Psychiatry and Psychology

Addictive Behavior

The observable, measurable, and often pathological activity of an organism that portrays its inability to overcome a habit resulting in an insatiable craving for a substance or for performing certain acts. The addictive behavior includes the emotional and physical overdependence on the object of habit in increasing amount or frequency.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The observable, measurable, and often pathological activity of an organism that portrays its inability to overcome a habit resulting in an insatiable craving for a substance or for performing certain acts. The addictive behavior includes the emotional and physical overdependence on the object of habit in increasing amount or frequency.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • Behavior, Addictive
  • Addictive Behaviors
  • Behaviors, Addictive

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

31 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

92

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Behavior (1974-1991)
  • Substance Abuse (1980-1991)
  • Substance Dependence (1974-1991)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WM 176

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Addictive Behavior. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D016739. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D016739
  2. Addictive Behavior. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addictive_behavior
  3. Addictive Behavior. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4681134