Marc Potenza, PhD, MD
Steven M. Southwick Professor of Psychiatry and Professor in the Child Study Center and of NeuroscienceCards
About
Research
Overview
Dr. Potenza's research has focused on the neurobiology and treatment of substance and non-substance addictions and other disorders characterized by impaired impulse control, particularly the disorders characterized in DSM-IV as “Impulse Control Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified” and in DSM-5 and ICD-11 as behavioral addictions. He has focused on internet use behaviors and disorders such as gaming disorder and problematic pornography use, as well as compulsive sexual behavior disorder, binge eating disorder and food addiction. He has investigated mechanisms underlying the treatment of cocaine and opioid use disorders, as well as the neural correlates of prenatal cocaine use. Much of this work has focused on understanding clinical and neurobiological underpinnings of these disorders and experiences, and their co-occurrences with other mental health disorders, in order to advance prevention and treatment strategies. Dr. Potenza's research has applied brain imaging, genetic, epidemiological and clinical trials methodologies to gain knowledge and improve prevention and treatment strategies for addictive disorders. This work has also involved a specific focus on gender and identifying potential intermediary phenotypes, like facets of impulsivity, that may in part explain the high rates of co-occurrence between addictive disorders and other mental health conditions, and might represent novel targets for prevention and treatment strategies.
Medical Research Interests
Child Psychiatry; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders; Gambling; Neurobiology; Psychiatry; Psychiatry and Psychology; Psychotherapy; Substance-Related Disorders
Publications
2025
The association between internet-use-disorder symptoms and loneliness: a systematic review and meta-analysis with a categorical approach
Mestre-Bach G, Paiva U, San Martín Iniguez L, Beranuy M, Martín-Vivar M, Mallorquí-Bagué N, Normand E, Chicote M, Potenza M, Arrondo G. The association between internet-use-disorder symptoms and loneliness: a systematic review and meta-analysis with a categorical approach. Psychological Medicine 2025, 55: e77. PMID: 40071718, DOI: 10.1017/s0033291725000376.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInternet-use disordersSystematic reviewMeta-analysisInternet-useInternet use disorderRandom-effects modelWeb of ScienceDegree of lonelinessUCLA Loneliness ScaleStatistical poolingQuantify associationsOdds ratioCohen's dDisorder symptomsGreater lonelinessMeta-regressionPooled differenceEffect sizePre-registeredUCLA-LonelinessLonelinessEffects of ageCategorical approachSymptomsGroup of individualsGambling disorder and problematic pornography use: Does co-occurrence influence treatment outcome?
Mestre-Bach G, Potenza M, Granero R, Håkansson A, Gómez-Peña M, Perales I, Vicó À, Uríszar J, Fernández-Aranda F, Sánchez I, Jiménez-Murcia S. Gambling disorder and problematic pornography use: Does co-occurrence influence treatment outcome? Journal Of Behavioral Addictions 2025, 14: 465-479. PMID: 40116860, DOI: 10.1556/2006.2025.00023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCognitive-behavioral therapyGambling disorderPornography useEmotion regulationGD severityTreatment outcomesCognitive-behavioral therapy approachCognitive-behavioral therapy sessionsTreatment outcomes of individualsCo-occurrence of GDCo-occurrenceMental health concernsImprove treatment adherenceBehavioral addictionsTreatment dropoutOutcomes of individualsWeekly sessionsTreatment adherencePsychopathologyGamblingSessionsDisordersAssociated with higher likelihoodRelapseImpulseCurrent interpretations of the I-PACE model of behavioral addictions.
