Matthias Brand’s research while affiliated with University Hospital Essen and other places

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Publications (493)


Mental imagery in the context of online compulsive buying-shopping disorder: The role of pleasure and relief
  • Article

June 2025

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4 Reads

Addictive Behaviors Reports

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Matthias Brand

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Astrid Müller

Fig. 1. Study design LPS-4 5 subtest 4 of the German Leistungsprüfungssystem, TSST 5 Trier Social Stress Test
Fig. 2. Mean salivary alpha-amylase (2a) and cortisol (2b) responses of participants with compulsive buying-shopping disorder (CBSD group) and the control group (CG) exposed to either the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or the Placebo-TSST (P-TSST). CRP 5 cue-reactivity paradigm, DPP 5 dot-probe paradigm, IAT 5 implicit association task Error bars represent standard errors of the mean. ppp p < 0.001, pp p < 0.01, p p < 0.05 TSST compared to the Placebo-TSST
Demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with compulsive buying-shopping disorder (CBSD group) as compared to the control group (CG)
Effects of acute stress on cue reactivity and implicit cognitions in online compulsive buying-shopping disorder
  • Article
  • Full-text available

January 2025

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8 Reads

Journal of Behavioral Addictions

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Maithilee Joshi

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Annica Kessling

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[...]

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Matthias Brand

Background and aims There is a lack of research on the impact of acute stress on the interaction of affective and cognitive processes in online compulsive buying-shopping disorder (CBSD). Therefore, this project addressed stress response, cue reactivity, attentional bias, and implicit associations in individuals with online CBSD. Methods Women with CBSD ( n = 63) and women with non-problematic online buying-shopping ( n = 64) were randomly assigned to the Trier Social Stress Test or a non-stress condition. After the stress/non-stress induction, participants performed a cue-reactivity paradigm, a dot-probe paradigm, and an implicit association task, each with addiction-related (online buying-shopping) and control (social networks) cues. Results Individuals with CBSD showed stronger affective responses towards the addiction-related and control cues than the control group and rated the addiction-related pictures with higher ‘arousal’ and ‘urge’ than the control images. No group differences emerged in the dot-probe paradigm and implicit association task. Acute stress showed no effect on performance in the behavioural tasks. Regression models investigating the impact of craving on the relationship between stress response and implicit cognitions within the group with CBSD were not significant. Discussion The findings demonstrate the involvement and generalization of cue reactivity in online CBSD, but do not provide support for effects of acute stress on cue reactivity, attentional bias and implicit associations. Conclusions Future studies should not be restricted to women and combine laboratory and naturalistic study designs to investigate the complex psychological mechanisms in online CBSD.

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Figure 1. Recruitment of the men with CSB.
Figure 2. Overview of the implicit association test procedure (based on Snagowski et al., 2015). The aim of rounds 1 and 2 was to practice the target and attribute concepts. In rounds 3 and 4, which were separated by a short break, the target and attribute concepts were combined in a congruent combined task ("pornography or positive" vs. "jogging or negative"). After these rounds, the target concepts were swapped and practiced again in round 5. Subsequently, rounds 6 and 7 represent rounds with an incongruent task ("jogging or positive" vs. "pornography or negative"), again separated by a short break.
Masked liking of pornography: implicit associations in men with compulsive sexual behavior

January 2025

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19 Reads

Sexual Medicine

Background Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder is a new category in the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases and is showing neuropsychological similarities to substance dependencies and behavioral addictions. Aims This experimental study aims to further our knowledge on implicit associations in Compulsive Sexual Behavior (CSB) with a clinical sample. Methods Participants completed an Implicit Association Test modified with pornographic pictures. In addition, problematic sexual behavior and sensitivity toward sexual excitation were assessed. Outcomes We collected data on implicit associations from 47 heterosexual men with CSB (age, M = 36.51, SD = 11.47) and a control group of 38 men without the condition (age: M = 37.92, SD = 12.33). Results Results show significantly more positive relationships between implicit associations of pornographic pictures with positive emotions, as well as with problematic sexual behavior and sensitivity toward sexual excitation, in men with CSB vs. men without CSB. Furthermore, implicit associations, sexual excitation, and sexual inhibition due to threat of performance consequences differentiated significantly between groups using a binary stepwise logistic regression analysis. The findings are in line with those of previous subclinical investigations and support the assumption of pronounced positive implicit associations in CSB. Moreover, as suggested by the I-PACE model of addictive behaviors, implicit associations may be crucial to the maintenance of behavioral addictions. Clinical implications Implicit associations could be addressed in therapy to illustrate cognitive processes of those affected and as an outcome measure in research on treatment efficiency. Strengths & limitations The present study is the first to investigate implicit associations in CSB in a clinical sample. Findings are limited to heterosexual men. Conclusion Findings can be seen in accordance with a proposed classification of CSB as a behavioral addiction.


