The Federative Institute of Behavioral Addictions

The Federative Institute of Behavioral Addictions is a unit from CHU Nantes (University Hospital of Nantes, France) dedicated to research, training-prevention and information on behavioral addictions.

Creation of the Reference Center on Excessive Gambling (CRJE)

The CRJE was the first structure in France to develop research, training and information on excessive gambling and gaming. Started in 2008 following the initiative of Professor Jean-Luc VENISSE, a psychiatrist specialized in addictions at CHU Nantes, it was created with financial support of CHU Nantes and the donations from two patrons, the Française des Jeux (FDJ) and the Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU).

Birth of the Federative Institute of Behavioral Addictions (IFAC)

After three years, the CRJE was expanded to include all behavioral addictions and was renamed Federative Institute of Behavioral Addictions (IFAC) in 2011. In addition to excessive gambling and gaming, the scope of IFAC activities has expanded to include other forms of behavioral addictions or related disorders, such as cyber addictions, compulsive buying, eating disorders, and sexual addiction amongst others.

The creation of IFAC was also an opportunity for Professor VENISSE to hand over to his successor, Professor Marie GRALL-BRONNEC, also a psychiatrist specialized in addictions at CHU Nantes. Professor Marie GRALL-BRONNEC has ensured the medical responsibility of IFAC since 2011.

The objectives of IFAC

• To improve the state of knowledge in the field of behavioral addictions
• To train health and social professionals in order to improve the prevention and treatment of behavioral addictions
• To disseminate knowledge on behavioral addictions to the general public in order to help people in difficulty as well as their close associates