Brand M, Müller A, Wegmann E, Antons S, Brandtner A, Müller S, Stark R, Steins-Loeber S, Potenza M. Current interpretations of the I-PACE model of behavioral addictions. Journal Of Behavioral Addictions 2025, 14: 1-17. PMID: 40063161, DOI: 10.1556/2006.2025.00020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsI-PACE modelI-PACEBehavioral addictionsInteraction of Person-Affect-Cognition-ExecutionBehavioral addiction researchCue-reactivityDesire thinkingCompulsive behaviorsExecutive functionAddictive behaviorsNegative reinforcementAddiction researchPermissive beliefsAddiction theoryAddiction fieldSelf-controlAddictionCravingEmpirical findingsTheory buildingClinical careStimulate researchGratificationBehaviorContext of changesKleptomania on the impulsive–compulsive spectrum. Clinical and therapeutic considerations for women
Munguía L, Baenas-Soto I, Granero R, Fábregas-Balcells M, Gaspar-Pérez A, Rosinska M, Potenza M, Cuquerella Á, Tapia-Martínez J, Cabús-Grange R, Taranilla-Castro A, Macharé-Alberni M, Talón-Navarro M, Fernández-Aranda F, Jiménez-Murcia S. Kleptomania on the impulsive–compulsive spectrum. Clinical and therapeutic considerations for women. Scientific Reports 2025, 15: 7886. PMID: 40050325, PMCID: PMC11885670, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-85705-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImpulsive-compulsive spectrumDSM-5 criteriaClinical groupsDSM-5Personality featuresSemi-structured clinical interviewTreatment outcomesHarm avoidance scoresCognitive behavioral treatmentHealthy control individualsSample of female patientsImpact treatment outcomesPoor treatment outcomesCompulsive featuresBehavioral treatmentHigher impulsivityAvoidance scoresClinical interviewKleptomaniaInvestigate treatment outcomesCharacteristics of peopleFemale participantsPsychopathologyClinical samplesTreatment approachesCross‐Cultural Validation of the Binge Eating Disorder Screener‐7 (BEDS‐7) Across 42 Countries
Gewirtz‐Meydan A, Spivak‐Lavi Z, Kraus S, Nagy L, Koós M, Demetrovics Z, Potenza M, Ballester‐Arnal R, Batthyány D, Bergeron S, Billieux J, Briken P, Burkauskas J, Cárdenas‐López G, Carvalho J, Castro‐Calvo J, Chen L, Ciocca G, Corazza O, Csako R, Fernandez D, Fernandez E, Fujiwara H, Fuss J, Gabrhelík R, Gjoneska B, Gola M, Grubbs J, Hashim H, Islam S, Ismail M, Jiménez‐Martínez M, Jurin T, Kalina O, Klein V, Költő A, Lee C, Lee S, Lewczuk K, Lin C, Lochner C, López‐Alvarado S, Lukavská K, Mayta‐Tristán P, Miller D, Orosová O, Orosz G, Team S, Chang H, Park K, Ponce F, Quintana G, Garzola G, Ramos‐Diaz J, Rigaud K, Rousseau A, De Tubino Scanavino M, Schulmeyer M, Sharan P, Shibata M, Shoib, Sigre‐Leirós V, Sniewski L, Spasovski O, Steibliene V, Stein D, Strizek J, Ünsal B, Vaillancourt‐Morel M, Van Hout M, Bőthe B. Cross‐Cultural Validation of the Binge Eating Disorder Screener‐7 (BEDS‐7) Across 42 Countries. International Journal Of Eating Disorders 2025 PMID: 40040591, DOI: 10.1002/eat.24365.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBinge-eating disorderTests of measurement invarianceDiverse community sampleBinge-eating disorder symptomsCross-sectional online studyMeasures of sexualityConfirmatory factor analysisCross-cultural validityPrimary care settingSexual orientationBED symptomsSexual orientation groupsCommunity sampleFactorial invarianceItem interceptsResidual invarianceBEDS-7Measurement invarianceSubstance useDiverse cultural contextsAdequate reliabilityCriterion validityModerate criterion validityMental healthOnline studyA multicenter cross-sectional study of gambling disorder among patients with methamphetamine use disorder in drug rehabilitation centers: prevalence, correlates, and network analysis
Peng P, Hao Y, Zhang X, Ma Y, Liu X, Shen D, Shen W, Zhao B, Li D, Beck S, Nunez Y, Potenza M, Gelernter J, Liu T, Yang B. A multicenter cross-sectional study of gambling disorder among patients with methamphetamine use disorder in drug rehabilitation centers: prevalence, correlates, and network analysis. Annals Of General Psychiatry 2025, 24: 12. PMID: 40033412, PMCID: PMC11877697, DOI: 10.1186/s12991-025-00546-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSemi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and AlcoholismDSM-5 diagnostic criteriaGambling disorderDSM-5Antisocial personality disorderMethamphetamine use disorderSubstance use disordersDiagnostic criteriaPersonality disorderBridge symptomsDepressive episodeDrug rehabilitation centersCentral symptomsPsychiatric diagnosisGambling durationUse disorderSelf-harmChildhood experiencesMethamphetamineAlcohol useViolent experiencesDisordersManifest symptomsChinese versionMDEAn interpretable deep-learning approach to detect biomarkers in anxious-depressed symptoms from prefrontal fNIRS signals during an autobiographical memory test