Sociodemographic description of the overall sample and the subsamples
Descriptive statistics of experience of gratification and compensation of the aggregated sample
Bivariate correlations between the factors of both scales EGS and ECS and the applied scales for the aggregated sample
Bivariate correlations between the factors of both scales EGS and ECS and specific usage motives for the different types of online behavior
Feels good, and less bad: Problematic use of the Internet is associated with heightened experiences of both gratification and compensation

January 2025

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51 Reads

Journal of Behavioral Addictions

Background During the development of addictive behaviors, theoretical models assume a shift from experience of gratification being a driver in early stages to experience of compensation which dominates at later stages of addiction development. Initial studies show a trend in this direction; however, this shift has not yet been investigated in clinical samples. We assume experienced gratification to be highest in individuals with risky use (indicating the beginning of the addiction process), and compensation to be highest in individuals with pathological use. Methods Data from 834 participants from a multi-center study (FOR2974) investigating specific Internet-use disorders (IUDs) including gaming, buying-shopping, pornography use, and social-network use disorders were analyzed about Experience of Gratification (EGS) and Experience of Compensation (ECS), symptom severity, use expectancies, and usage motives. A diagnostic interview based on DSM-5 criteria for gaming disorder was used to classify individuals into either non-problematic, risky, or pathological use group. Results The groups (non-problematic, risky, pathological) differed significantly regarding EGS and ECS. Individuals with pathological use reported highest experiences of compensation but equally high experienced gratification as individuals with risky use. Effects vary with respect to the specific behavior. All measures correlated significantly. Symptom severity was most strongly associated with facets of compensation. Conclusion The experience of gratification and compensation appear to be crucial for addiction-like Internet use. Experienced gratification is already high in individuals experiencing first negative consequences and appear to be stable in individuals with pathological use indicating the relevance of both positive and negative reinforcement during the addiction processes.


Problematic Internet Use: A General Perspective

January 2025

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311 Reads

How the Internet is used and any negative outcomes of engagement with it—especially with regards to children—is a topic of great interest, bearing legitimate investigation. Proposed identifiers of problematic internet use(PIU) include aspects of use in correlation with distress or impairment across biological, psychological, sociological, and/or occupational/academic functioning. Adolescents and those with vulnerabilities across developmental or sociological domains are particularly susceptible. Although validated instruments have been utilized to assess PIU, concerns surrounding the methodology, currency, and some validation measures of existing and cross-sectional screening tools and a lack of those with true external validity and variance, combined with some disagreement surrounding PIU, have impeded its diagnostic acceptance. Current investigative approaches to PIU include clarifying problematic gambling and gaming criteria, psychotherapeutic therapy, pharmacological interventions, and non-invasive neurostimulation therapies targeting cortical brain regions. As child screen time appears to be increasing, further research, ethical health/social policy changes, and digital literacy programs are strongly endorsed. To avoid online engagement dysregulating or harming children, digital policy youth user protection standards, pragmatic key player dialogues, transparent reassessments of digital-centric business models without compromising less resourced countries, and even globally agreed child online safety regulations are also recommended.



