The seemingly irrational behavior exhibited by individuals with addiction may be understood by considering their temporal horizon. In this paper, we reviewed published literature and current research concerning how delay discounting, a measure of temporal horizon, has been employed to understand addiction. Specifically, studies of delay discounting among addicted individuals and other psychiatric populations, current controversies in the delay discounting literature, and new developments were

more »

... viewed. Addicted individuals discount the long-term consequences of their behavior at a higher rate than matched controls. Current controversies illustrate the need for continued research. Given the rising interest in using delay discounting to understand addictive behaviors, in terms of both overt behavior and at the level of brain activity, we believe research in this field will continue to produce substantial progress for the next several years.