The Interrelation Between Emotional Impulsivity, Craving, and Symptoms Severity in Behavioral Addictions and Related Conditions: a Theory-Driven Systematic Review

Abstract Purpose of Review Here, we systematically review all available evidence on the triadic relationship between positive and negative urgency, craving, severity symptoms candidate behavioral addictions. Recent Findings Current theoretical models attribute a central importance to craving in chronification prognosis addictions other problematic non-substance-related patterns. Craving, turn, has been convincingly shown be an affect-laden state, its control can conceptualized as partially resulting from emotion regulation mechanisms. However, some gaps remain: first, there is no consensus predominantly appetitive or aversive nature craving; and, second, although urgency have proposed proxies incidental mechanisms, their direct indirect role behaviors still poorly known. Summary According our results, emerges construct, dysregulation assessed by urgency. The preponderance most studies this also reinforces view emotions ‘trojan horse’ addictive processes. Negative seems complication factor that could underlie gambling addiction related mental health conditions. Most studies, however, are about behavior, with few domains precluding firm conclusions differences similarities them.