Zhang Y, Xu Y, Cheng Y, Zhao Y, Potenza M, Shi H. An interpretable deep-learning approach to detect biomarkers in anxious-depressed symptoms from prefrontal fNIRS signals during an autobiographical memory test. Asian Journal Of Psychiatry 2025, 107: 104451. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104451.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAutobiographical Memory TestNon-anxious depressionFunctional near-infrared spectroscopyAnxious depressionMemory testDepressive symptomsAnxious-depressive symptomsNegative emotional valenceSevere mood disordersFrontal pole areasAD symptomsMood disordersEmotional valenceRight hemisphereNeuroimaging dataDiagnosed depressionSymptom groupsCognitive impairmentSymptom predictionHealthy controlsNear-infrared spectroscopyDepressionSymptomsRecall featuresArea under the receiver operating characteristic curveEmpirical validation of the Reward Deficiency Syndrome Questionnaire among a non-clinical sample and its relationship with behavioral addictions
Kotyuk E, Demetrovics Z, Urbán R, Czakó A, Blum K, Griffiths M, Potenza M, Efrati Y. Empirical validation of the Reward Deficiency Syndrome Questionnaire among a non-clinical sample and its relationship with behavioral addictions. Addictive Behaviors Reports 2025, 100598. DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2025.100598.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReward Deficiency SyndromeCompulsive buying-shopping disorderInternet gaming disorderAddictive behaviorsBehavioral addictionsGambling disorderDevelopment of addictive behaviorsBuying-shopping disorderNon-clinical samplePotential behavioral addictionsProblematic substance useAssociated with anxietyIsraeli young adultsPsychometrically sound instrumentNatural rewardsCompulsive personalityFactor structureGaming disorderProblematic behaviorsSubstance useSocial media usePersonal characteristicsPsychological featuresSound instrumentHebrew versionTrauma and related measures one year after the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye: post-traumatic stress, post-traumatic growth, spiritual well-being, and self-compassion
Kartol A, Üztemur S, Chen C, Lin C, Gökalp A, Potenza M, Pakpour A. Trauma and related measures one year after the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye: post-traumatic stress, post-traumatic growth, spiritual well-being, and self-compassion. Current Psychology 2025, 1-11. DOI: 10.1007/s12144-025-07563-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPosttraumatic stress disorderPromote post-traumatic growthSelf-compassionPost-traumatic growthReducing posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsSpiritual well-beingLevels of self-compassionPosttraumatic stress disorder scoreWell-beingPost-traumatic stressMental health professionalsAdverse effects of traumaEffects of traumaAdverse psychological effectsStress disorderTraumatic eventsEarthquake-related traumaEarthquake survivorsPsychological effectsTraumatic effectsHealth professionalsIndividualsHealthy wayTraumaIdentification and comprehensive characterization of moral disapproval and behavioral dysregulation-based pornography-use profiles across 42 countries.
Bőthe B, Tóth-Király I, Popova N, Nagy L, Koós M, Demetrovics Z, Potenza M, Kraus S, Ballester-Arnal R, Batthyány D, Bergeron S, Billieux J, Briken P, Burkauskas J, Cárdenas-López G, Carvalho J, Castro-Calvo J, Chen L, Ciocca G, Corazza O, Csako R, Czakó A, Fernandez D, Fernandez E, Fujiwara H, Fuss J, Gabrhelík R, Gewirtz-Meydan A, Gjoneska B, Gola M, Hashim H, Islam M, Ismail M, Jiménez-Martínez M, Jurin T, Kalina O, Klein V, Költő A, Lee C, Lee S, Lewczuk K, Lin C, Lochner C, López-Alvarado S, Lukavská K, Mayta-Tristán P, Miller D, Orosová O, Orosz G, _ _, Ponce F, Quintana G, Quintero Garzola G, Ramos-Diaz J, Rigaud K, Rousseau A, Scanavino M, Schulmeyer M, Sharan P, Shibata M, Shoib S, Sigre-Leirós V, Sniewski L, Spasovski O, Steibliene V, Stein D, Štulhofer A, Ünsal B, Vaillancourt-Morel M, Van Hout M, Grubbs J. Identification and comprehensive characterization of moral disapproval and behavioral dysregulation-based pornography-use profiles across 42 countries. Journal Of Behavioral Addictions 2025, 14: 131-154. PMID: 39945767, DOI: 10.1556/2006.2024.00054.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- February 06, 2025Source: Biological Psychiatry
Identification and External Validation of a Problem Cannabis Risk Network
- December 20, 2024
Mentoring the Next Generation
- December 11, 2024
Current Advances in Behavioral Addictions: From Fundamental Research to Clinical Practice
- November 14, 2024Source: The New York Times
How Tech Created a ‘Recipe for Loneliness’
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