward system. This presentation explores the mechanisms behind behavioural addictions—compulsive behaviours that don’t involve substances but still impact mental health profoundly. From social media and gaming to food and shopping, these "everyday" behaviours can lead individuals down a path of dependence and distress. Drawing from recent research, this session will examine how dopamine-driven rewards shape habitual behaviours and may escalate into addiction. We'll discuss the unique challenges behavioural addictions pose, including their subtle onset, the normalisation of such habits, and the difficulty in breaking these cycles. Practical strategies for identifying and managing behavioural addictions will be highlighted, emphasising how mental health professionals can support clients in understanding and addressing these compulsive patterns. Attendees will gain insight into the neural pathways that fuel behavioural addictions and explore effective interventions to foster healthier habits. This session aims to enhance clinicians’ ability to recognise and treat behavioural addictions as a critical component of modern mental health care.