Love addiction (known also as pathological love) is described as a “pattern of behavior characterized by a maladaptive, pervasive and excessive interest towards one or more romantic partners, resulting in lack of control, the renounce of other interests and behavior, and other negative consequences” (Sanches & John, 2019, p. 39). Some view codependency as similar to love addiction, though it is viewed to be “a broader construct than love addiction” (Giordano, 2022, p. 125).
Features may include:
- Compulsive engagement in love relationships with mental obsession
- Urges or craving for pathological love-related activities
- Need to engage in love relationships more to achieve the desired effect
- Engages in love relationships when feeling distressed and/or to avoid feelings (e.g., sad, anxious, jealous)
- Continuing love relationships despite negative consequences (e.g., health, work, or relationship issues)
- Loss of control over love relationships with failed attempts to loosen attachments
- Withdrawal symptoms (e.g., restlessness, irritability, or anger) when unable to engage in love relationships
Diagnostic Considerations:
Clinicians treat people who describe their experience as “pathological love” or “love addiction,” though it is not yet included in the national and international diagnostic manuals. When the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was last revised, there was not sufficient research to include a subcategory of love addiction (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), though lay persons use these terms, and the afflicted are seen by clinicians. It is not unusual that client issues and clinical work precede research. Time lags in research are estimated to be between 15-20 years (Slote Morris, Wooding, & Grant, 2011). Knowledge will continue to evolve through outcomes of research.
Love addiction is not included in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11; World Health Organization, 2018).
Love addiction often co-occurs with adjustment disorders, depression, anxiety, mania, substance use, gambling, borderline personality or dependent personality disorder, or delusional disorder (erotomanic type). When applicable, counselors often diagnose these other disorders.
Treatment:
Treatment for love addiction varies dependent on factors including co-occurring disorders. Common psychotherapeutic approaches support identity exploration, emotion regulation enhancement, coping, calming, and communication skills, relationships, trauma repair, conscious awareness of attachment issues and style, boundaries, appropriate responses to physical and psychological cues such as triggers for pathological love behaviors, and a new experience with love relationships.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Author.
Giordano, A.L. (2022). A clinical guide to treating behavioral addictions. Springer Publishing.
Sanches, M., & John, V.P. (2019). Treatment of love addiction: Current status and perspectives. European Journal of Psychiatry, 33, 38-44.
Slote Morris, Z., Wooding, S., & Grant, J. (2011). The answer is 17 years, what is the question: Understanding time lags in translational research. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 104, 510–520. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2...
World Health Organization. (2019). International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (11th ed.). https://icd.who.int/