Dean Research (Interim), Director of Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Matthew Flinders Professor
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Zsolt Demetrovics joined Flinders in 2024 as Professor in Mental Health and Wellbeing at the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work. He was appointed Director of the Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing (FIMHWell) and Interim Dean (Research) in 2025. Previously, Zsolt served as dean of the Faculty of Education and Psychology at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University (2014-2021) and Director of the Institute of Psychology (2011-2021). Later, he established and led the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming at the University of Gibraltar between 2021 and 2024.
Zsolt’s research focuses on the epidemiology, assessment, and psychological and familial correlates of substance use behaviour and various non-substance-related potentially problematic behaviours, including internet use, video game playing, gambling, social media use, compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, pornography addiction, work addiction, compulsive buying-shopping behaviour, and exercise addiction. He is Member of the Academia Europaea and a Corresponding Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He has been President of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Addictions (ISSBA) since 2016 and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Behavioral Addictions (2011-).
Psychology (MA)
Cultural Anthropology (MA)
PhD (Personality and Health Psychology / Addiction)
Doctor of Science (DSc)
Postgraduate Qualifications
Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Psychologist Specialised in Addiction
Applied Health Psychologist
Health Promotion Psychologist
2022 - Member of the Academia Europaea
2022, 2023 - Highly Cited Researcher (Psychiatry and Psychology) (ClarivateTM)
2022 - Corresponding Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
2021 - Szent-Györgyi Albert Award (Ministry for Innovation and Technology, Hungary)
2021 - Eötvös Loránd University Medallion (Eötvös Loránd University)
2021 - Pro Urbe Erzsébetváros Award (7th District ’Erzsébetváros’ Municipalty)
2024 - Nyírő Gyula Award (Hungarian Psychiatric Association) (as editor of the book ’The Handbook of Psychodiagnostics 1-2’)
2016 - Pál Ranschburg Medallion (Hungarian Psychological Association)
2016 - Bolyai Plaque (Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (Best performance among the winners of the Bolyai Research Scholarship)
2010 - Nyírő Gyula Award (Hungarian Psychiatric Association) (As editor of the books ’The Basics of Addictions I-IV’)
2001 - Ministerial Certificate of Merit (Ministry of Youth and Sports, Hungary) (For scientific contribution to the development of the Hungarian drug policy)
- Director, Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing (FIMHWell), Flinders University
- Dean (Research) (Interim), College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University
Roles in Scientific Organizations
- Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Behavioral Addictions (JBA)
- President, International Society for the Study of Behavioral Addictions (ISSBA)
- Co-Chair, Behavioral Addiction Interest Group, International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM BIG)
- Board member, International Collaboration on ADHD and Substance Abuse (ICASA)
- Board member, European Association of Substance Abuse Research (EASAR)
Other expert and scientific advisory roles
- Member of the Scientific Committee, European Union Drug Agency (EUDA)
- Consultant for the ‘Expert Group Online Addictions’ of the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group)
- Advisory Board Member of the “Affective and cognitive mechanisms of specific Internet use disorders” (ACSID) Research Consortium (German Research Foundation)
- WHO expert panel member on “Public health implications of addictive behaviours”
Scientific Committee, European Union Drug Agency (EUDA) - Member (2024-)
International Society for the Study of Behavioral Addictions (ISSBA) - President (2016-)
Behavioral Addiction Interest Group, International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM BIG) - Co-Chair (2021–)
Presidential Committee for Health, Hungarian Academy of Sciences - Member (2017–)
International Collaboration on ADHD and Substance Abuse (ICASA) - Board member (2014–); Member (2010–)
International Society of Addiction Journal Editors (ISAJE) - Member (2012–)
European Association of Substance Abuse Research (EASAR) - Board member (2009–)
Hungarian Association on Addictions - President (2014-2016), General Secretary (2006–2013), Board member (2003–)