What Is An Addictive Personality

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What Is An Addictive Personality

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

An addictive personality is defined as one or more addictions that cause cravings, withdrawal and tolerance to addiction [1].

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How Psychiatrists Define Addictive Personality

DSM-V

The DSM-5 defines it as:

Having one or more addictions that qualify as a mental health disorder, causing psychobiological dysfunction, and experiencing cravings, withdrawal, and tolerance for addiction to substances [1]

ICD- 10

The international classification of disease defines it as:

The repeated failure to resist an impulse, and an urge to perform an act that is rewarding in the short term but damaging in the long term [2]

The Opponent-Process Theory

The opponent-process theory defines it as:

A pleasurable state achieved in the brain by euphoria during addiction, followed by withdrawal, followed by subsequent cravings of original substance [3]

Psychodynamic Theories

Psychodynamic theories define it as the combination of:

Having defence mechanisms in place to maintain addiction
Having an underdeveloped conscious and unconscious mind
Poor impulse control [4]

Defining Addictive Personality Via Metrics & Assessments

Addiction Severity Index

The addiction severity index (scale between 0-4) defines it by scoring up to 9 in the following sections:

Medical status
Employment/ support status
Alcohol/ drug use
Legal status
Family history
Family and social relationships
Psychiatric status

The addiction severity index then uses a composite score from each section, combined with the medical professional's personal opinion, to predict a diagnosis [5].

Barratt Impulsiveness Scale

The Barratt impulsiveness scale (scale between 1-4) defines addictive personality traits by:

Scoring 3-4 on outward-focused questions - by answering yes on classifier questions such as "I do things without thinking," "I change jobs," or "I spend more than I earn"
Scoring 1-2 on reverse questions - by answering yes on classifier questions such as "I concentrate easily," "I am a steady thinker," or "I am future-orientated" [6]

Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale

The obsessive-compulsive drinking scale (scale between 0-4) outlines addictive traits in drinker's personalities:

Obsessive drinking habits are questions 1-6
Compulsive drinking habits are questions 7-14
Both scores (adding up each question from scale of 0-4) are added together for a total obsessive-compulsive drinking score [7]

The Sensitivity To Punishment And Sensitivity To Reward Questionnaire

Those with a higher sensitivity to reward without sensitivity to punishment (scoring higher on 24 sensitivity to reward questions than the 24 sensitivity to punishment questions) may have addictive traits in their personality and may develop an addiction [8].

Questions indicating sensitivity to punishment - 'Do you not do things if you feel they might be illegal?' 'Were you troubled by punishments at home or school?'
Questions indicating sensitivity to reward - 'Do you drink/ take drugs for pleasure?' 'As a child, did you do things to gain other's approval?'

Defining Via Biology

There is no causal link between biology and addictive character traits, but there are correlations between biological factors and becoming an addict.

Dopamine And Serotonin Levels

Sufferers have a 185% increase in dopamine levels when using cocaine or amphetamine [9].

(Read about detox from amphetamines here.)

Sufferers have a 140% increase in serotonin levels when using clorgyline [10].

Adrenaline Levels

Sufferers have a 105% increase in adrenaline levels when using cocaine [11].

Genetics

Genetic variations that cause addictive traits include:

A 50% deficiency in PSD-95 causes a reduction in NMDA receptors, leading to sensitivity to drugs [12]
60.5% of carriers of the D2A1 allele have a substance use disorder [13]

Defining Via Environmental Factors

Environmental factors that exist in those who are diagnosed include:

Adverse childhood events - early violent crime exposure has a 22.85% increased incidence of developing substance abuse, and early sexual abuse exposure has a 16.46% increased incidence of developing substance misuse [14]
Adolescent exposure to drugs has a 4 times increased incidence of developing substance misuse due to early activation of the dopamine D1 receptor [15]

Defining Via Composite Assessment

Pre-existing genetic codes for addiction (e.g. PSD-95) combined with adverse childhood events cause the production of urocortin, nociceptin, and orphanin FQ that cause a 45% increase in personality type addictive traits [16]
Pre-existing genetic codes for addiction (eg. PSD-95) combined with early exposure to drugs or alcohol cause a 60% increased incidence of addictive traits [17]

Defining Via Behaviour

Characteristics, behaviours, and attributes that define a diagnosis:

Repeated compulsive behaviours (scoring over 30 on the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale) centering around the substance or alcohol addiction (e.g. having to drink/ take drugs at certain times)
Alexithymia (the inability to regulate emotions) - in up to 67% of sufferers likely to become addicted to substances [18]

(Read about hippy crack addiction here.)