Current Advances in Behavioral Addictions: From Fundamental Research to Clinical Practice

December 2024

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250 Reads

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1 Citation

American Journal of Psychiatry

Gambling disorder is the only behavioral addiction recognized as a clinical disorder in DSM-5, and Internet gaming disorder is included as a condition requiring further research. ICD-11 categorizes gambling and gaming disorders as disorders due to addictive behaviors. Additional behavioral addictions may include compulsive sexual behavior disorder, compulsive buying-shopping disorder, and problematic use of social media. This narrative review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding these five (potential) disorders due to addictive behaviors. All five (potential) disorders are clinically relevant and prevalent. Behavioral addictions frequently co-occur with other mental and behavioral problems, such as depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Validated diagnostic instruments exist, with empirical support varying across conditions. No medications have approved indications from regulatory bodies for behavioral addictions, and cognitive-behavioral therapy has the most empirical support for efficacious treatment. Given that behavioral addictions are prevalent, frequently co-occur with psychiatric disorders, may often go undiagnosed and untreated, and have been linked to poorer treatment outcomes, active screening and treatment are indicated. Public health considerations should be expanded, and impacts of modern technologies should be investigated more intensively. Treatment optimization involving pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, neuromodulation, and their combination warrants additional investigation.


Current Advances in Behavioral Addictions: From Fundamental Research to Clinical Practice

December 2024

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128 Reads

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4 Citations

American Journal of Psychiatry

Gambling disorder is the only behavioral addiction recognized as a clinical disorder in DSM-5, and Internet gaming disorder is included as a condition requiring further research. ICD-11 categorizes gambling and gaming disorders as disorders due to addictive behaviors. Additional behavioral addictions may include compulsive sexual behavior disorder, compulsive buying-shopping disorder, and problematic use of social media. This narrative review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding these five (potential) disorders due to addictive behaviors. All five (potential) disorders are clinically relevant and prevalent. Behavioral addictions frequently co-occur with other mental and behavioral problems, such as depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Validated diagnostic instruments exist, with empirical support varying across conditions. No medications have approved indications from regulatory bodies for behavioral addictions, and cognitive-behavioral therapy has the most empirical support for efficacious treatment. Given that behavioral addictions are prevalent, frequently co-occur with psychiatric disorders, may often go undiagnosed and untreated, and have been linked to poorer treatment outcomes, active screening and treatment are indicated. Public health considerations should be expanded, and impacts of modern technologies should be investigated more intensively. Treatment optimization involving pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, neuromodulation, and their combination warrants additional investigation.


Study procedure. The figure gives an overview of the study procedure. The core battery consisted of a comprehensive set of questionnaires and tasks, however, in the figure, only instruments relevant for the current study are displayed. ACSID-11 Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders, IGDT-10 Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test, LPS Leistungsprüfsystem [Performance assessment system], BSI-53 Brief Symptom Inventory, SRHI Self-Report Habit Index, BIS-15 Barratt Impulsiveness Scale – short version.
PIT paradigm with stress induction and devaluation. The figure gives an overview of the different phases of the PIT paradigm and the timing of the stress induction and the corresponding stress measurements. The time points of the stress measures refer to stress onset. The shopping and gaming pictures displayed are just sample pictures as the original cues used could not be reproduced due to copyright restrictions. The questionnaires scheduled between the Pavlovian and instrumental training involved questions on conditions affecting the cortisol levels (weight, night shifts etc.) and questionnaires not used for the analyses presented here. PIT Pavlovian-to-Instrumental-Transfer, CS conditioned stimulus, TSST Trier Social Stress Test, P-TSST placebo version of the Trier Social Stress Test, ITI intertrial interval.
Stress response by condition and group. The figures display (a) the subjective stress and (b) cortisol response in the stress (TSST) and placebo (P-TSST) condition in individuals with risky gaming behavior and control participants. Subjective stress was rated on a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 to 100. The times are specified relative to stress onset. (a) P-TSST control group: n = 34; P-TSST risky gaming: n = 33; TSST control group: n = 33; TSST risky gaming: n = 34. (b) P-TSST control group: n = 34; P-TSST risky gaming: n = 33; TSST control group: n = 32; TSST risky gaming: n = 33. Means and standard errors of the means are presented. TSST Trier Social Stress Test, P-TSST Placebo Trier Social Stress Test.
Choice of the gaming-related reward before and after devaluation by group – Aware participants. Percentage choice of the gaming-related response (compared to the shopping-related response) after presentation of the gaming-related stimulus, the neutral stimulus (gray square), and the shopping-related stimulus before and after devaluation in aware participants with risky gaming behavior (n = 48) and aware control participants (n = 49). *p < .05.
Choice of the gaming-related reward before and after devaluation by condition and awareness. Percentage choice of the gaming-related response (compared to the shopping-related response) after presentation of the gaming-related stimulus, the neutral stimulus (gray square), and the shopping-related stimulus before and after devaluation for (a) aware individuals in the TSST condition (n = 50), (b) aware individuals in the placebo condition (n = 47), (c) unaware individuals in the TSST condition (n = 15), (d) unaware individuals in the placebo condition (n = 21). Means and standard errors of the means are presented. * p < .05.
Transfer from goal-directed behavior to stimulus-response habits and its modulation by acute stress in individuals with risky gaming behavior

