It has been observed that some mental disorders are more easily linked to addictions. Some disorders share neurological vulnerabilities with addictions, such as ADHD, where the characteristic impulsivity is associated with greater difficulty in stopping screen use. Studies have shown, for example, that up to 86% of cases of gaming disorder would meet the criteria for another mental health diagnosis. But behavioral addictions can also trigger or worsen other disorders, as in the case of depression or social anxiety , where the person uses the addiction to avoid discomfort, but the consequences of the addiction (social isolation, worsening of important life areas, etc.) make the disorder more severe.

Comorbidities (pathologies that occur at the same time) that we most commonly find alongside behavioral addictions are affective disorders , such as depression; anxiety disorders (which can be more generalized or specific, but one of the most frequent is social or school anxiety); ADHD, conduct disorders or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).