Definitions Differ Across Age Groups

	Teens/ Young Adults	Adults
How definition changes due to the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale	Accounting for high levels of sensation seeking (36-56) and positive urgency (21-36)	Accounting for high levels of urgency (31-40) and premeditation (26-40) but lower premeditation levels than elderly addicts are also expected
Caused by	Early high levels of exposure to technology [19]	Adverse childhood events
Diagnosis	Takes into account academic performance, social functioning, and following rules set by parents/ schools	Takes into account developed patterns of addiction, such as binge eating, gambling, or drug use
Factors associated with age exacerbating addictive characteristics	Lack of developed coping skills and peer pressure	Already developed established patterns of addiction as coping mechanisms

Header	Alcoholism
How definition changes due to the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale	Accounting for high levels of premeditation (26-40) and perseverance (21-32) with low levels of sensation seeking (14-20) and positive urgency (9-12) [20]
Caused by	Dementia/ cognitive decline and medication used[21]
Diagnosis	Takes into account withdrawing socially, showing poor impulse control with finances and speech
Factors associated with age exacerbating addictive characteristics	Social isolation, chronic pain, medication use, and grief

The Definition Is Different In Different Cultures

Russia

Russian psychiatric guidelines define it as a mental health disorder under the law 'On psychiatric care and guarantees of citizens during its provision' [22].

Mental health disorders are defined by Russian psychiatric guidelines as a patient being:

An addict unable to take care of themselves independently
A direct danger to themselves or others
In need of psychiatric treatment [23]

China

Chinese psychiatric guidelines define it using the DSM-5, but have adapted the DSM-5 framework to focus specifically on internet gaming disorder using the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (scoring 5 or more in the 9 criteria) [24].

Distinguishing Between Similar Conditions

Cross Addiction

Cross-addiction is misdiagnosed due to multiple addictions appearing to equate to addictive traits.

However, cross-addiction differs in that:

Cross-addiction is an attempt to replace a single addiction with another. Whereas, those displaying addictive traits can have multiple co-occurring addictions
Addictive behaviour sufferers display sensation-seeking impulsive behaviors by having multiple addictions. Whereas, cross-addiction sufferers are not displaying these behaviours as they are typically in recovery from one addiction whilst developing another [25]

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD can be misdiagnosed as both conditions experience:

A lack of self-control
Inability to delay gratification [26]

ADHD differs as sufferers experience hyperactivity and difficulty concentrating, whereas an addictive disposition does not [27].

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar can be misdiagnosed as both conditions experience:

Impulsivity
Lack of self-control causing both sufferers to be prone to addiction
Becoming irritated or irrational if unable to receive immediate gratification

Bipolar differs as sufferers experience symptoms due to manic or depressive episodes [28].