October 2024

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46 Reads

Habitual responses towards addiction-related cues play a relevant role in the development and maintenance of addictions. Such automatic responses may be more likely under stress, as stress has been shown to induce a shift from goal-directed to habitual behavior. The current study investigated these mechanisms in risky gaming behavior. Individuals with risky gaming behavior (n = 68), as established by a structured clinical interview, and a matched control group (n = 67) completed a Pavlovian-to-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) paradigm with gaming-related cues and rewards. After the Pavlovian training, participants underwent a stress (Trier Social Stress Test) or control condition before performing the instrumental training and the transfer phase of the PIT paradigm. To assess habitual behavior, the gaming-related rewards were devalued after half of the transfer phase. In both groups, gaming-related cues enhanced the choice of the gaming-related reward and this gaming PIT effect was reduced, however, not eliminated by the devaluation. Unexpectedly, stress did not significantly increase responding for the gaming-related reward in participants aware of the stimulus-outcome associations, however seemed to enhance habitual responding in unaware participants. Our findings underline the relevance of gaming-related cues in triggering habitual responses, which may undermine attempts to change a problematic gaming behavior.


Neuropsychological and -Physiological Correlates of the Driving Behavior of Older Drivers Within Simulated Environments

October 2024

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9 Reads

Primary mobility is one of the most important factors in maintaining the quality of life and independence of older people. Due to the increasing complexity of road traffic, higher demands are being placed on the attention, concentration, and information processing of all road users. These increasing demands on cognitive abilities are contrasted with an age-related decline in cognitive performance.


Citations (46)


... Individuals with CBSD suffer from many adverse consequences (e.g., financial constraints, indebtedness, anxiety, shame, guilt, feelings of inferiority, depression) and impairments in important areas of functioning (e.g., familial discord, job loss) (Black, 2022;Brand et al., 2024;Granero et al., 2016). Some persons with CBSD engage in rulebreaking, fraudulent activities in order to mitigate the negative consequences associated with excessive purchasing (Benson, 2013;Meyer, Laskowski, de Zwaan, & Müller, 2019;Müller, Georgiadou, et al., 2022;Park, Cho, & Seo, 2006). ...

Reference:

Effects of acute stress on cue reactivity and implicit cognitions in online compulsive buying-shopping disorder
Current Advances in Behavioral Addictions: From Fundamental Research to Clinical Practice
  • Citing Article
  • December 2024

American Journal of Psychiatry

... For this purpose, the CS Gaming and the CS Shopping were each presented twice, in a random order, and participants had to decide whether a gaming-or shopping-related picture had followed this stimulus in the previous blocks. Detailed results concerning the Pavlovian training phase of our study including the eye-tracking data is published elsewhere 21 . ...

The effect of individual differences on Pavlovian conditioning in specific Internet-use disorders
  • Citing Article
  • September 2024

Behavioural Brain Research

... Another important variable to consider in relation to CBSD is stress, which may act as a trans-diagnostic vulnerability factor or as a trigger for excessive shopping and purchasing Lawrence & Elphinstone, 2021;Thomas et al., 2024). Stress induces a neuroendocrine response aimed at restoring homeostasis, resulting in changes in mood and behaviour (McEwen, 2008). ...

