How addictions are assessed

Addictions are considered to be behavioral conditions so, naturally, they are assessed through questions about behavior.  The American Psychiatric Association has developed seven criteria to assess whether an addiction may have developed in a person.  If a person answers yes to three or more of the seven questions in the ReFA Questionnaire, it is not a diagnoses, rather it is a positive self-screen meaning only that the possibility of an addiction has been found. 

Development of assessment tools such as the ReFA Questionnaire is at a very early stage. However, a positive assesement may indicate that the person could learn more about their condition by undertaking a four to five-day withdrawal from refined foods.  Then, they could assees for themselves their personal benefits from following an unrefined food plan.