References

[1] Grant, Jon E., and Samuel R. Chamberlain. “Expanding the Definition of Addiction: DSM-5 vs. ICD-11.” CNS Spectrums, vol. 21, no. 4, May 2016, pp. 300–3. “Evidence suggests that stealing in some individuals shares much with substance addiction – a similar clinical presentation with cravings, withdrawal, and tolerance.”
[2] Grant, Jon E., and Samuel R. Chamberlain. “Expanding the Definition of Addiction: DSM-5 vs. ICD-11.” CNS Spectrums, vol. 21, no. 4, May 2016, pp. 300–3. “The Working Group for ICD-11 has instead proposed that the category of impulse control disorders should be retained and should broadly define these disorders by the repeated failure to resist an impulse, drive, or urge to perform an act that is rewarding to the person (at least in the short-term).”
[3] Alvarez-Monjaras, Mauricio, et al. “A Developmental Model of Addictions: Integrating Neurobiological and Psychodynamic Theories through the Lens of Attachment.” Attachment & Human Development, vol. 21, no. 6, July 2018, pp. 616–37. “A pleasurable state (a-process) is initiated in the brain, a series of opposing mechanisms (b-process) down-regulate or reduce the intensity of that hedonic or aroused state to bring the body back to homeostasis. In the case of SUDs, the a-process may be the initial rewarding state generated by the substance (e.g., euphoria, relaxation, disinhibition). In contrast, the b-process reflects the counter-adaptive changes that restore the body to its original state, which would include negative affective states or withdrawal symptoms.”
[4] Alvarez-Monjaras, Mauricio, et al. “A Developmental Model of Addictions: Integrating Neurobiological and Psychodynamic Theories through the Lens of Attachment.” Attachment & Human Development, vol. 21, no. 6, July 2018, pp. 616–37. “Modern psychodynamic theories (based primarily on case studies) suggest that there are three interrelated factors that lead to addiction: (1) underdeveloped ego-functions and defense mechanisms; (2) a failure in symbolization of the soothing qualities of internal objects; and, (3) a deviant positioning towards pleasure in the form of jouissance (tr. enjoyment).”
[5] Mclellan, A., et al. Addiction Severity Index - 5th Edition.
[6] Chen, Wai-Yee. “Appendix B: Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (Revised).” NeuroInvesting, Aug. 2013, pp. 197–99.
[7] Scale, Drinking. “Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS).” Addiction Research Center, 2017. Accessed 1 Jan. 2025. “Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) is a 14-item questionnaire that measures an individual’s alcohol use and his/her attempts to control his/her drinking. ITEM CODING: Each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 4. SCALES: Obsessive subscale is the summation of items 1-6. Compulsive subscale is the summation of items 7-14.”
[8] PhenX Toolkit. PhenX Toolkit: Protocols. “The Sensitivity to Punishment/Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ) is a self-reported instrument that includes 48 yes/no questions divided into two subscales: Sensitivity to Reward (SR) and Sensitivity to Punishment.”
[9] Hernandez, Luis, and Bartley G. Hoebel. “Food Reward and Cocaine Increase Extracellular Dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens as Measured by Microdialysis.” Life Sciences, vol. 42, no. 18, Jan. 1988, pp. 1705–12. Accessed 4 Nov. 2020. “Injections of amphetamine or cocaine increased extracellular dopamine five-fold.”
[10] Shioda, Katsutoshi, et al. “Extracellular Serotonin, Dopamine and Glutamate Levels Are Elevated in the Hypothalamus in a Serotonin Syndrome Animal Model Induced by Tranylcypromine and Fluoxetine.” Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, vol. 28, no. 4, July 2004, pp. 633–40. Accessed 25 July 2020. “In the second model, the concentrations of 5-HT increased by up to 140-fold.”
[11] Mendelson, J. H., et al. “Buprenorphine Attenuates the Effects of Cocaine on Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) Secretion and Mood States in Man.” Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 7, no. 2, Sept. 1992, pp. 157–62. “Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels in plasma increased rapidly to 105% above baseline within 5 minutes after intravenous injection of cocaine (30 mg) in cocaine-dependent men.”
[12] Genetic Science Learning Center. “Genes and Addiction.” Utah Ed, 2013.
[13] Comings, David E., et al. “A Study of the Dopamine D2 Receptor Gene in Pathological Gambling.” Pharmacogenetics, vol. 6, no. 3, June 1996, pp. 223–34. "44.1% carried the D2A1 allele, compared to 60.5% of those who had comorbid substance abuse.”
[14] Douglas, Kara R., et al. “Adverse Childhood Events as Risk Factors for Substance Dependence: Partial Mediation by Mood and Anxiety Disorders.” Addictive Behaviors, vol. 35, no. 1, Jan. 2010, pp. 7–13. “Table 2.”
[15] Lowen, Steven B., et al. “Cocaine-Conditioned Odor Cues without Chronic Exposure: Implications for the Development of Addiction Vulnerability.” NeuroImage: Clinical, vol. 8, Elsevier BV, Jan. 2015, pp. 652–59. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023. “Adolescents are highly vulnerable to addiction and are four times more likely to become addicted at first exposure than at any other age. The dopamine D1 receptor, which is typically overexpressed in the normal adolescent prefrontal cortex.”
[16] Schank, J. R., et al. "Stress-Related Neuropeptides and Addictive Behaviors: Beyond the Usual Suspects." Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies. Neuron Review, Cell Press, vo. 76. 4 Oct. 2012.