Stress and compulsive buying-shopping disorder: A scoping review

Comprehensive Psychiatry

... This limitation led to tools such as the Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders-11, which follows the DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria to assess specific disorders like gaming or social media addiction, offering new assessments and interventions. [43][44][45][46][47] Relatedly, the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF), a short-form scale based on the DSM-5 criteria for Internet gaming disorder, is widely recognized for its psychometric properties, including crosscultural validity and internal consistency. 48 In summary, progressing the knowledge in the field of GPIU necessitates robust theoretical models and validated instruments. ...

Validation of the ACSID-11 for consistent screening of specific Internet-use disorders based on ICD-11 criteria for gaming disorder: A multitrait-multimethod approach
  • Citing Article
  • March 2024

Comprehensive Psychiatry

... Currently, there is a growing body of research focusing on the use of mindfulness as an intervention for deficits in executive functions and it is recommended to develop proposals to determine which components of executive functions enhance mindfulness-based programs and which one provides the greatest benefit (Geronimi et al., 2020;Liebherr et al., 2024;Martin, 2024). Therefore, it is desirable to develop neuroeducational programs that help primary school students to optimize these processes. ...

Digital mindfulness training and cognitive functions: A preregistered systematic review of neuropsychological findings

... Thus, it appears that stronger experiences of gratification and compensation are associated with higher habitualized behavior. This is in line with the idea that gratification and compensation contribute to instrumental learning mechanisms and habits (Antons et al., 2023). Regarding usage motives, we found significant correlations with behaviorspecific usage motives and both, experienced gratification and compensation indicating in general usage motives are related with the experiences of satisfying motives and needs or of compensating unsatisfied desires even if we assume that motives reflect a basic interest in using a specific application and are less strongly associated with the addiction process Only motives that address the need to deal with negative emotions, which is also found in the conceptualization of compensation, seem to be an exception. ...

From game engagement to craving responses – The role of gratification and compensation experiences during video-gaming in casual and at-risk gamers
  • Citing Article
  • November 2023

Addictive Behaviors Reports

... For example, an individual might initially turn to social media as a way to cope with rejection (increased fear-driven process) but may also find pleasure and a sense of popularity after using social media (increased rewarddriven process). In this scenario, these two processes coexist, each manifesting salience at different times (Brandtner et al., 2023). However, it is also plausible that following rejection, an individual primarily turns to social media for compensation due to heightened negative affect (increased fear-driven process) and might forego the enjoyable aspects of social media use (decreased reward-driven process) due to low positive affect. ...

How expected and experienced reward and relief contribute to gaming-related mental imagery and gaming frequency in daily life: Testing a dual pathway hypothesis

Journal of Behavioral Addictions

... The frequency of gaming has been identified as a partial mediator in the relationship between impulsivity and GD in the research conducted by Blinka et al. 27 . Müller et al. 49 indicate that gamers characterized by high levels of general motor impulsivity tend to experience difficulties in inhibiting behavioral responses when confronted with stimuli related to gaming, potentially including behaviors indirectly related to gaming involvement (IGI). Furthermore, Li et al. ...

Facets of Impulsivity in Gaming Disorder: a Narrative Review

Current Addiction Reports

... The official recognition of behavioural addictions in diagnostic literature has sparked longstanding debate (Brand & Potenza, 2023). Although gambling and gaming disorders have garnered widespread recognition, ongoing research continues to explore other potential behavioural addictions, often linked to media use (Brand & Potenza, 2023 individuals (see Gomez et al., 2023;Lian et al., 2019). ...

Behavioral addictions in the ICD-11: An important debate that is anticipated to continue for some time

Journal of Behavioral Addictions

... Preadolescents may engage in maladaptive coping mechanisms when faced with daily stressors or difficulties (Erath & Tu, 2014;Laceulle et al., 2019). PSMU may serve as a maladaptive coping strategy for preadolescents experiencing stress, social challenges, or emotional discomfort, as an attempt to escape negative feelings, seek social validation, or mask personal insecurities (Wegmann et al., 2023). Rather than addressing the root cause, excessive social media use may serve as a distraction, providing temporary relief while perpetuating a cycle of dependence and exacerbating individuals' concerns. ...

Social-networks use as adaptive or maladaptive strategy for coping with stress