Work addiction is described as “a compulsion to work and preoccupation with work activities leading to significant harm and distress of a functionally impairing nature to the individual and/or other significantly relevant relationships (friends and family)” (Atroszzko et al., 2019, p. 9).
Features may include:
- Compulsive engagement in excessive work with mental obsession
- Urges or craving to work excessively
- Need to work more to achieve the desired effect
- Works when feeling distressed and/or to avoid feelings (e.g., sad, anxious, jealous)
- Continuing to overwork despite negative consequences (e.g., health or relationship issues)
- Loss of control over working excessively with failed attempts to cut down
- Withdrawal symptoms (e.g., restlessness, irritability, anger) when unable to work excessively
Diagnostic Considerations:
Clinicians treat people who describe their experience as “workaholism” or “work 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 work 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.
Work addiction is not included in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11; World Health Organization, 2018).
Work addiction often co-occurs with adjustment disorders, depression and anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, substance use, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. When applicable, counselors often diagnose these other disorders.
Treatment:
Treatment for work addiction varies dependent on factors including co-occurring disorders. Common psychotherapeutic approaches support work-life balance, self-care, relationships, emotion regulation enhancement, coping, calming, and communication skills, reconnection with one’s body, conscious awareness and appropriate responses to psychological and physical cues such as fatigue, and a new relationship with work and activities.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Author.
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/