[17] Brousse, G., et al. “Could the Inter-Individual Variability in Cocaine-Induced Psychotic Effects Influence the Development of Cocaine Addiction?” Medical Hypotheses, vol. 75, no. 6, Dec. 2010, pp. 600–4. Accessed 23 Oct. 2021. “Cocaine addiction is a chronic disease marked by relapses, co-morbidities and the importance of psychosocial consequences. The etiology of cocaine addiction is complex and involves three types of factors: environmental factors, factors linked to the specific effects of cocaine and genetic factors. The latter could explain 40–60% of the risk for developing an addiction.”
[18] Orsolini, Laura. “Unable to Describe My Feelings and Emotions without an Addiction: The Interdependency between Alexithymia and Addictions.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 11, Oct. 2020. “Around 45% to 67% of subjects with AUD reported high alexithymia scores (23). Moreover, alexithymia has been associated with a family history of alcoholism.”
[19] Munno, Donato, et al. “Addictive Behaviors and Personality Traits in Adolescents.” CNS Spectrums, vol. 21, no. 2, Aug. 2015, pp. 207–13. “Statistically significant correlations emerged between some personality determinants and certain addictive behaviors.”
[20] Care Patron. "UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale Client Information. UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P)."
[21] Terracciano, Antonio, and Angelina R. Sutin. “Personality and Alzheimer’s Disease: An Integrative Review.” Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, vol. 10, no. 1, Jan. 2019, pp. 4–12. Accessed 3 Jan. 2020. “Prospective studies indicate that individuals who score higher on conscientiousness (more responsible and self-disciplined) and lower on neuroticism (less anxious and vulnerable to stress) have a reduced risk of developing dementia, even in the presence of AD neuropathology. Personality is also related to measures of cognitive performance and cognitive decline, with effect sizes similar to those of other clinical, lifestyle, and behavioral risk factors.”
[22] Savenko, Y. S. "15th Anniversary of the Mental Health Act." NPA Ru (Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia). 2007. "The adoption of the Law "On Psychiatric Care and Guarantees of the Rights of Citizens in the Provision of Psychiatric Care."
[23] Sakharova, O., et al. "Mental Health Indicators in Russia: A Study of the Availability of European Indicators of the MINDFUL Project." 2007.
[24] Luo, Tao, et al. “Diagnostic Contribution of the DSM-5 Criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 12, no. 12, Jan. 2022. “This instrument is a 9-item scale with each item representing a DSM-5 criterion. Each item was rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from ‘1 = never’ to ‘5 = very often.’ A criterion was considered endorsed if the corresponding item was answered with ‘often’ or ‘very often’ (17). The suggested cut-off score for IGDS-9SF is 32 (19). In this study, the Cronbach’s α was 0.92.”
[25] Dowd, Brendan, et al. “Cross-Addiction Risk Profile Associations with COVID-19 Anxiety: A Preliminary Exploratory Study.” International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, July 2022. Accessed 25 Sept. 2022. “‘Cross-addiction’ involves a person substituting one form of addictive behaviour for another. Indeed, cross-additive presentations have been frequently described (e.g. from drugs to alcohol, gambling to sex), and risk profiles have been assumed.”
[26] Jiang, Xixi, et al. “Association of Affected Neurocircuitry with Deficit of Response Inhibition and Delayed Gratification in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Narrative Review.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 12, Dec. 2018. “More necessary conditions are provided to accomplish wonders, coordinate relationships, or adapt social maturity. ADHD patients show the tendency to prefer smaller immediate rewards over larger delayed rewards due to inefficient self-controlled ability (Norman et al., 2017). The delayed gratification is the realization of self-control and psychological maturity as well.”
[27] NHS. “Symptoms - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” NHS UK, 2021. “types of behaviour: Inattentiveness (difficulty concentrating and focusing). The main signs of inattentiveness are: having a short attention span and being easily distracted; making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork; appearing forgetful or losing things; being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming; appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions; constantly changing activity or task having difficulty organising tasks. Hyperactivity and impulsiveness. The main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are: being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings; constantly fidgeting; being unable to concentrate on tasks; excessive physical movement; excessive talking; being unable to wait their turn; acting without thinking interrupting conversations; little or no sense of danger.”
[28] NHS. “Bipolar Disorder.” NHS UK, 11 Feb. 2021. "The main symptom of bipolar disorder is extreme changes to your mood. You sometimes have either: high moods (mania or hypomania) – for example, feeling very happy, excited or energetic; low moods (depression) – for example, feeling sad, tired or hopeless."

About the author

Harriet Garfoot

Harriet Garfoot BA, MA has an Undergraduate degree in Education Studies and English, and a Master's degree in English Literature, from Bishop Grosseteste University. Harriet writes on stress & mental health, and is a member of the Burney Society. Content reviewed by Laura Morris (Clinical Lead).

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Last Updated: November 26, 2025