Addiction and substance abuse among adolescents and young adults are significant public health concerns in the USA and worldwide, especially among young individuals with psychological disorders. Furthermore, excessive daily use of digital and social media can negatively impact the mental health of young people, and teenagers with mental illness are at greater risk of developing some form of addiction with more severe consequences.
Understanding adolescent addiction is crucial, as research suggests that most cases of addiction begin during adolescence, and successful prevention during teenage years significantly reduces the likelihood of addiction in adulthood. Addiction can impede adolescent brain development, leading to deficits in executive functions, poor decision-making, increased impulsivity, and greater risk-taking behaviors, as well as a higher likelihood of relapse.
Studies have focused on the neural underpinnings of "reward sensitivity" in the ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens) and the limbic system, as well as the neural underpinnings of executive function in the prefrontal cortex. However, there is still limited research on potential developmental differences in these systems and a lack of full understanding regarding the relationship between increased reward sensitivity and reduced prefrontal control of behavior, and how it relates to addictive behavior such as risk-taking, impulsivity, cravings, and bingeing.
This Research Topic aims to improve understanding of the links between addiction, executive functions, and reward systems in adolescents and young adults through clinical, neurogenetic, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging research. Our primary goal is to comprehensively understand the connections between various forms of addiction (such as substance abuse, addiction to digital and social media, gaming, gambling), executive functions, and reward systems in adolescents and young adults. We will focus on the mechanisms of addiction and substance abuse in both healthy individuals and those with psychological disorders.
Specifically, this initiative will investigate:
· the pivotal role played by the neural substrates of reward systems (e.g., nucleus accumbens, limbic system) and executive function (e.g., prefrontal cortex), and how addiction affects their interactions;
· developmental differences in executive functions and reward systems that may affect addiction mechanisms;
· the role of genetic vulnerability in addiction;
· the neurobiological association between addiction and psychiatric disorders;
· the clinical applications of addiction research.
We invite articles that focus on the psycho-social, neurogenetic, and neurobiological underpinnings of addiction in young individuals with and without psychological disorders (such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia). In addition, we seek to feature studies on prevention, assessment, and treatments informed by recent addiction research focused on the role of executive functions and reward systems. We welcome various article types, including Original Research, Reviews, Perspectives, Case Reports, etc. More information on article types accepted by the journal can be found
here.